Alta Chardonnay
2019
$45.54*
28 case(s) available
At heart, Catena is a story about family. Family who poured their lives, passion and spirit into transforming scrub-laden desert into some of the most beautiful and unique vineyards in the world. Family that passed their knowledge from generation to generation, blending collective memory with state-of-the-art science from the new world of viticulture. Family who, through risk-taking, faith and a little luck, transformed their treasured Mendoza terroir into the fountainhead of the award-winning...
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Catena Alta is an assemblage of historic rows within the Catena family State vineyards. The blend of these historic rows, like the combination of sounds that create a symphony, gives us highly aromatic and elegant wine that speaks for the terroir and the vines that have been tended by the four generations of the Catena Family. "Alta" means high in Spanish. This makes reference to the high altitude vineyards from where the grapes are sourced, and to the high end wines that are produced with this special grapes.
At almost 5,000 feet elevation in the Andean foothills, the Adrianna vineyard's calcareous soils and cool climate are the promised land of Chardonnay. The fruit from the Adrianna vineyard has a purity of flavors and a minerality that is particular to this vineyard and can not be found anywhere else in Mendoza. The nearby, gravel-covered Domingo Vineyard makes up 20% of the blend. Elevage: 14 months in French oak barrels.
This is a serious white with dried apple, pineapple and white peach to the stone and honeysuckle character. Full-bodied, bright and fruity with a fascinating undertone of spice and cream. Drink or hold.
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Pressed in whole bunches, the 2019 Chardonnay Catena Alta combines grapes from Villa Bastías and Gualtallary, both in Tupungato. The mature perfume includes pear and apricot with herbal hints that soar over a beautifully deep layer of French oak in which the wine was fermented and spent 14 months. The butter and cream are held in check by the excellently judged acidic tension making this a velvety, delicate and refreshing white.
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Two single vineyards at almost 5000 feet elevation at Gualltallary. Tupungato is the engine behind the Catena Alta Historic rows. The Adrianna vineyard’s calcareous soils and cool climate bring purity of flavour, stones and minerality. The gravel-covered Domingo vineyard makes up 20 percent of the blend, bringing even more freshness and minerality. The label walks the line between rich and spare, with baked pear, mandarin orange and spicy leesy notes, with the nutty, mineral wet stone balancing the equation.
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