Chardonnay High Mountain Vines 2020

CATENA

Chardonnay High Mountain Vines
2020

  • Sustainable
  • Vegan
Country
Argentina
Regulated designation
Geographical Indication (GI)
Region
Mendoza
Varietal(s)
Chardonnay 100 %
Colour
White
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

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...

See the CATENA detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

The Catena wines are a special assemblage of High Mountain Estate Vineyards made by fourth generation vintner, Laura Catena and chief winemaker, Alejandro Vigil. From the marriage of these historic vineyards emerges a wine of unique character that has natural balance, concentration and a distinct varietal identity.

Press reviews

James Suckling

- 93 points -

March 2023 (Vintage 2022)

A pretty mineral nose with a creamy layer to the roasted pineapples, lemon and marzipan. Fresh and really textured on the palate with a medium to full body. It has a lightly phenolic, viscous texture and a bright acidity

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Natalie MacLean

- 92 points -

July 2022 (Vintage 2020)

Catena 2020 Chardonnay is a bright, expressive Chard, full-bodied with ripe pear, citrus zest and toasted oak spice flavours on the palate. About 60% of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months while the remainder saw elevage in stainless-steel tanks. Wine grapes were sourced from four vineyards, 950 to 1,450 metres in elevation.

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James Suckling

- 92 points -

April 2021

Ripe peach, dried mango, dried jasmine and buttered toast. It’s full-bodied with crisp acidity. Concentrated layers of ripe and dried fruit and a vivid, subtly smoky finish.

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James Suckling

- 92 points -

James Suckling, April 2020 (Vintage 2019)

This is fresh and beautiful with creamy texture and lovely fruit. Medium body. Lemon rind and hints of pear. Crisp. Always a go-to white. Drink now.

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Vinous

- 91 points -

Joaquín Hidalgo, April 2021 (Vintage 2020)

The 2020 Chardonnay Catena is 90% from the Uco Valley, fermented with whole bunches and aged for up to eight months in barrels. Yellow with a golden sheen. The expressive nose presents notes of linden blossom, apple, creamed corn and hazelnuts. In the mouth, it’s unctuous and indulgent but also has decent tension, a terse texture and long-lasting, bold flavors. The oak reappears on the rather concentrated aftertaste.

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Wine Advocate

- 91 points -

November 2022 (Vintage 2022)

The 2022 Catena Chardonnay is a medicinal and balsamic expression of the varietal, with aromas of bay leaf and white flowers. The palate is dry and medium-bodied with mellow acidity and moderate ripeness and alcohol.

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Wine Advocate

- 90 points -

Luis Gutierrez, March 2021 (Vintage 2020)

The medicinal and balsamic 2020 Catena Chardonnay has pungent aromas of bay leaf and white flowers and a dry and balanced palate with some chalky sensations and tasty flavors. It has moderate ripeness for a warm and dry year like 2020 and good freshness. 282,000 bottles produced. It was bottled between October and November 2020.

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Tim Atkin MW

- 90 points -

May 2020

This is the second of four levels of Chardonnay quality at Catena and it’s a very appealing blend of grapes from the Uco Valley and Agrelo. Aged in one-third new oak, with partial malolactic, it’s soft and creamy with toffee and honey flavours, some stone fruit sweetness and enough acidity to freshen and lift the finish.

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