CATENA ZAPATA Chardonnay 'White Stones' Adrianna Vineyard - Gualtallary 2022 Bottle (los)

Description

Catena Zapata White Stones Chardonnay 2021 is a distinguished wine that exemplifies the Catena family's commitment to excellence. Sourced from a specific 27-row parcel in the high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard, this Chardonnay showcases the unique terroir of Gualtallary. The wine has received acclaim, including 97 points from James Suckling, who praised its aromas of honeysuckle and mandarin peel, along with a vibrant palate featuring subtle spices and hints of salt. Vinous awarded it 97 points, noting its complex bouquet of green apple and herbs. Decanter rated it 95 points for its vivacity and mineral character, while Jancis Robinson awarded it 18.5 points, recognising its broad, textured mouthfeel. This exceptional Chardonnay is perfect for enjoyment from 2023 to 2031.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 97 points
“This is always minerally and incisive and very different from White Bones. This is more classic chardonnay, with lots of freshly squeezed lemons, wet stone, flint and seashells. Brisk acidity on a medium- to full-bodied palate. Tense and intense, but this is acid-driven with a fine touch of salinity that lingers at the end.”

VINOUS 97 points
Drinking Window 2024 - 2034
From: Argentina: New White Releases (Oct 2024)
The 2022 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Stones hails from a cool and slightly dry vintage in the Uco Valley. Sourced from a small gravel and limestone plot in Gualtallary, it displays a green hue in the glass. Its aromas feature lime, green apple and herbs, with subtle notes of ginger and acacia. Dry, nimble and refreshing, the chalky texture enlivens the slightly lean palate, with a long-lasting, fruit-driven finish. A high-altitude wine, the 2022 growing season brought an extra layer of freshness to this Chardonnay. - By Joaquín Hidalgo on October 2024

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Reviewed by: Matthew Luczy
Drink Date: 2024 - 2037
The 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay White Stones is more introverted, understated and explicitly chiseled than its more textural and exotic White Bones companion. On the nose, it opens with transparent yet focused aromas of citrus pith and crushed stones, introducing a sleek, vibrant and laser-focused palate. The finish is similarly angular and incisive, continuously generating additional depth and dimension with time in the glass. While I slightly preferred the White Bones bottling due to its extra gear of complexity and textural depth, this is another clear-cut yardstick by which to measure the progress of Argentine white-wine production.
Published: May 01, 2025

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
Located at 5,000 feet in the Uco Valley, the Adrianna vineyard is the source of the winery's most renowned wines. This refined Chardonnay lives up to its reputation, showcasing a bouquet that includes honeysuckle and subtle mandarin peel, highlighted by sweet spices. Delicate citrus and herbal notes blend with cedar and a touch of ginger on the vibrant palate before a finish with hints of salt. — Jesica Vargas

JANCIS ROBINSOJN 18.5 points
Always the more voluptuous and powerful of this excellent Gualtallary duo of Chardonnay wines, White Stones has a broad, textured mouthfeel with a mineral tension on the finish with very fine, powdery tannin. Notes of baking spice, fresh white peach and subtle white flowers haunt the nose, and roll out on the long, impressive finish. (AB)

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Amanda Barnes MW, Florencia Gomez, Benjamin Gubbins
(at Decanter tasting suite, London, 25 Sep 2025)
Part of South American premium white: Panel tasting results
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2028
There’s little doubt that the White Bones and White Stones duo has been a major catalyst in elevating South American Chardonnay to a world-class level. White Stones comes from a specific parcel within a single block of the Adrianna Vineyard, planted at 1,450m in Gualtallary Alto, on soils strewn with white, calcareous stones. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil is behind some of Argentina’s most lionised wines, but he isn’t afraid to do things differently. In this case, the barrel-fermented and aged Chardonnay is allowed to develop a subtle layer of flor, adding distinctive complexity. Amanda Barnes MW: Lemon oil with hints of mountain herb. Vibrant acidity and a stony, mineral palate. Mouthwatering, with well-integrated oak. Lively and fresh. Florencia Gomez: Solid backbone and acidity, with plenty of depth and a delicious, savoury core of citrus/ apple fruit. So pretty and deliciously maturing. Benjamin Gubbins: Expressive, with a bright, ripe citrus core and thyme and white pepper notes. Good fruit concentration and lively acidity.

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Catena Zapata is a renowned winery located in Mendoza, Argentina, celebrated for producing high-quality wines, especially its exceptional Malbec. Founded in 1902 by Nicola Catena, the winery has played a pivotal role in establishing Argentina's wine industry, focusing on the significance of terroir and altitude in grape cultivation. Catena Zapata emphasizes sustainable farming practices and meticulous vineyard management, with vineyards situated at various altitudes in the Andes foothills. The winery is known for its single-vineyard wines, which highlight the unique characteristics of each site. Its flagship wine, Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, is praised for its depth, complexity, and rich flavors of dark fruit and spice, solidifying Catena Zapata's reputation as a top choice for wine enthusiasts and collectors.