Catena Chardonnay

Catena Chardonnay bottle image

Wine Description

For over four generations, the Catena family has grown vines in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina. Laura Catena, great-granddaughter of winery founder Nicola Catena, has created a richly textured Chardonnay blend with floral notes, ripe tropical-fruit flavors, a strong mineral character and excellent acidity. Catena Chardonnay is sourced from three of the family´s vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and Tupungato. In Agrelo, in Luján de Cuyo, the La Pirámide Vineyard grapes lend the wine ripe citrus and stone fruit aromas and flavors. Fruit from the Domingo Vineyard in the Villa Bastías district of Tupungato emphasizes those stone fruit flavors and gives the wine its rich texture and mouthfeel. The high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard in the Gualtallary district of Tupungato produces grapes with lively floral notes, a pronounced minerality, and a crisp, cool-climate acidity. From the marriage of these historic parcels emerges a wine of a unique character that has natural balance, concentration, and a distinct varietal identity.

Remington-Mendoza
Laura Catena sits at a table with a glass of wine
Malbec Grapes
Alejandro Vigil (Chief Winemaker) and Laura Catena Tasting
Malbec Clone in La Piramide Vineyard
Nicolás Catena
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata
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Acclaim
“The Catena 2013 Chardonnay mixes grapes form Agrelo (15%) and the rest from different zones in the Uco Valley (Tupungato and San Carlos, Eugenio Bustos and Altamira). 50% of the wine fermented in used oak barriques, 10% in new 500-liter French oak barrels and the rest in stainless steel. Part of the barrels go through malolactic fermentation, but not all. 2013 feels ripe despite the character of the vintage, and although the oak is a lot less noticeable than in previous vintages it provides creaminess that makes it approachable and easy. The palate is soft and the acidity is quite integrated with the fruit. An approachable, nice Chardonnay.”
— Wine Advocate, Aug 2015
“Rich and well-crafted, with plenty of creamy notes to the plush flavors of apple strudel, pear tart and baked pineapple. Tarragon accents give the finish good lift.”
— Wine Spectator, Sep 2014
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Domingo, La Pirámide, and Adrianna vineyards
Soil composition
Gravel and Stony
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
3,117-4,757 feet
Vines/acre:
2,200
Yield/acre:
2.5-3 tons
Exposure:
Northwestern
Harvest time:
March-April
First vintage of this wine:
1991
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Barrels and Stainless steel tanks
Maceration technique:
Battonage
Malolactic fermentation:
Partial
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
10 months
Age of Aging Container:
New-Two years
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.2
Acidity:
6.2 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %