White Wine Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2020. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes in Argentina, the Catena winery has been producing some of the best wines in the world for four generations. The Chardonnay grapes for the White Bones come from the Adrianna vineyard, located at almost 5,000 feet above sea level. The name of the wine refers to the calcareous deposits and fossil animals found in the soil layers of the vineyard. The particular composition and conformation of the soil, the intensity of sunlight, the altitude, and the cool climate favor the production of grapes characterized by excellent minerality and good aromatic intensity. The White Bones is aged for 12-16 months in used French oak barrels. It is a very fine white wine, capable of aging and developing with extreme elegance. The nose shows great complexity, with citrus and herbaceous hints and a slight chalkiness. In the mouth, it is round and harmonious with a marked minerality that gives it character and complements the lightly toasted notes and the long herbaceous finish. Try it now with white meat, grilled fish, shellfish, and seafood, or let it rest in the cellar for at least a decade.
2020
White Wine Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2020
White Wine Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay 2020. Arguably Argentina’s finest Chardonnay, this stunning wine proves that the land of Malbec is equally at home crafting top quality whites. The Catena family have been making wine in Argentina for four generations and thanks to the hard work of Nicolas Catena and his daughter Laura today their exquisite wines are famed all over the world. Nicolas helped put Argentina on the map for Malbec and now his daughter is doing the same for elegant Burgundian-style Chardonnays like this benchmark example. The fruit for this single vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from just 27 rows in the family’s legendary Adrianna Vineyard which sits at 1450 metres above sea level in Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. The vineyard sits on an old river bed and is peppered with gravel and white stones which give the wine its name. These conditions are ideal for premium winemaking thanks to the hot sunny days, cool nights and excellent drainage which allows for a long, slow ripening period. Once in the winery the must is fermented in French oak barrels and then aged in the barrel for 12 to 16 months depending on the vintage. This helps to create a rich, creamy texture with notes of brioche, toasted almonds and fresh pastries mingling with ripe tropical and stone fruit from the grape variety. A magnificent addition to any cellar or partner for creamy fish or chicken dishes.
2020
White Wine Caymus Conundrum White 2020. The Wagners have been making wine in Napa for generations and can trace their roots here right back to the 1850s. Half a century ago Lorna and Charlie, along with their son Chuck, founded Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford which has now become one of the Valley’s most famous wineries. The Conundrum range is headed up by Chuck’s son, Charlie, who is Director of Winemaking and specialises in crafting Bordeaux-style wines in a softer, more accessible style than the classic Caymus wines. This lively white is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscat Canelli and Viognier sourced from across California’s finest growing regions. Each variety and plot is vinified separately to allow maximum control over the blending process. Part of the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks with the remainder matured in new and used oak barrels for up to 10 months. Enticing honeysuckle, apricot and pear aromas immediately burst out of the nose while the first sip reveals a medium body, smooth texture and mouthwatering freshness which gives the wine perfect balance. The vibrant flavour profile makes this a great choice to pair with spicy Asian curries and salads, herby roasted chicken or even fajitas.
2020