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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2007 and 2009 (based on 13 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.2 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 60 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jeffersga on 1/28/2012 & rated 85 points: To much wood. Big Chard - hold back on the oak and this would be more drinkable. (3863 views) | | | Tasted by JavaMonkey on 2/3/2011 & rated 84 points: Amber color, showing some age. The nose has some pineapple and ripe peach, but also has picked up some burnt plastic aroma. The palate is falling apart, there's some sweet, sloppy fruit, and the burnt plastic is there as well. This bottle is obviously over the hill. (4396 views) | | | Tasted by jaredament on 2/3/2010 & rated 86 points: Very buttery but enjoyable. Ripe apricot and pear on the nose. Medial length finish that paired nicely with tilapia (with lemon pepper seasoning). (5313 views) | | | Tasted by sleepyhaus on 1/2/2010: Too buttery for my taste, a bit nutty really, but still you can tell that it is well made wine. (5384 views) | | | Tasted by moods on 11/18/2009 & rated 89 points: Yeah, pretty much as per my tasting note 5/4/09. The loss of one point from then is due to the perception that there was a faint hint of oxidation on the nose. But only just a faint hint. (5575 views) | | | Tasted by mrpalmer on 10/14/2009 & rated 90 points: Enjoyable, nicely balanced, flavorful wine. Tropical fruits and somewhat oaky but not overwhelming. (3053 views) | | | Tasted by ScottGoodwin on 6/26/2009 & rated 89 points: Caramel or butterscotch covered pineapple. A little braoder, fatter and oakier than I remember. Still, the burst of acidity on the finish saves it for me. (3264 views) | | | Tasted by mrpalmer on 6/11/2009 & rated 91 points: Thoroughly enjoyable chardonnay. Mellon. Pineapple. Banana. (3266 views) | | | Tasted by pianopeter on 6/11/2009 & rated 85 points: K says over oaked. P liked a little more, but don't need to seek out again. (3335 views) | | | Tasted by FPNova on 5/26/2009 & rated 89 points: Apricot with a hint of citrus and toasty oak aroma. Fresh tasting apricot well balanced with light orange/lemon zest, pleasing acidity, and a nice hint of oak. You can certainly find finer chard's but at under $14 it is always a favorite for parties - we started with Catena in the 04 vintage and have gone through 4 cases of this 06 vintage so far. Here's hoping 07 will carry on the tradition. (3246 views) | | | Tasted by mrpalmer on 5/11/2009 & rated 91 points: Fresh. Apple. Very enjoyable. Not too oaky. Repeat. (3341 views) | | | Tasted by Ombibulous on 5/1/2009 & rated 85 points: Delish. Very good (85.5). (3293 views) | | | Tasted by The Kokopelli on 4/27/2009 & rated 89 points: Discovering Wine: A very enjoyable pale yellow Chardonnay with a nose that is floral with lemon citrus, cloves and very slight hint of cantaloupe. The taste is lemon and slightly buttery, with a creamy medium mouthfeel with rounded tannins and a finish that has lemon and vanilla. (3728 views) | | | Tasted by drbill on 4/11/2009: really nice. nice meld of fruit structures with some oak and butter. but oak is well-balanced. (3495 views) | | | Tasted by moods on 4/5/2009 & rated 90 points: Beautifully intense aromas of toasted caramelised banana and pineapple. Body quite full, yet lovely and smooth, with a good level of acidity to balance the richness of the fruit and the sumptuous butterscotch flavours of the oak. Great New World chardonnay, well made and nicely balanced. Delicious with roast pork with a honeyed roast parnsip crust. (3553 views) | | | Tasted by armchairsommelier on 3/30/2009 & rated 89 points: A really lovely every day Chardonnay, especially considering the $10 price tag. Nicely balanced with flavors of vanilla, toast and pineapple. Lighter in style than some of the more brutish Chardonnays - enough oak to impart a yummy toast flavor, but not club you over the head. Salud! (3544 views) | | | Tasted by ScottGoodwin on 3/20/2009 & rated 90 points: A nose of honey coated pear with a squirt of pineapple juice. Pleasantly ripe fruit on the palate with some toasty oak and citrusy on the back end. The acidity keeps the finish fresh and clean. Just seems to gain depth and richness over time. Buttered pears on the nose. I just really like everything about this chardonnay. (3550 views) | | | Tasted by jbrekke on 3/19/2009: Great QPR. Nice acidity, little oak. (3600 views) | | | Tasted by Paul_Stagg on 2/20/2009 & rated 91 points: Wonderful. Melon, grapefruit, pinapple, a little vanilla. Light, not much if any oak. Mouth watering, would be great with a rich seafood (lobster) or tortellini with proscuitto and cheese. (3583 views) | | | Tasted by cobystilp on 2/15/2009 & rated 87 points: Acrid smells of burnt rubber (this is the worst part). The taste is pretty heavy and complex with a faint hint of petrol and some interesting grilled tropical fruit including mangos and bananas. Pretty thick and viscous. I hope this improves on day two. (3360 views) | | | Tasted by JerzeyJohn on 2/15/2009 & rated 89 points: this is a great everyday Chard......the right balance of oak, vanilla and citrus. A bit lighter than a typical Cali Chard, with the taste of apple and melon . This will be an enjoyable wine over the next 1-2 years (3718 views) | | | Tasted by KeithAkers on 2/14/2009 & rated 88 points: nose: slight hints of oak with nice tones of marmalade, oranges, and mangoes. nice new world styled nose that isn't overdone
taste: good medium/full feel with some citrus tones, marmalade, oranges and hints of mangoes. well balanced with medium/light acidity
overall: an excellent chardonnay. Its hard to find a solid chard at this price range, but this one works very well (3589 views) | | | Tasted by rsazima on 2/8/2009 & rated 90 points: OUTSTANDING. Delicious tropical fruits (pineapple, melon), toast, vanilla, fig, flint. 90-91 pts. (3656 views) | | | Tasted by Sijan on 1/25/2009 & rated 91 points: We really enjoyed this - Emily in particular. Lots of floral and harvest fruit notes on the nose - would have guessed it was a viognier if tasting blind. Very fruity on the palate with a hint of sweetness. Nice acidity. (3431 views) | | | Tasted by Brnshj22 on 1/12/2009 & rated 89 points: Very good stuff. Seems like a wine with the body of a Cali Chard and the acidity and freshness of a white burg. Sure buy at $15. (2991 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (7/7/2009)
(Catena Chardonnay, Mendoza white) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (11/8/2008)
(Catena Chardonnay, Mendoza white) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/11/2008)
(Catena Zapata, Chardonnay Mendoza White) Subscribe to see review text. | i-WineReview.com, Featured Monthly Tasting - April 2008 (4/1/2008)
(Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Chardonnay Mendoza) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, January/February 2008, IWC Issue #136
(Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay) Subscribe to see review text. |  By Gary Vaynerchuk
Wine Library TV, New Years Resolution: Drink Value, Episode #602 (12/31/2008)
(Catena Chardonnay) #4; VaynerPAZZZ; COLOR-golden; NOSE-classic Chardonnay (oak, burnt wood, apple & pear); TASTE-good mouthfeel; nice weight; good viscosity; lemon meets oak & butter on the back-end; good thick layer covers my entire palate; very balanced for a Chard (has oak & butter, but not overdone); nice balanced Chardonnay, but a tad boring and basic; ST-91; GV-86 86 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign and JancisRobinson.com and i-WineReview.com and Vinous and Wine Library TV. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
In 1902, Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, planted his first vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery has remained under family control — now in its fourth generation — and is one of the few family-owned wine companies in Argentina that remains in Argentine hands. Owned today by Nicolás Catena and his daughter Laura, Bodega Catena Zapata is known as the pioneer of fine wine from Argentina, and Nicolás is recognized as the vintner who revolutionized wine quality in Argentina. A trained economist, Nicolás began this revolution in the early 1980s and continues to challenge himself and his team to make wines that can be counted among the best in the world. His measured approach to viticulture has taken its place in wine history as the pioneer of Malbec and high-altitude viticulture.
Head winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, has been at Catena Zapata since 2002. A naturally restless person, Alejandro strives to channel his creative energy into pushing the limits of conventional viticultural and winemaking wisdom. Always ready to try something new, full of endless experiments, Alejandro’s goal is to constantly increase his understanding of the unique terroir in Mendoza’s high-altitude desert oasis.
Catena wines, first launched in 1992, set a new standard for quality in South America. The wines immediately proved the quality potential of Argentina and garnered the first outstanding reviews for Argentine wines from worldwide media. After more than 20 years, the wines of Catena continue to lead the way in Argentine viticulture and winemaking. Nicolás Catena Zapata dared to plant vines where no one thought they would ripen. His high-altitude wine revolution culminated in the discovery of a new terroir for wine, the Adrianna Vineyard, at almost 5,000 feet elevation. Today, the team at the Catena Institute of Wine is dedicated to studying every meter, every rock, every insect and microorganism in the Adrianna Vineyard, making it perhaps the most studied vineyard in the world.
Chardonnay The Chardonnay GrapeArgentina Wines of Argentina
Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s, tracing its wine heritage back to Spain, France and, perhaps surprisingly, Italy. Italian immigration is second only to Spanish in Argentine culture, and the flavors of Italy show up strongly in the nation’s wine, food and cultural tradition. Historically, Argentina has kept much of its wine consumption at home, drinking most of the wine it makes. But we are now seeing more very serious Argentine wines north of the border, and Malbec is leading the movement. The wine-making region in Argentina ranges between the 22° and 42° South latitude. It spreads at the foothills of the Andean mountain range along over 2,400 km; from the province of Salta to the province of Río Negro, with a variety of climates and soils that makes each region a unique land. In general terms, the areas dedicated to vine cultivation are dry and arid with a low level of rain and humidity, determining factor as regards grape health. Abundant sunny days and thermal amplitude favor a good maturity and concentration of aroma and color in the grain. Soils are deep, permeable and poor in organic matter, decisive qualities at the time of obtaining good wine. Due to the low rain regime, irrigation is necessary. Water comes from the Andean range thaw, descending in the shape of rivers to become channels or ditches. Undoubtedly, the combination of these factors turns Argentina into a veritable oasis for the highest quality wine-making. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. Wine-making in Argentina, at the level that it achieves today, has a young history that goes back to a little more than 10 years ago. Technological progress, investment and some farsighted businessmen enabled a determining transformation. The province of Mendoza is the most traditional area in the viticultural industry, and is diverse enough to be divided into zones, according to their significantly different weather, height and soil characteristics. These include the Northern Zone, which is suitable for fruity whites and young reds, at a height from 600 to 700m; the Eastern Zone, with a height ranging from 600 to 700m, and the most productive zone in the province; the Uco Valley, a zone of colder weather and higher altitudes (between 800 and 1,400m over sea level); San Rafael, with heights ranging from 450 to 800m; and the High Zone of the Mendoza River, with heights ranging from 800 to 1,100m over sea level and various microclimates, this is the zone where almost all noble varieties have easily become adapted. It is a region that is remarkably well-suited to vine culture, protected from the Pacific’s cooling influence by the Andes and enjoying a long summer of cool nights and warm days, with a dry summer climate but plenty of water available from the region’s rivers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from this area, and it has clearly emerged as the star, the darling of both consumers and critics.Mendoza Wines of Mendoza |
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