2018 White Stones Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Very youthful and Chablis-esque with lean, fine lines. Holds back on the oak – crisp and fruit-driven is the message. Definitely reflects a mineral sort of character. Green apple and citrus pith too. There is a bit of oxidative bruising on the finish, but that might be the tube packaging for this sample, which is like an enlarged test tube, filled in Holland, apparently with a two-year life span, but this sample doesn't taste entirely fresh. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The outstanding 2018 White Stones Chardonnay epitomizes the expression of the grape in the cooler-climate and high-altitude location of the Adrianna vineyard in Gualtallary. There is rectitude, austerity and elegance, a subtle wine with great clout and intensity that comes through as chiseled, focused, symmetric and pure, more in the style of Roulot than Coche-Dury, with superb integration of all the elements and fine minerality. This is more about the place and vintage than the grape, which feels like a good way to transmit the chalky soils of the selected plots. Simply superb, possibly the finest vintage for this bottling so far. 6,600 bottles were filled in May 2019.
About the producer
Bodega Catena Zapata has been instrumental both in the development of fine wine production in Argentina and in realising the full potential of the Malbec grape.