Catena Zapata Catena Alta Chardonnay 2022

Cellar for up to 8 years. Serve chilled. The Catena family’s Alta Chardonnay is one of Argentina’s most famous white wines thanks to its unique flavour profile and the passion of the Catenas for making inspiring high mountain wines at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Grapes are sourced from the family’s prime Adrianna vineyard which sits at 1450 metres above sea level in the Uco Valley and Domingo vineyard at 1120 metres of altitude. The Adriana vineyard is particularly prized for its calcareous soils and cool nights even during high summer which gives the wine a distinctive minerality and incredible purity. In the winery the grapes are treated with a light touch and are fermented with wild yeasts in large oak casks. The young wine is then matured in French oak barrels for 14 months. The result is a remarkably elegant Chardonnay with a rich full body, smooth creamy texture and ripe tropical fruit flavours balanced by a burst of freshness. The finish is pure and clean with zesty hints which make this a great match for roast chicken, pan-fried fish or creamy cheeses. While very drinkable right now, this is a wine which will age gracefully if cellared for up to another eight years or so.

Price: £22.48 from 8wines UK