Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Angelica Zapata Chardonnay 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay sourced primarily from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, this wine showcases Catena Zapata’s philosophy of combining mountain freshness with Burgundian precision. Beautifully balanced and remarkably age-worthy, it demonstrates why Argentina deserves a place among the world’s finest Chardonnay producers.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, white peach, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, crisp apple, and citrus blossom unfold alongside subtle notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and delicate mineral undertones. Every layer feels focused, energetic, and seamlessly integrated.

Mouthfeel
The defining feature is its remarkable equilibrium. Vibrant acidity meets a creamy, refined texture, creating a striking sense of precision, tension, and length. Rich without excess, fresh without sharpness, finishing with exceptional clarity and persistence.

Food Pairings
Butter-poached lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, scallops, or aged Gruyère.

Verdict
A world-class New World Chardonnay that effortlessly balances richness, freshness, and finesse. Complex enough for the cellar yet irresistible in its youth, it rivals many top-tier Chardonnays from far more celebrated regions.

Did You Know?
The Angelica Zapata range is named after Nicolás Catena Zapata’s mother and is sourced from some of the estate’s highest-elevation vineyards, where cool mountain nights preserve acidity and allow the wines to develop remarkable aging potential.

🍷 Personal Pick
Without hesitation, this has become my favorite Chardonnay from the Southern Hemisphere. The balance between acidity, texture, precision, and tension is simply captivating. It’s one of those rare bottles that makes you want to pour another glass before you’ve finished the first. An outstanding Chardonnay that has unquestionably earned a permanent place in my cellar. — 11 hours ago

Michael Chelus

8.9

Quince, lemon, apple, peach, melon and tangerine. Racy acidity and great minerality. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Bodega Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's high altitude Malbec pioneers. The Catena family began making wine in Mendoza in 1902. A delightful wine. Straw color with green edges, a blend from several vineyards, 80% from Uco, packed with aromas of rich stone fruits with citrus and floral notes, from a warmer vintage with almost 14% alcohol. On the palate flavors of apricot, apple and Asian pear with toasty oak character. Well balanced, generous acidity, crisp on long finish ending with oak and mineral tang. Pair with shellfish with a lobster sauce. — 3 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

This is a way too sophisticated wine for this place….. dam, — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.2

Sticking with the “great wines from grapes you’ve never heard of” theme for a while longer, why not join me for a sip of this alpine gem. Grown in the northerly reaches of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, just over the border with France and Switzerland, and in some of Europe’s highest altitude vineyards (1200 meters) this wine is made from the Prié Blanc grape. Prié Blanc is the region’s only indigenous white grape, and is rarely found within the Valle d’Aosta, let alone outside of it. Vibrating with mineral intensity, the wine tastes of green apple, lemon cucumber, dried honey, and a hint of herbs. Electric acidity and a sort of peach-pit tanginess linger in the finish. Because the region is mostly tiny growers, Cave Mont Blanc is a cooperative, and a very high-quality one at that. — 5 years ago

Elizabeth

9.3

We like it a LOT. Crisp. Mineral-y. Light mouth feel with hints of dark stone fruits. Plum & dark cherry. — 2 months ago

Jenks

9.2

Love these high altitude wines from Valle d’Aosta. Bright, rustic, lovely. — 10 months ago

Lev Lavrichtchev

9.0

Mar 2024: PnP - ready, lively, fresh, very nice — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Aged for 15 months in French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe cherry fruit with cedar, vanilla and black pepper spice. Firm full tannins, medium length ending with fruit and spice. — 3 years ago

Adam Welch

9.1

One of the best Malbec’s I’ve ever had and I’ve been to Mendoza!! — 4 years ago

Walter Soto

8.9

Good value — 4 years ago

Kaylee King

9.8

Delicious! — 5 years ago

with Deborah

Bruce Dunbar

9.4

Single vineyard, high altitude/cool climate Malbec from maybe Argentina’s best, at least with Malbec. You can taste the Cool climate in the earthy underlying minerality and the reserved, plum toned fruit. Despite this, it somehow also drinks big, standing up to a hearty meal. A few more in the cellar and maybe time to stock up on other back vintages. — 5 years ago

Anthony Perro

9.0

Christmas dinner 2025. Mary liked — 6 months ago

David Smisek

8.9

12/05/25 Gift from (Teri/Fran) 3 years ago. Had with Duck breast. Great flavor. Smooth and fruity. Wish I had more at time. — 7 months ago

Nancy Schnur

9.2

Excellent recommendation from R Fields Kailua — 2 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.5

Man. Our customers are really missing out on brunello. This is lovely. As aromatic and nuanced as very good Northern rhone wines. Just a different character.

Nose: very lithe lilacs. As this opens a hint of game. Sexy.

Palate: texture is so silky. Perfect early to midseason cherries. Not at all heavy. This is high altitude Brunello. Juicy. Hint of Sangiovese spice. Maybe a hint of black pepper. As this opens more hidden density and just an expensive taste.

Sensual but classy cling on the finish.

Fass selections. — 2 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

The 2019 is better than the 2018. Love these higher altitude Chianti Classicos from Radda. Great value. — 4 years ago

M Rosow

8.9

Tart, fresh crisp. Would do it again. — 5 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Cherry, an earthy note, violet, some spices too. The palate is well designed and quite fresh, with a strong acid backbone, a beautiful cherry note all along, a good width and a soft mouthfeel. The mid palate builds up slowly and expands nicely, with a slight layer of grainy tannins. The finsih is long and fruity with a spicy note. This wine is very precise with that sheer acid drive, you can bet it was grown in high altitude from that freshness and that energy. Good one! — 5 years ago