Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Catena Zapata – Adrianna Vineyard “White Stones” Chardonnay 2014
Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
A single-parcel, 100% Chardonnay sourced from the legendary Adrianna Vineyard, located at extreme altitude in the Gualtallary subregion of Mendoza, among the highest and most distinctive vineyard sites in the Southern Hemisphere. This parcel, known as White Stones, is defined by limestone-rich, calcareous soils that drive tension, minerality, and precision. Fermented and aged with restraint to allow site expression to dominate, this wine delivers a powerful yet cerebral interpretation of Chardonnay.

Aromas & Flavors
Crushed limestone, green apple, lemon zest, and pear skin lead, followed by subtle notes of white flowers, wet stone, and faint almond. Oak is present but discreet, adding texture rather than flavor, allowing the mineral core to shine.

Mouthfeel
Electric and tightly wound. High acidity provides drive and focus, while the palate remains dense and layered. There’s a striking contrast between power and precision, broad on entry, razor-sharp through the mid-palate, and persistent on the finish.

Food Pairings
Raw oysters, scallop crudo, ceviche, grilled halibut, or aged goat cheese. Also compelling on its own for contemplative tasting.

Verdict
A benchmark New World Chardonnay that challenges Old World expectations. Intense, mineral-driven, and intellectually engaging, this is terroir speaking loudly and clearly.

Did You Know?
Adrianna Vineyard sits at nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, where extreme UV exposure, cool nights, and limestone soils contribute to naturally high acidity and profound mineral expression , often compared to Grand Cru Chablis.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
It’s like Chablis on steroids, same mineral backbone and tension, but amplified in scale, depth, and presence. A thrilling wine that always leaves an impression. Also, what’s truly remarkable is how incredibly fresh and vibrant it remains despite being a 2014, showcasing Adrianna Vineyard’s extraordinary altitude, acidity, and aging potential. — 8 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — 3 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.4

Downright delicious. Classic Bordeaux. Deep and rich, lush and smooth, showing more with each swirl of the glass. Love how accessible this is while tempting you to be patient. My #3 tonight — 3 months ago

Rob N

9.4

This wine from Saxum is a great value — smooth, even fruit; great balance overall. 79% syrah, 7% petite sirah, 7% grenache, 5% mourvédre. 97 points from Robert Parker and $129 when I bought it from K&L although market looks more like $160 now. — 22 days ago

Vino Joe

9.4

Very good Syrah blend. Edgy and peppery. High alcohol content. First time with this wine for me. Needed a good hour plus of decant to open and soften. Drank very well. A bit too smoky and rustic to rank higher but very solid. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150. — 2 months ago

Perry Atha

9.4

Excellent !!! Will definitely buy again — 17 days ago

Kirsten Kelley

9.1

Excellent, smooth from first sip. Purchased from Costco — 15 days ago

Norman

9.1

This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. Prefer the 8 but be aware that is being discontinued. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon color with aromas of citrus and tropical fruit with herb and biscuit notes. On the palate flavors of peach, grapefruit and lime citrus with herb floral tones, lively acidity adding mineral notes. Medium+ finish ending, citrus, with fruit, herbal, floral and salty mineral notes. — 3 months ago