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. — 8 days ago

Jj Joe

9.5

What a surprise, good for korean foods and chicken too — 16 days ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.4

Really happy birthday to me! — 2 months ago

with Brian

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Lovely bunch of coconuts. Oak glazed in balsamic. Agreeable. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2024 CCC pours a deep, ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity, with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with attractive, fresh notes of crunchy blackberries, black plum, lavender pastilles, Kiwi fruit, black pepper, crushed rock and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. So fresh and easy to love. Drink now through 2034. — 3 months ago

Paul J

9.4

PnP. Dark red color with purple tones. Black and blue fruit on the nose with cedar and oak as well as subtle vanilla. Rustic and Bordeaux-like on the palate. Chewy wine with great depth and a long finish. Wine Spectator nailed this rec! Awesome QPR and super good. Debating between 94-95. — 5 months ago

with Brooke

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course a few hours. The 2024 Contra Costa County pours a ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful and fresh with notes of bright tart, brambles, black cherry, black pepper, purple flowers, some black pepper and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. This finish is medium+ and loaded with minerals. Distinctive and full of energy. Drink now through 2044+ — 11 days ago

John W

8.9

Costs d’Amalfi Ravello 2025. Pale straw coloration. On the nose delicate lemon and citrus and pear/ fresh acidity. On the palate, delicate citrus and pear. Some minerality. — 10 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 2019 | Cinnamon and brushwood, for me surprisingly soft, beautiful — a month ago

Ville Pasula

9.0

Excellent with a completely outrageous chunk of bleeding super quality angus beef — 2 months ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

Quite good. Worth the $$ paid. — 3 months ago

Rob Iracane

9.2

Lemon curd and medium mouthfeel. Nice acidity! — 3 months ago

Akshay Venkitasubramanian

9.0

Simple light red - low on minerality with good structure — 4 months ago

John W

9.2

Fiorduva 2024. Wine of the fjord. Single vineyard. Golden coloration. On the nose, lemon, salinity, minerals, buttery oak. On the palate, rich and smooth,citrus- lemon, salinity, minerality, long finish with honey balancing the acidity nicely. — 10 days ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.4

Touch of over the hill but still OK. Lost color. More for the geeks and aficionados - than the casual wine drinker. So this review is for you guys. — 11 days ago

Matthew Doty

9.1

2022 vintage. Grand reservation Malbec. Excellent day 1. Goes a bit jammy by day two — 2 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.4

Salted orange peel. Butterscotch. Toasted nuts. Amaze balls. — 2 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

4/2026. Good fruit with some spice. Full flavor that paired well with the dry aged ribeye at Halls Chophouse. — 3 months ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter for about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 RTW CCC pours a deep ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of mixed brambles, purple flowers, Fig Newtons, black pepper, dried green herbs, and silica rich, rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and comes across like laser cut steel. Drink now with patience through 2038. — 4 months ago