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. — 17 days ago

Austin Hohnke

9.4

Salted orange peel. Butterscotch. Toasted nuts. Amaze balls. — 3 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

Jamie Amann

9.0

Had a ruby color. Smelled like red berries and tasted like cherry or blackberry. — 4 months ago

Jason MacLean

9.1

A very nice experience drinking this. Might have been a touch better 5-10 years ago around the 15-20 year mark (and was great around ‘08-‘12) but despite a disintegrated cork is still a very nice wine with a beef dish. Have one more of the ‘01 and will have to open it within the next year. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of black cherry, espresso, black tea, dried herbs and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Drink now with patience but, to my palate, I think this will be better with a few more years in the cellar so the oak can better integrate. This is built to last well past 2041. — 6 months 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. — 21 days ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.4

Really happy birthday to me! — 3 months ago

with Brian

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Lovely bunch of coconuts. Oak glazed in balsamic. Agreeable. — 3 months ago

romo

9.2

First vintage post-RPM, immensely enjoyable ten years on. As in Beaujolais, this CA interpretation is losing its original energy over time, but maintains its own signature profile. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Rosado pours pink/salmon color with medium viscosity and no signs of sediment or particles. On the nose, the wine is developing with Maraschino cherry, dried apricot, coconut, dill, vanilla, and walnut. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Brilliant, soulful stuff. My first experience with the 2012 vintage. I hope there are many more to come. Drink now with patience (maybe even a decant) and through 2037. — 5 months ago

Tobin Spratte

9.3

Dried berries, strawberry preserves, black pepper, espresso, bittersweet chocolate, and llicorella. Tastes of rose petal infused black tea, raspberry preserves, strawberry jam. — 6 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.5

Vintage 2010 | Bottled elegance and finesse | paired with veal cheeke stew and frites — 7 months ago

Jj Joe

9.5

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

Andy Wigginton

9.2

Over delivers! Rich and food friendly. A great companion to grilled flank steak and artichoke. If you see this bottle, don’t be put off by the reasonable price point. I would drink this again. — a month ago

Ville Pasula

9.0

Excellent with a completely outrageous chunk of bleeding super quality angus beef — 3 months ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

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

Akshay Venkitasubramanian

9.0

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

Irina Georgieva

9.4

Fruity and well-balanced — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2023 Amador County pours a bright, deep straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart orchard fruit: peach, lemon, tangerine, white flowers, lanolin, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is waxy. Obviously young but I can’t help but feel that these Chenin’s from Tegan just keep getting better and better. Drink now through 2039. — 6 months ago