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. — 5 hours ago

Erica Gamble

9.2

Nutmeg and mushroom on the nose. Earthy, woodsy, semi-dry finish. Really unique, good wine. — a month ago

Brian S

9.2

For the price this is hard to beat. — 3 months ago

Kate Parkerson

9.3

Nice easy Malbec. Had with Sarah with pizza — 5 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.0

Clear, medium ruby to purple in color; on the nose, it's clean with medium intensity primary and secondary aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and graphite; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and medium intensity primary and secondary flavors of red plum, sweet tabacco, and clay pots with a medium finish. This wine is simple, but balanced and complex. Overall, I rate this wine as good. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, oak, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, oak, licorice, light cola, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Malbec based blend from the house of Cheval Blanc is starting to drink very nicely now. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Soft, smooth and elegant. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Needed 90 minutes in the decanter to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Wine Advocate 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — 6 months ago

Andre Sosa, Dr Orange

9.3

Después de guardarlo por más de un año lo abro. Delicioso. — 13 days ago

Lauren Young

9.1

Very drinkable — 2 days ago

Shelley Morrill

9.0

Definite repurchase. My cousin picked it out — a month ago

Keri Gawlik

9.0

Meaty (charcuterie) savory notes like olive, good acidity — 3 months ago

Amanda Drazka

9.0

This Malbec dominant Bordeaux blend from Mendoza, Argentina offers a full body with notes of black pepper, plum, and blackberry. It has smooth, developed tannins with a medium finish. This wine paired beautifully with steak. — 3 months ago

Chad Powell

9.6

Highly rated for a reason. It’s quite good. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep Ruby color with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with licorice, black pepper and toasty oak. Firm tannins, lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, oak and savory spice. — 6 months ago

Josh Armenta

8.9

Nice wine, good balance, red fruit in your face, and needs time to open and shine. — 6 days ago

Alf Aguirre

9.0

Me encantó súper suave al paladar muy delicado, recomendadisimo — a month ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Aged nicely — 25 days ago

with Bonnie

Michael Burke

10

Tasty - good for steak — 3 months ago

Irina Georgieva

9.4

Fruity and well-balanced — 5 months ago

Donald Williams

9.5

We love Malbec. This is one of the reasons. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep Ruby with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and rustic floral notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with pepper spice and cedar notes. Fine grainy tannins, lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, spice and mineral notes — 6 months ago