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. — 24 days ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.4

Really happy birthday to me! — 3 months ago

with Brian

Bonnie Chu

9.2

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 3 months ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

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

GaryWEdwards

9.5

An absolute delightful Nebbiolo with bright vibrant red showing through, fabulous nose, and a wide array of spice and herbs. Just coming into its best window with easily 20 more years to enjoy. Pleasant surprise of complexity and easy drinking. Begs for duck on the plate. — 4 months ago

Jody Jordan

9.4

Lovely Valentine’s Day enjoyment! This vintage was great with a steak and potatoes. Very smooth, a hint of tobacco and black fruits. Tannins that definitely stand up. 👍🏻 — 5 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. — a month ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 2019 | Cinnamon and brushwood, for me surprisingly soft, beautiful — 2 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.4

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

Ron Siegel

9.3

This has developed beautifully — 3 months ago

Rob Iracane

9.2

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

Jan A

9.6

Elegant and spices. In hindsight, drank my previous bottles way too early. This was firing on al cylinders today. — 4 months ago

Akshay Venkitasubramanian

9.0

Simple light red - low on minerality with good structure — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Etna: Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with Bing cherry, Asian five spice, porchini, oregano, crushed gravel and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another stunner from this incredible, own-rooted parcel in the Calderara Sottana contrada featuring vines over 140 years old. Insane. Drink now with some air and through 2041. — 4 days ago

Jj Joe

9.5

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

Ville Pasula

9.0

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

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Lovely bunch of coconuts. Oak glazed in balsamic. Agreeable. — 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

romo

9.2

First bottle three years ago had more energy. Went sour on day 2. — 4 months ago

Steve Messinger

9.4

Brick red w rose petal and hint of balsamic. Showing more age than I would have expected. But delicious — 4 months ago