Catena Zapata
It is very easy to argue that Catena Zapata put premium Malbec on the map for European wine lovers, becoming not just the 'Argentina winery of reference' in the words of the Wine Advocate but the highest standard for fine wine production in all of South America. It was Nicolás Catena, the first South American to win 'Decanter Man of the Year', who revolutionised his family's winery, blending European winemaking techniques with their stunning high-altitude vineyards, creating wines that became famous for their poise and finesse.
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Prices:
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£224.92 |
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James Suckling (97)A big, rich red with blackberry, chocolate, toasted oak, peat and flowers. It’s full-bodied and layered and very flavorful in the finish. Still very youthful, but shows tension and focus. Drink or hold. |
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Mendoza | 2 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£736.46 |
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James Suckling (97)A big, rich red with blackberry, chocolate, toasted oak, peat and flowers. It’s full-bodied and layered and very flavorful in the finish. Still very youthful, but shows tension and focus. Drink or hold. |
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Mendoza | 3 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£735.36 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The 2013 Nicolás Catena Zapata is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Malbec from the La Pirámide, Adrianna and Nicasia vineyards. It is perfectly clean and focused, a noticeable improvement over the 2012 vintage. The Cabernet Sauvignon from this cool vintage seems to have a more restrained character that made me think of Cabernet Franc, very classical and serious. They have been harvesting earlier and earlier in search of balance and freshness, and the strategy has definitely worked. It has great freshness and focus, and the lower alcohol and acidity seem to make the wine integrate the oak very nicely. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Nicolás Catena Zapata. 55,000 bottles produced. |
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Mendoza | 19 | 93+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£548.52 |
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Vinous (93+)Bright, dark ruby-red. Reticent aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, licorice and spicy oak are a bit less expressive than those of the 2015 bottling. Impressively rich, pliant and sweet but with excellent vinosity too. A bit more muscular than the 2015 version, as much saline as sweet, with its substantial tannins saturating the entire palate and building. This will take at least a few more years to deliver on its inherent complexity. (Incidentally, the old Agrelo vineyard--La Piramide--from which much of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes has many Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc vines interspersed in it, but the vineyard is registered as Cabernet Sauvignon so this is what goes on the technical sheet.) |
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Mendoza | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£370.32 |
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James Suckling (96)A giant. Not only in Argentina’s strong suit in terms of power, it also shows finesse and aromatic complexity. There are all manner of blackberries, smoke, chocolate and spicy notes. Built on a panoramic scale, but full of energy and enormous refinement. The finish cascades on and on. A blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% malbec. Try in 2021. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£131.64 |
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Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£250.08 |
|||||
Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£321.12 |
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Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£206.92 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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Mendoza | 29 | 97 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£247.63 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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Mendoza | 4 | 97 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£336.35 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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Mendoza | 29 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£288.10 |
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James Suckling (98)This has a complex nose of baked blackberries, grilled plums, dried earth, moss, pine cones, sandalwood, charcoal and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Wow. So much going on. Layered, seamless and silky. Incredible length. Keeps going. 42% cabernet sauvignon, 30% malbec and 28% cabernet franc. Try this from 2024. |
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Mendoza | 8 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£371.86 |
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James Suckling (98)This has a complex nose of baked blackberries, grilled plums, dried earth, moss, pine cones, sandalwood, charcoal and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Wow. So much going on. Layered, seamless and silky. Incredible length. Keeps going. 42% cabernet sauvignon, 30% malbec and 28% cabernet franc. Try this from 2024. |
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Mendoza | 10 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£213.18 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Red-fruited, herbal, and seamless on the palate, the 2020 Nicolas Catena Zapata is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 21% Malbec. Medium-bodied and well-integrated in terms of both oak and acidity, it has complexity throughout, offering highlights of dark chocolate, black pepper, and sagey mint. A contemplative wine that should age beautifully for another 10-15 years, it was made by Alejandro Vigil from Zapata vines to represent the original Bordeaux blend of the 18th and 19th centuries. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£324.12 |
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James Suckling (97)Sweet tobacco, cigar box, berries and minerals. It gets a little zesty and citrusy on the nose. Really refined and juicy on the palate with lot of fine tannins. Silky, fluid and linear with a very elegant, soft-spoken finish. 46% cabernet sauvignon from Adrianna vineyard and 44% malbec and 10% cabernet franc from Nicasia vineyard. Really refined, long and Bordelais. This is already drinking really well, but it will hold like this for a long time. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£370.33 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Honeysuckle, ripe pear and some dried apple. So perfumed. Full-bodied with incredible intensity and length. So much green-apple character and lots of flowers. Dried mango, too. The touch of flor growth in the barrel gives this unique character. Goes on for minutes on the finish. Endless, vibrant acidity. Minerally texture. Drink now or hold. |
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Mendoza | 3 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£250.33 |
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Wine Advocate (99)The nose of the 2020 White Bones Chardonnay is an explosion of thyme and rockrose, aromatic, open, expressive, outspoken, showy and exuberant. It also has notes of white flowers and citrus, pine needles and incense, continuously developing new layers, curry, something smoky, more and more aromatic herbs, nuanced, complex and with a magnetic attraction that makes you go back to the glass over and over again. This was harvested all at the same time, whereas it was sometimes harvested over four different moments in the past; so this is a bit different and an extraordinary year for this wine, transcending the conditions of the year, with lower alcohol and pH (12.5% and 3.1) than the 2021, despite coming from a warmer year. This is very tasty and long, stony (more than White Stones!) and very persistent. Amazing juice! 5,760 bottles produced. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£99.31 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)The 2021 White Bones Chardonnay was harvested at two different points of ripeness and then blended into the final wine, which is subtler than the explosive 2020 I tasted next to it but with the same palette of aromas—thyme, rosemary, lavender, rockrose, white flowers, citrus, pine needles, incense, curry and spices—and the palate is seamless, mineral and with a chalky texture. It's brilliant and expresses the variety, vintage and soil perfectly, but today I give the edge to the 2020, which I think transcends the vintage. 6,240 bottles produced. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 2 | 98+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£249.92 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)The 2021 White Bones Chardonnay was harvested at two different points of ripeness and then blended into the final wine, which is subtler than the explosive 2020 I tasted next to it but with the same palette of aromas—thyme, rosemary, lavender, rockrose, white flowers, citrus, pine needles, incense, curry and spices—and the palate is seamless, mineral and with a chalky texture. It's brilliant and expresses the variety, vintage and soil perfectly, but today I give the edge to the 2020, which I think transcends the vintage. 6,240 bottles produced. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£280.75 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Aromas of cooked pears, apples, lemons and crushed stones. Salty, too. Full and deep with a solid core of fruit and a bright and citric finish. Very minerally and bright. Starts off slowly and then takes off. Drink or hold. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£181.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)A big, rich red with blackberry, chocolate, toasted oak, peat and flowers. It’s full-bodied and layered and very flavorful in the finish. Still very youthful, but shows tension and focus. Drink or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 2 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£588.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)A big, rich red with blackberry, chocolate, toasted oak, peat and flowers. It’s full-bodied and layered and very flavorful in the finish. Still very youthful, but shows tension and focus. Drink or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 3 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£588.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2013 Nicolás Catena Zapata is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Malbec from the La Pirámide, Adrianna and Nicasia vineyards. It is perfectly clean and focused, a noticeable improvement over the 2012 vintage. The Cabernet Sauvignon from this cool vintage seems to have a more restrained character that made me think of Cabernet Franc, very classical and serious. They have been harvesting earlier and earlier in search of balance and freshness, and the strategy has definitely worked. It has great freshness and focus, and the lower alcohol and acidity seem to make the wine integrate the oak very nicely. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Nicolás Catena Zapata. 55,000 bottles produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 19 | 93+ (VN) |
In Bond
£438.50 |
|||||
Vinous (93+)Bright, dark ruby-red. Reticent aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, licorice and spicy oak are a bit less expressive than those of the 2015 bottling. Impressively rich, pliant and sweet but with excellent vinosity too. A bit more muscular than the 2015 version, as much saline as sweet, with its substantial tannins saturating the entire palate and building. This will take at least a few more years to deliver on its inherent complexity. (Incidentally, the old Agrelo vineyard--La Piramide--from which much of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes has many Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc vines interspersed in it, but the vineyard is registered as Cabernet Sauvignon so this is what goes on the technical sheet.) |
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|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£290.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)A giant. Not only in Argentina’s strong suit in terms of power, it also shows finesse and aromatic complexity. There are all manner of blackberries, smoke, chocolate and spicy notes. Built on a panoramic scale, but full of energy and enormous refinement. The finish cascades on and on. A blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% malbec. Try in 2021. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£103.50 |
|||||
Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£196.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£249.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)The 2016 vintage is a classic example, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc that’s still in its infancy. Subdued aromas of cassis, black cherries and nuanced herbaceous and tobacco notes. A lovely fluid entrance builds on concentration and complexity. Malbec’s seductive juiciness joins a vertical Cabernet structure, tannins and integrated oak, with a long, lingering finish. A wine to wait for. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JA) |
In Bond
£166.00 |
|||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 29 | 97 (JA) |
In Bond
£193.50 |
|||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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|
Mendoza | 4 | 97 (JA) |
In Bond
£261.00 |
|||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)A sit up and take notice wine. Inky colour, smooth tannins, still young and crouched but already combining subtlety and confidence. On the palate, you get a wall of liquorice, crushed cardamom, rosemary, cassis, liqueur, all expertly delivered by winemaker Fernando Buscema. Sensational wine. Tasted twice, same impression each time, of a wine full of life and interest. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 29 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£227.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)This has a complex nose of baked blackberries, grilled plums, dried earth, moss, pine cones, sandalwood, charcoal and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Wow. So much going on. Layered, seamless and silky. Incredible length. Keeps going. 42% cabernet sauvignon, 30% malbec and 28% cabernet franc. Try this from 2024. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 8 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£291.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)This has a complex nose of baked blackberries, grilled plums, dried earth, moss, pine cones, sandalwood, charcoal and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Wow. So much going on. Layered, seamless and silky. Incredible length. Keeps going. 42% cabernet sauvignon, 30% malbec and 28% cabernet franc. Try this from 2024. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 10 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£168.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Red-fruited, herbal, and seamless on the palate, the 2020 Nicolas Catena Zapata is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 21% Malbec. Medium-bodied and well-integrated in terms of both oak and acidity, it has complexity throughout, offering highlights of dark chocolate, black pepper, and sagey mint. A contemplative wine that should age beautifully for another 10-15 years, it was made by Alejandro Vigil from Zapata vines to represent the original Bordeaux blend of the 18th and 19th centuries. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£251.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Sweet tobacco, cigar box, berries and minerals. It gets a little zesty and citrusy on the nose. Really refined and juicy on the palate with lot of fine tannins. Silky, fluid and linear with a very elegant, soft-spoken finish. 46% cabernet sauvignon from Adrianna vineyard and 44% malbec and 10% cabernet franc from Nicasia vineyard. Really refined, long and Bordelais. This is already drinking really well, but it will hold like this for a long time. |
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|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£300.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Honeysuckle, ripe pear and some dried apple. So perfumed. Full-bodied with incredible intensity and length. So much green-apple character and lots of flowers. Dried mango, too. The touch of flor growth in the barrel gives this unique character. Goes on for minutes on the finish. Endless, vibrant acidity. Minerally texture. Drink now or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 3 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£200.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)The nose of the 2020 White Bones Chardonnay is an explosion of thyme and rockrose, aromatic, open, expressive, outspoken, showy and exuberant. It also has notes of white flowers and citrus, pine needles and incense, continuously developing new layers, curry, something smoky, more and more aromatic herbs, nuanced, complex and with a magnetic attraction that makes you go back to the glass over and over again. This was harvested all at the same time, whereas it was sometimes harvested over four different moments in the past; so this is a bit different and an extraordinary year for this wine, transcending the conditions of the year, with lower alcohol and pH (12.5% and 3.1) than the 2021, despite coming from a warmer year. This is very tasty and long, stony (more than White Stones!) and very persistent. Amazing juice! 5,760 bottles produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
In Bond
£80.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)The 2021 White Bones Chardonnay was harvested at two different points of ripeness and then blended into the final wine, which is subtler than the explosive 2020 I tasted next to it but with the same palette of aromas—thyme, rosemary, lavender, rockrose, white flowers, citrus, pine needles, incense, curry and spices—and the palate is seamless, mineral and with a chalky texture. It's brilliant and expresses the variety, vintage and soil perfectly, but today I give the edge to the 2020, which I think transcends the vintage. 6,240 bottles produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 2 | 98+ (WA) |
In Bond
£200.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)The 2021 White Bones Chardonnay was harvested at two different points of ripeness and then blended into the final wine, which is subtler than the explosive 2020 I tasted next to it but with the same palette of aromas—thyme, rosemary, lavender, rockrose, white flowers, citrus, pine needles, incense, curry and spices—and the palate is seamless, mineral and with a chalky texture. It's brilliant and expresses the variety, vintage and soil perfectly, but today I give the edge to the 2020, which I think transcends the vintage. 6,240 bottles produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mendoza | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£225.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Aromas of cooked pears, apples, lemons and crushed stones. Salty, too. Full and deep with a solid core of fruit and a bright and citric finish. Very minerally and bright. Starts off slowly and then takes off. Drink or hold. |
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