Terroir
Catena Alta Chardonnay 2022 is sourced primarily from two of Catena’s highest and most celebrated sites in the Uco Valley: Adrianna Vineyard (Gualtallary, 1450 m) and Domingo Vineyard (Tupungato, 1120 m). These extreme elevations place the vines under intense sunlight yet cool daytime temperatures, with nights that are dramatically cold—conditions that preserve vibrant acidity, tension, and aromatic lift. Adrianna’s calcareous, fossil-rich soils contribute a distinctive chalky, saline edge, while Domingo’s loam-and-riverstone profile imparts roundness and citrus-driven clarity. The 2022 vintage benefited from a long, slow ripening season with excellent diurnal shifts, delivering fruit that was simultaneously ripe, floral, and mineral, a hallmark of the best high-altitude Chardonnay in Argentina. This terroir, often compared to Burgundy’s cooler limestone domains, produces wines of extraordinary purity and longevity.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Grapes are hand-harvested in small lots and sorted with meticulous precision. Fermentation takes place in a combination of French oak barrels and concrete eggs, using mostly indigenous yeasts to enhance site expression. Roughly 50–60% of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, depending on the vintage profile, preserving both creaminess and linear tension. Aging continues for roughly 12–14 months in French oak, about a third of which is new, giving subtle structure without overwhelming the mineral core. Lees stirring is applied periodically to deepen texture and aromatic complexity. Alcohol sits at a balanced 13%, with acidity naturally elevated due to the high-altitude fruit sourcing. The wine is bottled unfiltered to maintain its intricate layers and site-driven character.

Tasting Notes
The 2022 Catena Alta Chardonnay opens with a lifted, luminous bouquet of Meyer lemon, pear, white peach, and green apple, graced by floral overtones of acacia and jasmine. Beneath the fruit lies a backbone of crushed limestone, cool chalk, and subtle flint, a direct imprint of Adrianna’s calcareous soils. On the palate, the wine is precise yet generous, offering a beautiful interplay of citrus zest, ripe orchard fruit, pastry cream, and toasted hazelnut. The mid-palate shows impressive concentration balanced by a spine of minerality and racy acidity. As it unfolds, hints of brioche, lemon curd, fennel pollen, and wet stone emerge. The finish is long, elegant, and saline, leaving impressions of white peach, crushed shell, and subtle spice. This is one of Catena’s most Burgundian expressions—structured, textural, and beautifully refined.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve at 50–54 °F (10–12 °C) in a Burgundy bowl to highlight its aromatics and mineral depth. A brief 10–15 minute aeration enhances its creamy-lees complexity and flinty edges. Catena Alta Chardonnay excels with rich yet bright dishes: butter-poached lobster, pan-seared scallops, trout almondine, or roast chicken with lemon and thyme. It also pairs wonderfully with mushroom risotto, grilled artichokes, and soft cheeses like triple-cream brie or Saint-André. For a regional Argentine pairing, serve with grilled Patagonian trout or empanadas filled with sweet corn and goat cheese. Best enjoyed now through 2032, with the potential for added hazelnut, honey, and stone-driven depth over time.