2018 White Bones Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
White Bones is right next to White Stones vineyard . Orange blossom and nectarine – vivid and full, with loads of flavour concentration and persistence. Full of personality, with a distinctive savoury character that borrows from Burgundy but is certainly New World in fruit ripeness. Lovely fennel note on the finish. (RH)
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Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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Made with grapes from the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary located at 1,450 meters and aged for up to 16 months in used French barrels, 40% in flor . Yellow in the glass with greenish flecks, it presents an aromatic nose of basil, mint, herbs, lemon and ginger. More austere than other vintages, the whole wine buzzes with heightened freshness (pH 3.2). Sparky on the tongue, and the flor keeps things concentrated and provides a terse texture. Complex and long-lasting.
The 2018 White Bones Chardonnay shows a slightly showier personality than the 2018 White Stones, but it's less balsamic and minty than the 2017 White Bones. But this bottling is always a little more aromatic and forward than the more backward White Stones; there are flowers, pollen, herbs and white pepper. But both whites are more about the place and vintage, more about the chalky soils that give them a very specific mouthfeel, with a dry, austere personality. 6,000 bottles were filled in May 2019.
About the producer
Bodega Catena Zapata has been instrumental both in the development of fine wine production in Argentina and in realising the full potential of the Malbec grape.