2015 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay

There is no let up in quality at Catena Zapata, where Nicolas Catena remains in charge, assisted by his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena

(aged in 500-liter barrels; 20% of the wine completed malolactic fermentation): Pale, bright yellow-gold. Captivating nose combines candied pineapple, lavender and an element of almost flinty minerality. Very rich and suave but classically dry, showing Chablis-like crushed rock and herb nuances. This wine really vibrates in the mouth and mounts on the salty, subtly long finish. While it possesses a sold backbone for aging, it's supple now and should be approachable relatively early. Winemaker Vigil works with minimal SO2; he told me he added a bit only in September of '15, after a portion of the wine had finished its malolactic fermentation

Complex, pure and elegant with herbal, floral aromas leading to lovely persistent eucalyptus, acacia, pineapple and refreshing citrus. Burgundian style.

The 'White Stones' Chardonnay comes from a select 27 rows within Block 1 of the Adrianna Vineyard at 4,575 feet elevation and gets its name refers to the gravelly soils beneath the vines, which is covered with oval, white stones. The wine itself is absolutely gorgeous, as it begins with beautiful aromatics of orchard fruits and subtle tropical notes along with some vanilla blossoms and wonderful stony minerality. On the palate this displays lovely vibrancy and is extremely well balanced and focused, with a mineral laced core that continues through the finish. This is a stunning bottle of chardonnay that is already drink beautifully, but also has the potential to age. 2018-2027