2023 Luca Chardonnay G-Lot

Luca is Laura Catena's private project. Laura has made her mark on the wine world and is often called "the face of Argentine wine" because of her significant contributions to the country. She recently presented her 100-year plan: "I want every collector in the world to have Nicolás Catena Zapata in their cellar—that's my dream."

Another dream of Laura Catena was the founding of Luca, named after her eldest son. With Luca, she aims to produce quality wines, where perfect terroir, low yields per hectare, and state-of-the-art winemaking are key. Luca's vineyards are located at altitudes between 900 and 1500 meters and are among the highest in Mendoza. Here, you'll find old vines that, while no longer producing much, maintain the vineyard's high quality (and therefore the wines). She aims to showcase the best expression of each grape variety. Luca has planted six grape varieties in total: Chardonnay, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

The grapes for the Laura Catena Luca Chardonnay 'G-Lot' come from 'Gualtallary', a vineyard in Tupungato, Mendoza. This made Laura Catena the first to produce a Chardonnay at an extreme altitude, 1,500 meters above sea level. The soil is rocky and calcareous, which creates a vibrant minerality in the flavor. Fermentation is spontaneous, 80% in oak barrels and 20% in stainless steel tanks at very low temperatures. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation. This is done to soften the acidity slightly and give the wine a rounder, creamier mouthfeel. The Chardonnay is then aged for twelve months 'sur lie' in oak barrels, 25% of which are new and the rest second-year. In the glass, the wine has a lemon yellow color. The nose reveals aromas of lemon cream, white peach, baked pear, vanilla, and minerality. The wood aging comes to the fore on the palate, with notes of toast, vanilla, and nutmeg, complemented by tropical fruit (pineapple, melon, and ripe apple). Delicious with dishes featuring sautéed mushrooms or butter sauce, such as pasta with creamy mushroom sauce or sautéed sole.

FACT: The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pickup" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht with ample parking. Click here for our address.