As a young person somewhat new to the wine industry, I enjoy a great Bordeaux or a traditional Tuscan wine just as much as the next girl. However, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating things about the art of wine making and appreciation is that, despite being steeped in long standing traditions and fancy verbage- it's actually a vibrant and exciting industry- always changing and ever-evolving! Smart, creative (and for a large part, young!) people are always daring to push traditional boundries, to show us something new, something we've never tasted before.
Some of my favorite wines are the result of experimenting with traditional grape varietals in "New World" regions. For example- Cabernet grown in California- New World! Chardonnay grown in Argentina- New World! Pinot Noir in Australia and California, even Cabernet grown in South Africa- all considered New World. There couldn't be anything more exciting than taking an old idea, reinventing and improving it, and discovering that it could be different or better than we ever thought it could be!
And so, without further ado, one of my favorite Chardonnays is the Luca Chardonnay, made in the Mendoza region of Argentina. And it happens to be owned and produced by none other than a young, enterprising woman- the daughter of Nicolas Catena (proprieter of the Catena Zapata winery), Laura Catena. A few years ago she began making her own wines called Luca, named after her first-born child. Here is an interesting and dynamic woman- Laura Catena is an emergency room doctor and teacher at UCSF. She is in her 30's with three children. She was educated at Harvard and received her medical degree from Stanford University. She has lived in France, speaks fluent French and uses that experience to improve her own vineyard (the family partners with Chateau Lafite). She travels to Argentina several times a year to oversee the Luca winemaker, and also to perform duties as a vice president of Catena Zapata.
There are currently 2 vintages available of the Luca Chardonnay, both highly rated and reviewed by Parker and Wine Spectator:
2006 Luca Chardonnay
"Luca Chardonnay is annually a candidate for Argentina's finest Chardonnay, the primary competitor being Catena Zapata. The 2006 Chardonnay was aged for 12 months in French oak, 50% new. It is light gold in color with a superb aromatic display of spicy oak, mineral, butterscotch, poached pear, and tropical fruits. Medium to full-bodied, it is smoothly textured with outstanding depth and concentration and a lengthy finish. It blows away most white Burgundies and California Chardonnays at twice the price."
92 pts RP
$29.95/btl
2007 Luca Chardonnay
"The Chardonnay has arguably been one of the 3-4 best produced in Argentina for a number of years and the 2007 Chardonnay is no exception. It was 100% barrel-fermented, went through full malolactic fermentation, and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak on its lees. Light gold-colored, it has an outstanding bouquet of spiced apple and poached pear, with tropical fruits in the background. Medium to full-bodied, mineral and oak notes emerge on the palate accompanied by lively acidity, layered flavors, and excellent balance. Drink this classy Chardonnay over the next 3-4 years."
92 pts RP
$29.95/btl