2006 Luca Chardonnay Altos de Mendoza

When I first tasted this Chardonnay from fourth-generation wine producer Laura Catena, its sheer elegance blew me away. Cool and minerally, it's made from grapes grown in higher-elevation vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina. Yields are low. It's aged in French oak. The result is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay that can hold its own against much more expensive wines from France or California. The 2006, scented with vanilla and lime, is superb with food.

August 6, 2008