2021 Vino de Vinedo Los Parientes Chardonnay
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Tasting Notes
The 2021 Chardonnay is like a volcanic Chablis. It has wonderful mineral tension and bitter lemon fruit but with a distinct salinity and light smokiness so distinct of volcanic soils. What defines the palate is its tautness and vibrant energy. It is beautifully pure and elegant with mineral freshness and fantastic quality Chardonnay for the price.
The 2021 vintage in Traiguén is looking very special based on these early bottlings of Vino de Viñedos (the more premium Selección de Parcelas will be released next year). The nose is complex, with green herbal tones allied to chalky, briny, mineral notes. The palate retains that distinct vertical, Chablis-esque character, but also has a lovely, rich mid-palate. The tautness brings great energy to the wine. The wine has all you want in an acid-driven Chardonnay – varietal expression, verticality, salinity and a long, refreshing finish. This is exceptional value at under £20.
There’s a lick of lime curd on the nose here, with tightly wound greengage emerging with air. It’s pure and linear, driven with its intense, stony purity, but there’s a pleasing fatness to the fruit behind, with a mouth-wateringly juicy finish and long, saline tang to the finish. Aged for 10 months in only used oak. Production: 16,909 bottles
Critic Scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Chardonnay Vino de Viñedo Los Parientes was fermented in used barrels with native yeast. Yellowy green in the glass. The austere nose offers gentle notes of apple, herb, and lime and a whiff of acacia. The palate delivers tension and a packaged core of malic acidity, with a slight creaminess and the typical flavors of the variety.
A different style to the previous vintage of Los Parientes. This shows nimbler, more lime-like white and green fruit with green apples, nectarines, green tea and some chamomile. Very cool, taut and vibrant with bright, mouthwatering acidity. Great texture and elegance. Think serious Chablis in terms of style. Drink or hold.
Frost affected, like the 2022 crop, but the 2021 Chardonnay shows no signs of stress or over concentration. More "Burgundian" in style than the 2022, this is layered, complex and detailed, with volcanic energy, waxed lemon and vanilla flavours and a long, tapering finish.
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About the producer
Baettig is the exciting project from leading winemaker Francisco Baettig (of Errázuriz fame). Crafting vibrant, site-expressive wines from Chile’s south, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Malleco and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maule – this is one of the hottest names in South America.