Zuccardi Redefines Chardonnay in South America
Do you know what excites us the most about hunting down wines and offering them prices that pale in comparison to the value of the juice inside the bottle!? Sharing these hidden gems with you!
Your palate will think this is Grand Cru Chablis while your pockets will be in utter disbelief that you nearly stole this wine. Behold the Grand Cru Chablis-esque 2019 Zuccardi Fosil Chardonnay from Uco Valley.
I'll give you a quick rundown of the estate if you don't know who Zuccardi is. They're one of Argentina's absolute best wineries regularly earning 100 point scores for their top wines and have been named the "Worlds Best Vineyard" 3 times in a row by William Reed. Zuccardi is not only one of the best in South America but one of the best on planet Earth.
Leave it to one of the world's best to redefine the winemaking boundaries of Chablis-styled wines. Like Chablis, the 2019 Fosil is "more about the place than the grape" says renowned critic Robert Parker. It's an elegant and exciting wine. Aromas of dried apples, lemon zest, white flowers, and cardamon lead you to the heights of lean and rich Chardonnay only thought to exist in Burgundy.
If this wine came from one of Domaine Raveneau's single-vineyards you'd shell out at least $300 to $500 a bottle. But instead, it's from Argentina's groundbreaking estate that's setting a new standard for elite South American wine.
You know we love this wine but what do the critics think?
The 2019 Fósil San Pablo is a Chardonnay from San Pablo that follows the steps of the 2018, with its moderate alcohol and notable acidity and freshness. It comes from grapes planted at 1,400 meters above sea level in the coolest place possible. It's citrusy and has notes of aromatic herbs with restraint. On the palate, it's vibrant and very dry, with marked chalkiness. It's more about the place than the grape. 4,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2019. ~95 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This mostly concrete-produced chardonnay shows freshness and complexity with dried apple, stone, and lemon rind. Honeysuckle, too. Lovely creaminess. Undertone of salt. No malo. Tangy and intense. One for the cellar. Drink now or hold. ~95 James Suckling
A Chardonnay from San Pablo, Uco Valley, made with direct pressing and fermented with native yeasts in concrete eggs and 500 liters French barrels with no must. A yellowy-green in the glass, the nose contains aromas of country herbs, resin, apple, pears, peas, and a hint of cardamom. Complex and intriguing, the 2019 Fósil Zuccardi has a powerful texture in the mouth and sustained flavor with heightened but contained freshness that comes in with a kick at the end. This white, Sebastian Zuccardi's best, is influenced by the wines of Burgundy. ~95 Vinous Media
The cold climates of the Uco Valley have redefined Mendoza's Chardonnay and Fósil is a good example of why. Created by Sebastián Zuccardi with grapes from the San Pablo GI (1,400m) it is mostly aged in concrete (30% in used barrels) and is a vivid color in the glass, with aromas of green apple, citrus, and white flowers. In the mouth, it presents exhilaratingly vivacious acidity – perfect for accompanying oysters or grilled fish. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028
~95 Decanter
That's a grand total of four 95 point ratings and–at the best price in the country–it's only $48.99 a bottle. Be the first to discover this hidden gem.
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