Terrazas de los Andes : Chardonnay 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Chardonnay 2023 from Terrazas de los Andes

Tasting

Color
The wine displays a pale yellow hue with green highlights.

Nose
The bouquet reveals intense aromas of juicy yellow peach, pear, and grapefruit. Notes of candied citrus peel and white honey enrich the aromatic palette.

Palate
The attack is lively and fresh, driven by pear flavors. Balanced acidity supports a full, generous body. The creamy finish lingers elegantly, revealing subtle hints of brioche.

Food and wine pairings

This chardonnay pairs perfectly with grilled white fish, buttered pasta or pasta with crème fraîche, as well as Thai cuisine. It also matches soft cheeses such as Camembert or Brie.

Serving and aging

The Chardonnay 2023 Terrazas de los Andes is best served at 12°C. This wine has aging potential until around 2031.

A lively and elegant Argentine chardonnay from the Uco Valley

The estate

Domaine founded by pioneers, embraced by the local community and shaped by the Andes, Terrazas de los Andes can boast of being an Argentine estate with a recent yet rich history. Three decades ago, Hervé Birnie-Scott, a French agronomist, decided to head to the lands of South America to elevate Argentine wines to the rank of world-renowned great wines. The challenge has been brilliantly met, as today Terrazas de los Andes stands out as an emblem of Argentina’s great wines.

Now part of Moët Hennessy Wine Estates (LVMH group), this bodega farms 537 hectares of vineyards spread across Las Compuertas, Perdriel, and several terroirs in the Uco Valley. The estate stands out for its mastery of high-altitude vineyards, growing each grape variety at its optimal elevation: chardonnay at 1,200 meters, malbec at 1,067 meters, cabernet sauvignon at 980 meters, and syrah at 800 meters.

The vineyard

This chardonnay comes from a blend of more than 10 plots sourced from three high-altitude organic vineyards located in the Valle de Uco. The vines are grown between 1,230 and 1,650 meters above sea level on the sites of Cepas del Plata in El Peral (1,500 m), Caicayén in Gualtallary (1,230 m), and El Espinillo in Gualtallary (1,650 m). Irrigation is carried out sustainably using glacier water.

The vintage

The year 2023 in Mendoza was marked by challenging weather conditions with several heat waves. These conditions resulted in a shorter harvest period and lower yields than in previous years. Despite these challenges, the vintage produced grapes of excellent quality with consistent aromatic expression and a more straightforward fruit profile.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest is carried out early to preserve the grapes’ freshness, with hand selection. Fermentation begins after pressing and settling. During fermentation, the must is transferred to oak barrels to complete the process. Malolactic fermentation is partial in order to retain the wine’s liveliness and crispness. The Chardonnay 2023 then benefits from 8 months of aging on lees before being stabilized and bottled.

Grape variety

This Argentine white wine is 100% chardonnay.