ERRAZURIZ Chardonnay 'Las Pizarras' - Aconcagua Costa 2018 MAGNUM (los)

Description

Las Pizarras Chardonnay 2018 is a remarkable wine that showcases the unique terroir of Aconcagua Costa, a project known for its innovation and focus on quality. This vintage has garnered high praise, including 99 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Decanter. The wine presents a bright yellow-straw colour and an expressive nose of citrus fruits, floral notes, and hints of marzipan and nuts. On the palate, it exhibits outstanding freshness and complexity, with vibrant citrus, tropical fruits, and delicate toasted nuances. The finish is long and elegant, featuring a mineral character that enhances persistence. The Wine Advocate awarded it 96+ points, praising its fresh, vertical structure. Best enjoyed from 2020 to 2030, this Chardonnay is truly exceptional.

*****

Las Pizarras is one of the most innovative projects in recent years, with a great sense of origin and pioneers in adopting a philosophy based on the terroir from Aconcagua Costa. Years of knowledge and mapping the vineyard revealed specifics blocks to produce the most complete and complex Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The name comes from the high percentage of metamorphic rock, specifically slate (“pizarras” in Spanish) found in the property.

Winemaking
The grapes were hand-picked on the mornings of March 05 to 23 to ensure the fruit was cool when it reached the winery. All of the fruit was pressed whole-cluster, and the juice was clarified by cold decanting, without the use of enzymes, before being racked to French oak barrels to be fermented with native yeasts. To preserve the fresh character of its origin, just 50% of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 13 months in 400-litre French oak barrels, 15% new.

The Wine
“The 2018 vintage of Las Pizarras Chardonnay shines with its bright yellow-straw colour. On the nose, it delivers notes of citrus fruits, accompanied by some floral notes framed by soft notes of marzipan and nuts. On the palate, the wine enters with freshness and deepness, followed by a delicate and complex feel. The palate is dominated by its citrusy profile, plus a hint of tropical fruits accompanied by delicate notes of toasted bread and dried fruits, all crowned by an exquisite mineral sensation, excellent persistence and an elegant finish.” Francisco Baettig, Technical Director

JAMES SUCKLING 99 points
I love the aromas of lavender, sandalwood, sliced apples and pears. Some gunpowder and slate undertones. Full-bodied, yet formed and tight with minerality and brightness. Vivid acidity gives this energy and depth. Drinkable, but will age beautifully.

DECANTER 97 points
Tasted by: Dirceu Vianna Junior MW
(at London, 30 Jun 2020)
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2030
World-class Chardonnay made not far from the Pacific coast using fruit sourced from small plots grown on slate (‘las pizarras’ in Spanish). The wine combines exuberance of fruit including white peaches and star fruit, with hazelnuts, praline, dried fruits, toast and sweet spices. On the palate it is dry, beautifully balanced with a sophisticated, creamy texture and underlying tension. The finish is persistent and includes well-judged oaky notes and wonderful savoury complexity.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96+ points
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2020 - 2028
2017 was not an easy act to follow, but the 2018 Aconcagua Costa "Las Pizarras" Chardonnay managed nicely. From a cool year, it has notes of white flowers and nuts and is a little lighter than the 2017, which was more structured. It doesn't have the depth and sharpness of the 2017, but it has very good freshness. It's vertical and mineral and has nice tension, following the path of the 2015 and 2017. This is now matured mostly in 300- and 400-liter oak barrels, and the oak is nicely integrated. Only 50% of the wine went through malolactic. 6,557 bottles and 60 magnums were filled in February 2019.

JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5 points
A very full wine, with a remarkable mineral profile and the acidity is accompanied by sufficient richness. Very deep in flavour on the back palate. Tasty and smooth. I love the fruit load of this Chardonnay. (FC)

I tasted part of the portfolio before some wines were released through the négociants of Bordeaux in September 2019 and the rest in November. I have included all of the wines here for context and completeness.

Published: Feb 28, 2020