Zuccardi Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

The Zuccardi family has made wine in Mendoza's Uco Valley since the 1960s, moving from bulk wine to estate bottling in the early 1980s and building an export brand from there. This Chardonnay comes from high-altitude mountain vineyards, where the thin air brings intense daytime sun but very cold nights. That wide diurnal range lets the grapes ripen slowly and fully while holding the natural acidity that keeps a mountain Chardonnay fresh and precise rather than broad. Stony, free-draining alluvial soils at altitude add to the wine's tension. It is aged on its lees, which builds a rounder mid-palate and a fine texture through released mannoproteins without masking the fruit or the freshness. Farming is sustainable. The colour is pale straw with green tints. The nose is fresh and defined, with white peach, citrus and pear over a light floral note. The palate is medium bodied and taut, the ripe fruit carried on bright, mountain-driven acidity with a subtle almond note and a clean finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white glass. It suits roast chicken, baked white fish and richer seafood.