2020 Bodega Chacra Patagonia Chardonnay

Responsibly Farmed
Hidden Gem
Classic in Style

Done in collaboration with Jean-Marc Roulot of Domaine Roulot in Meursault, this cult favorite comes from a single vineyard of 40 year old Chardonnay vines in the Rio Negro Valley of northern Patagonia. Only 12 bottles of this gem available so get it while you can!

Organic and biodynamic farming practices, hand-harvested, native yeast fermentation, unfined & unfiltered.

White
  • Tasting Notes green apple, lemongrass, honeysuckle, pear, lime yogurt
  • Variety Chardonnay
  • Region Argentina, Patagonia
  • Volume 750ml
  • Alcohol Volume 12%
  • Table Talk In Patagonia, a “chacra” is a special piece of land separated by canals that bring snowmelt from the Andes and make the Patagonian desert fertile.

$115.00

Out of stock

Chacra was created in 2003 by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, whose grandfather started the legendary Sassicaia Winery in Tuscany. If was at a wine tasting in New York City that Piero discovered a Pinot Noir that brought his attention to the Río Negro region of Patagonia, Argentina. After his first visit, he knew this would be the home of his new passion. The quest for a unique terroir was over: with ungrafted vines dating back to 1932, planted by massale selection, with grapes of immense quality, vibrant luminosity, pure water, strong winds, Mainqué had the potential to make the wines of which he dreamed. Here, Piero could make wines that could truly convey the taste of “a place on the planet.”

Later, what began as a conversation between friends, has turned into a partnership with esteemed Burgundian Chardonnay producer Jean-Marc Roulot joining Piero in Patagonia in planting, farming, and vinification of Chardonnay at Chacra. This newest chapter in Chacra’s story is more than just an expansion of a winery or the productions of new wines, it is a story of a friendship.

Respecting the environment by following biodynamic and organic principles, Piero strives to make wines that are transparent, pure, delicate, and floral with a strong minerality. “The ultimate principle we follow at Chacra is a conscientious respect for the natural environment. Our organic approach seeks to preserve biodiversity and natural resources, with the least intervention of man possible. This is why all biodynamic preparations we use for our vineyards are made from the plants and animals of the very estate.” For Piero, wine is the result of thousands of tiny decisions taken every day of the year and the unlimited variables. Weather is a crucial factor, making flexibility and nimbleness key to adapting to any changes the winds may bring.

In Patagonia, a “chacra” is a special piece of land separated by canals that bring snowmelt from the Andes and make the Patagonian desert fertile. At the same time, chacras are vital energy centers that provide us with the ability to connect with the whole universe, with everything living and vibrating. In its nourishment, in the marriage with every meal, wine is the companion of pleasure and sensitivity. Wine is intimate and touches all our senses. Chacra aims to enhance that connection. Respecting and enhancing the community of Chacra is of the utmost importance.

Bodega Chacra is located in the Rio Negro Valley of northern Patagonia. The property’s location in the arid central Argentine desert is tempered by the confluence of the Neuquen and Limay Rivers, both of which flow from the Andes and converge in the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Atlantic. The climate is dry, with a maximum humidity of thirty percent and an average of seven inches of rainfall annually. This aridity, coupled with the natural barrier of the surrounding desert, results in a complete absence of phylloxera and vine diseases.

In the 1820s, British colonists dug irrigation channels on both sides of the river, forming a green belt suitable for agriculture. Soils at the river banks are mainly acidic, sandy loams and silty loams, while in the dry plain, extensive gravel mantels known as ‘Rodados Patagónicos’ or ‘Patagonian Shingle Formation’ can be found.

A high iron concentration before the Río Negro produces heavy red clay soils in the “Mainqué” area. Another part of the estate is encompassed by “barda” soils: eroded steep slopes with scarce vegetation.