2023 Vino de Vinedo Los Parientes Chardonnay

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Tasting Notes
The latest vintage of Baettig's Los Parientes Chardonnay, their "village equivalent, is gorgeous. The warm, dry growing season meant an early harvest for the Baettig team, so that they can retain their trademark freshness. The result is a ripe and generous wine that explodes in the glass. On the palate, there is a floral element, honeysuckle, with a seashell, mineral backbone that accompanies the citrus fruit and touch of toast. There's no shortage of racy acidity to complement the rich fruit. Tense and complex, this is already lovely now but will continue to evolve to 2030.
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James Suckling
Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous
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The 2023 Vino de Viñedo Los Parientes Chardonnay opens with a textbook contemporary Chardonnay bouquet of orchard fruits, struck flint, pastry cream and a slight citrus lift. The palate continues this balance with a sweet, succulent density enlivened by racy acids, concluding with a rich yet vibrant, refreshing finish. This is a perfect overview of the rich yet lifted precision that runs through the Baettig portfolio. After distinguished tenures at Errázuriz, revered enologist Francisco "Pancho" Baettig and Commercial Director Carlos de Carlos launched a project in the Traiguén province of Malleco Valley. It revolves around the Viñedos Los Suizos vineyard—named as a playful nod to the Swiss heritage of both owners—planted on volcanic soil in 2013 with 6.4 hectares of Chardonnay and nine hectares of Pinot Noir, both derived from French clonal material to avoid the inconsistencies of Chilean massal selections. Readers familiar with Pancho's work at Errázuriz will not be surprised that the entire lineup is superbly executed and has quickly become a reference point. The roster is divided between the Vino de Viñedo line, which provides an overview of the vineyard as a whole, and the Selección de Parcelas bottlings, which zoom in to showcase a selection of blocks. Chardonnay undergoes barrel fermentation, and bâtonnage is used in the early stages of élevage. The first sulfur additions typically occur in the summer following the harvest. Maturation usually lasts around 13 to 14 months in approximately 35% new 400-liter barrels. Pinot Noirs incorporate about 20% whole-cluster fermentations and are aged in roughly 50% new 300-liter barrels with a slightly longer élevage. Complementing the Burgundian varieties is a newer and equally impressive Cabernet Sauvignon program based in Maule. For this line, the duo collaborates with a group of growers in Coronel de Maule who own century-old País vineyards that have gradually been grafted to Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1980s. Since Baettig's interest and involvement, this progress has accelerated, resulting in more vines being converted and the outright purchase of one site, showcased in the stunning Los Padrinos bottling. The remaining vines contribute to the Los Compadres, which boasts a unique profile that blends a vibrant, umami-like richness reminiscent of Mediterranean wines with a coniferous quality I associate with California's Santa Cruz Mountains.
Wow! Staggering bright, crisp and fresh, with a fascinating aromatic profile – gooseberry, grapefruit flesh, a little zest too, citron pressé, playdough, baked clay rooftiles in the summer sunshine, freshly chucked peanuts, candied angelica and a just a little hint of beeswax. In the mouth we have the same very vertical profile, the freshness coursing upwards like a fire hydrant spraying sapid citrus notes as if onto the roof of the mouth, where they seem to pick up viscosity which slowly cascades downward. Fascinating texturally. Joyously juicy on the finish.
The 2023 Chardonnay Viñedo Los Parientes originates from Traiguén, Araucania. Aged for eight months in French oak barrels, this yellow-hued wine reveals aromas of green apple, subtly complemented by pineapple and ginger notes with a soft touch of acacia. Dry, creamy and taut on the palate, it offers an oily yet refreshing mouthfeel that lingers with a vibrant acidic edge. A deliciously nuanced and faintly textured Chardonnay, the 2023 closes with an enticing cedar finish.
About the producer

Baettig is the exciting project from leading winemaker Francisco Baettig (of Errázuriz fame). Crafting vibrant, site-expressive wines from Chile’s south, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Malleco and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maule – this is one of the hottest names in South America.