Vinos Baettig Vino de Vinedo Los Parientes Chardonnay 2023

Baettig is the family project of winemaker Francisco "Pancho" Baettig (Errázuriz) and Carlos de Carlos in Traiguén, some 600 kilometers south of Chile. They planted 15.4 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on volcanic soils in 2013 and the first wines are hitting the Ontario market for the first time now.

These wines come from from a combination of parcels at Viñedo Los Suizos that deliver lively and juicy wines with tremendous fruit intensity. Los Parientes (the relatives) refers to the closeness of the different components within the same vineyard.

This Vino de Viñedo "Los Parientes" was made with Chardonnay grapes grown in Malleco, in the appellation of Traiguén. Malleco is a land of wild forests, beautiful lakes, active volcanoes and abundant rain in the southern Chilean region of La Araucanía. The ancient volcanic soils of this area are composed of pyroclastic volcanic breccia of andesite lava, with clay to loam texture. The abundant rainfall throughout the year allows Baettig to practice a dry-farming viticulture.

The grapes were harvested during the first two weeks of April, and pressed with whole cluster. The juice fermented in barrels with native yeasts, and was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels—10% in new 400L casks.

The nose is austere, pure and elegant with citrus aromas of orange blossom, lime and lemon peel, with faint notes of linden, verbena, pear and dried fruits such as almonds and walnuts. In the mouth, its mineral notes and tension stand out. It is a linear wine with vibrant acidity and a dry, long and mineral finish.