2008 Pulenta Estate, Chardonnay, Mendoza

Located in the premium enclave of the premium region, viz Lajun de Cujo in Mendoza, the Pulenta winery is magisterial at 980 metres, the snow capped Andes firmly in its sights. The Estate Chardonnay gets the expensive treatment, its ripe tropical core with notes of peach, fig and hazelnut cleverly tempered by crisper more citric touches, themselves born of the location and the inspired winemaking.
Indeed half of the fruit gets fermented in new barrel, the other half in stainless steel, the former lending vanillin weight and a richly textured mouth-feel, the latter ensuring freshness and a clean fresh finish at the back of the mouth. All in all, a distinctly superior Chardonnay from one of the very best producers in Argentina.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)