2013 Argentina

In 2002 a group of friends bought land in the premium Gualtallaray zone of the Uco Valley. A well-known local winemaker used their fruit for his top terroir wine. His first vintage of the Malbec achieved 94 Parker points, leading the wines to be bottled under the autonomous Ambrosía label. The 2013 is the debut vintage of Ambrosía’s Chardonnay and it is impressive.

Warm lemon and white peach aromas are followed by riper flavours of yellow apple and nectarine, accompanied by toasty notes of lees-ageing. Ripe but refined with good texture and length, this is exclusive to Berry Bros. & Rudd in the UK. Match with roast loin of pork, macaroni cheese, Gruyère cheese.

I’ve had the pleasure of being able to taste numerous vintages of Cheval des Andes over the years and this is simply the best yet. Ripe and generous, but not overblown, with a massive abundance of sunny blackcurrant and blackberry fruit on the nose and palate and a very fine tannic structure and floral finish that seems to go on forever. Simply gorgeous now, this will reward some additional cellaring (another three to five years easily. If you broach this early, it is absolutely crying out for a generously thick slab of beef with Chimichurri sauce!
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager