Zapallar DO Chardonnay Special Cuvée 2023 Montes

Exclusively produced from Chardonnay grapes grown in the Montes Alpha estate of Zapallar, in the coastal region of Aconcagua in Chile, this Special Cuvée is a wine that reflects the unique character of a terroir close to the Pacific Ocean. The vines, trained on trellises and drip irrigated, benefit from the cool maritime climate and soils ranging from sandy to clay-silty, elements that provide great complexity and typicity to the wine.

Vinification involves harvesting in the cooler hours of the morning, followed by a careful selection of the bunches. The grapes are processed using three different techniques: whole cluster pressing, destemming and pressing, or cold maceration, to maximize aromatic and structural extraction. Alcoholic fermentation takes place partly in steel and partly in French oak barrels, with about 40% of the wine fermented in wood. A portion of the mass undergoes malolactic fermentation to obtain greater roundness and complexity.

The result is a wine with a vivid, clear golden color, with intense aromas of ripe tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, loquat, and prickly pear. The passage in wood imparts elegant notes of vanilla, dried fruit, and well-integrated toast. On the palate, it shows a balanced structure, lively freshness, and a persistent finish with a delicate milky hint.

It pairs beautifully with seafood dishes such as salmon tartare, lobster, shellfish, as well as with white meats with light sauces, aged cheeses, and warm pasta dishes.