Kaiken Ultra Mendoza Chardonnay 2021

Kaiken Ultra Mendoza Chardonnay 

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2021

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Chardonnay

ABV: 14%

This wine is gold in colour with youthful hues. On the nose, aromas of pineapple, white peach and citrus intertwine with vanilla and a touch of smoke from the oak ageing. The palate is rich and complex with good acidity and a long, lingering finish.

The grapes were sourced from two different areas in Mendoza. Firstly, from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley, which at 1,400 metres above sea level provides freshness and minerality, and secondly from Vistalba in Luján de Cuyo, which gives concentration to the blend. Soils are sandy loam, providing ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay. Plants are trained to the vertical shoot positioning system and yield an average of six tonnes per hectare

Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, Montes, the Chilean winery, crossed the Andes to set up in Mendoza. Their vineyards are situated in the heart of Mendoza and further to the south in Valle de Uco, where many of the premium producers are now sourcing their fruit. The focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety that has been somewhat forgotten as Malbec has surfed one wave of success after another in the past decade. As a result, there are many old vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent fruit. Kaiken's own vineyards supply 70% of their production requirements and 30% is from vineyards that they control.