12 to try: South America’s top whites
Errazuriz, Las Pizarras Chardonnay, Aconcagua Costa, Chile 2018 97 £ 55-£63.99 Berry Bros & Rudd, Cru, Exel, Farr Vintners, Fine & Rare, IG Wines, Lay & Wheeler, Richard Dawes, Stannary Wine, Vagabond World-class Chardonnay made not far from the Pacific coast using fruit sourced from small plots grown on slate (‘las pizarras’ in Spanish). The wine combines exuberance of fruit including white peaches and star fruit, with hazelnuts, praline, dried fruits, toast and sweet spices. Beautifully balanced palate with a sophisticated, creamy texture and underlying tension. Persistent finish of well-judged oak and wonderful savoury complexity. Drink 2020-2030 Alcohol 13%
Catena, Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay, Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2018 96 £66.80-£80 (2017) Albany Vintners, BI Wine & Spirits, Cru, Exel, Harrods, Hedonism
A wine made with passion and precision, sourced from 27 rows of a 2.5ha plot, on poor rocky soil at 1,450m. Ethereal, mysterious and elegant, it has aromas of ripe yellow fruits, orange peel, fresh dough, butterscotch and mineral notes. It displays mouthwatering freshness; taut with savoury complexity and hints of sweet spices resulting from skilful use of oak. A classy wine with a broad, creamy texture and reminiscent of white Burgundy. Drink 2020-2030 Alc 13.5%
Matervini, Blanco, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2018 94
£47 67 Pall Mall
A rich and powerful white wine that displays a weight and density akin to a red wine. After five days on skins and co-fermentation between Marsanne (93%) and Viognier (7%) it displays subtle and sophisticated notes of ripe yellow fruits, hazelnuts, honeysuckle and almonds. On the palate it has weight, density and a creamy texture, as well as savoury complexity and well-judged oak. The alcohol level is noticeably high, but it has wonderful freshness to ensure harmony. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14.5%
Riccitelli, Old Vines Semillon, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina 2019 94 £ 31.40-£ 38.95 Cru, Drop Wine, Exel, Fintry Wines, Hallgarten Wines, Hic, Strictly Wine, Taste Argentina
Aromas are refined, subtle and seductive, including stone fruits, fresh dough, citrus fruits, floral notes and a hint of spice. On the palate it has incredible freshness and excellent concentration allied with well-judged oak, spending a few months in 2,000-litre foudres to gain weight and texture, without imparting overt oaky flavours. Refined and well integrated, boasting excellent purity of fruit. This is a wine that in 10 years’ time will not only be drinking magnificently, but will