Altar Uco Edad Moderna Blanco 2021
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An excitable white wine whose expressive aromas are reminiscent of herbs typical of Sauvignon Blanc, with citric and fruit hints provided by the Chardonnay. White fruits can be perceived in the mouth, while it is firm, balanced, medium-bodied and highly tense in the palate, with a highly marked acidity. A vertical, modern and cool-climate wine.
Blend: 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chenin Blanc
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Wine Enthusiast
The 2021 Edad Moderna Blanco has changed to a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc (from Gualtallary) and 30% Chenin Blanc (from an old vineyard in Vila Seca) with only 11.5% alcohol and notable freshness and acidity. This is still very young and a little reductive, very pale and tight. The full clusters were pressed and the juice fermented in concrete egg with indigenous yeasts and matured in those eggs for eight months. The profile is serious and austere, noticeable especially on the palate where the flavors are pungent, tasty and vibrant, with a long, salty finish. Rating: 92+
Other Vintages
2020-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.