Fin del Mundo SV Chardonnay - 2021 | Finca Antranik

The 2021 Chardonnay Fin comes from the Antranik vineyard in San Patricio del Chañar, Patagonia. It was aged in 40% French oak barrels. In the glass, it’s yellow with a golden sheen. The nose features acacia and green apple alongside cedar and marzipan aromas. Dry and creamy in the mouth, the precise acidity and faintly buttery feel produce a dynamic palate. A complex Chardonnay with a long finish of fruit and élevage.

The estate is found in Argentina's southern Patagonia, about 500 miles south of Mendoza. Founded in 1999, it is the first and largest winery in the up-and-coming Neuquén region. Since then it has expanded to produce wines and grow grapes from around 870 hectares (2150 acres) of vineyards planted on windswept sandy and stony soils. The winery is run by uncle and niece, Eduardo Eurnekian and Juliana Del Aguila Eurnekian. Renowned winemaking consultant Michel Rolland helped get the project off the ground, and today the wines are crafted by Ricardo Galante of Mendoza fame.

South America's southernmost wine-producing region, it is around twice the size of California. It is a desert with around 180 mm of rain per year, where viticulture is possible only near the rivers that carry meltwater from the Andes providing much-needed irrigation. This ultra-arid climate of warm days and cold nights extends the growing season in the region, slowing the ripening process and letting them develop rich varietal character while retaining acidity. The stony alluvial soils are well drained, and allow root systems to grow deeply into the ground in order to access important minerals and hydration.