2021 Bodega Chacra Mainque Chardonnay

Bodega Chacra was formed in 2004 by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, the grandson of Sassicaia’s founder, Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. Piero always wanted to do his own thing independent of family ties, and in 2004 he heard about an abandoned Pinot vineyard in Patagonia that was originally planted in 1932 and knew immediately it was the opportunity he had been looking for. And so began what is now Bodega Chacra, generally recognised as the greatest Pinot Noir produced in South America.

Over time another vineyard from 1955 was added along with more plantings. Vineyards are tended using organic and biodynamic principles. The old vines are planted on their own rootstocks, producing tiny bunches with incredibly concentrated flavours. Fruit is hand harvested, fermented in concrete, transferred by gravity and treated in the gentlest way possible without fining or filtration in order to produce wines with transparency.

Mainque is a collaboration between Bodega Chacra and famed Burgundy producer Jean-Marc Roulot. Mainque Chardonnay comes from 3 parcels of land with a range of sand, clay, and pebble soils that are all biodynamically farmed. The wine is aged in old barrels from Roulot's domaine in Meursault.

Other Reviews....
The 2021 Mainqué Chardonnay is the second white here, produced by Jean-Marc Roulot from 40-year-old ungrafted vines in Mainqué in the Lunita property (where they regrafted the vines to Chardonnay), where they work with cover crops, no chemicals and bees. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, 70% in French oak barrels and 10% each in clay amphorae, concrete egg and stainless steel, and it matured for nine months, 70% in barrel and 10% each in concrete and stainless steel. It has the precision and purity of Roulot, which to a certain extent is the result of thorough work with the press. "He sent us the press program," Piero told me. "And we now have two presses. We are learning." When I thought about what was in common between the reds and the whites, I came up with three words: precision, purity and elegance. It has notes of white flowers and a touch of fennel and other aromatic herbs. It was harvested early in the morning and in the season, and the wine is light and refreshing, ethereal, weightless and with purity and precision. It's a delight! 24,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2021. Drink 2022 - 2027.
94 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Dec 2022)

Fresh apricots, white strawberries, cream, crushed stones and lemon meringue on the nose. Subtle spice, such as anise, white pepper and lemon grass. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a textured, phenolic palate. Very fresh and focused with persistency and tense layers of white fruit and minerals. Drink or hold. From biodynamically grown grapes.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com

“Piero Incisa della Rocchetta is the grandson of the aristocratic winemaking family behind Tuscany’s groundbreaking Sassicaia. In 2004 Piero heard whispers of an abandoned Pinot Noir vineyard in Patagonia, originally planted in 1932. And so, began what is now Bodega Chacra. Organic & biodynamic certified, located in the Rio Negro Valley of northern Patagonia. Since 2017, Piero has been working with famed burgundy wine-maker JM Roulot to produce Chardonnay in Patagonia to great acclaim.” Fermented and aged for 10 months in barrels from Roulot’s domaine in Meursault (30% in concretete eggs, 10% for 9 months in 1st use, 60 % in 2 & 3rd use).
White peach. white flowers, honey almond, ripe lemon, a subtle sort of sea breeze thing happening (though don’t mind me). It’s cool, glossy, almond nougat, saline too, with a fine dusty texture, a little white pepper and spice, lemon oil with a refreshing subtle citrus peel and watermelon rind bitterness on a long finish. Delightful wine. Graceful, and very at ease with itself. Drink 2022 - 2029+.
95 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front