A varietal Pinot Noir grown on twenty-year vines in the Rio Negro region of Patagonia. Farming is organic and biodynamic, and the fruit was hand-picked, de-stemmed, and fermented with ambient yeasts in cement tank. The wine was racked by gravity into half French oak barrels and half cement for twelve months of aging.
The aromas are earthy; a commingling of forest-floor, barnyard, pine needle, and wet clay beneath bright red berry fruit. The palate’s restrained tannins carry a wash of black and red cherry. Acidity is its main structural component, and as the wine sits in the mouth, the red fruit blooms, unfurling in waves of berries and almost citrus. There are few savory components; the wine is too young for them, perhaps. But The finish is glittery and clean, a complement to the darker tones.
The wine balances fruit and refreshment with the earthy note Pinot needs to stay grounded.
2017 Bodega Chacra Barda Pinot Noir Patagonia
13% abv | $30 (sample) Imported by Kobrand
Patagonian wines have held a special place for me, since my 2010 visit to Argentina. I generally like the balance of Patagonian wines more than their Mendozan siblings.
Like you, I became enamored of the Patagonian wines when I visited the region (in 2015). The styles overall tend to be fresh and elegant, and the region’s ceaseless winds seem to give the fruit structure and concentration while also keeping it sane. I wish we saw more of these Pinots and Chardonnays in the States.