95

2018 De Martino Tres Volcanes Chardonnay, Malleco

( £21.99, 13.5%, Great Wine Co, Waitrose Cellar )

Chilean Chardonay is on a roll right now, especially when it’s from vineyards in the cooler areas of the country close to the Pacific or way down south, which is the case here. The brilliant Marcelo Retamal buys the grapes for this world-class white from Francisco Baettig’s increasingly famous vineyard in Malleco. There was a little rain during the growing season, so the wine has a little bit of  “noble rot” (botrytis) character, which adds a drizzle of honeyed complexity to its chiselled, racy, well-balanced palate, exhibiting flavours of cashew nut, citrus and wet stones. The oak is very understated, which is the case with all the De Martino wines.

BuyDrinking window: 2021-26Similar Wines: £20-25, 95-100, Chile, White, Chardonnay
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