Altar Uco Edad Media Blanco 2020
- v94
- wa94
Category | White Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Altar Uco |
Origin | Argentina, Mendoza |
Vinous
- v94
The 2020 Blanco Edad Media is a Chardonnay with a dash of 10% Chenin Blanc from a 30-year-old vineyard in La Arboleda, Uco Valley. It was biologically aged for one year in 500L French oak barrels. Yellow with a greenish sheen. The nose offers intense lime, grass, nut, almond, and green apple notes. Taut and tart on the palate. The wine's lean, refreshing character develops generous helpings of umami that linger at the back of the throat. A distinctive, flavorful white in which the high altitude and producer's style come to the fore.
Wine Advocate
- wa94
The 2020 Edad Media Blanco is serious and nuanced, with moderate ripeness and only 11.2% alcohol, notable for the warmer year. The blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc fermented together with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter French oak barrels for 12 months; but the barrels were never topped up, and some developed a thin layer of flor yeasts, which gives it a special spiciness and tastiness. After the élevage, the wine spent five months in stainless steel to let it settle. The nose is complex, subtle and elegant, combining notes of citrus with herbs, spices and a smoky touch. The palate is sharp and very tasty, clean, precise and long. I tasted the 2018 and 2019 next to this 2020 to check the evolution, and despite the warmer year, this keeps the poise and freshness and comes through as a noteworthy followup to the 2019, even a step above. It finishes dry and tasty, with a chalky sensation. It shows very good integration of the oak (better than any previous vintage) and some nuances that appear with time in the glass, like tangerine peel and flowers. It's a beauty. It has a pH of 3.46 (after malolactic) and kept 6.19 grams of acidity. 7,019 bottles were filled in October 2021.