Salentein Pyros Appellation Chardonnay 2023
A cool-climate Chardonnay with notes of peach and pear with delicate floral overtones of jasmine and white blossoms. Vibrant and fresh, with a light minerality.
The grapes come from a vineyard situated at 1,300 metres above sea level in the Pedernal Valley, set within a wild and untouched terroir. During ripening, average daily temperatures fluctuated between 15°C and 20°C, with a diurnal range of 20°C. Annual rainfall totalled 150mm, supplemented by winter snowfall. Meltwater and rainwater provide drip irrigation. The alluvial soils comprise angular gravels of varying sizes and compositions, but predominantly calcareous stones and Pedernal flint, interspersed with finer sand, silt, and clay layers. These poor soils, low in organic matter, provide optimal water retention and distribution, alongside excellent drainage and minimal compaction. The vineyard was planted in 2001 at a density of 4,000 vines per hectare, on ungrafted rootstocks. They are trained on trellises and are sustainably cultivated.
The hand-harvested grapes, transported in 18-kg bins, were gently pressed on arrival at the winery. The must underwent static, oxidative decantation at 8°C, without sulphur dioxide addition until bottling. After 24 hours, the must was transferred to small stainless steel tanks for wild yeast fermentation. 25% of the volume was racked into second-, third-, and fourth-use French oak barrels to create blending components. Fermentation lasted for 25 days at temperatures of 16-18°C. The wine then remained on its lees, with the barrel-fermented portion undergoing malolactic conversion and ageing in barrel for six months. Total ageing comprised six months in barrel and stainless-steel tanks, followed by three months in bottle.
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Pedernal Valley |
| Subregion | San Juan |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 1.8 |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Diam |
Bodegas Salentein is nestled in the picturesque Uco Valley just south of Mendoza. In 1996, Dutch entrepreneur Mijndert Pon purchased the estate in what initially seemed to be a rocky desert. He ambitiously embarked on planting vineyards at high altitudes with the aim of producing ‘wines like no other.’ A year later, construction of the magnificent cross-shaped winery began. The four wings of the landmark winery each ferment the wines before gravity transfers it to the underground cellars. The high-altitude vines are planted at an elevation of between 1,050 and 1,600 metres, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Andes Mountains. At this altitude, the vines benefit from optimal diurnal temperature differences and a diverse terroir in which they flourish. Today, Bodegas Salentein is one of the most admired Argentine wineries - not just in the Uco Valley, but in the world. Their focus is producing terroir-driven wines which express the essence of the Uco Valley, and they do so with great purity and finesse.
