Zuccardi Chardonnay Uco Valley San Pablo Fósil 2021

97 points Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous): "The 2021 Chardonnay Fósil from San Pablo, Uco Valley was 30% aged in 500-liter barrels, the rest in concrete. Yellow in the glass. The nose offers notes of linden blossom, apple, country herbs and a hint of huacatay, a mountain herb. Dry in the mouth with a chalky feel and expansive freshness that brings nuance and depth; the flow is ethereal and saline while the finish lingers at leisure. The conditions that year really helped to dial up the quality, surpassing previous vintages. A complex, refined expression, tight like the best bands and continuing the austere spirit with which Fósil made its name. Drink: 2022-2031. (Aug .2022)"

96 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "2021 seems like a very good vintage at Zuccardi, and they consider it a superb year for whites. The 2021 Fósil has lower alcohol (12.8%) and a sharper profile and is austere, young and subtle with a seamless palate with great freshness, balance and elegance. In this cooler year, they used more oak, because they feel that the wine needs more oxygen in cooler years and less in warmer ones. So, this 2019 fermented and matured equal parts in concrete and used 500-liter oak barrels for around eight months. But the wine shows no oak, and certainly no more than the 2020 I tasted next to it, but the two vintages show different profiles. This should develop nicely in bottle. Drink: 2024-2032. (11/30/22)"

96 points Descorchados: "The San Pablo zone, very close to the first mountain ranges of the Andes in the Uco Valley and at an altitude of 1,400 meters, is one of the most extreme places in Mendoza for growing vines. And it's the source of this 100% chardonnay from vineyards that Zuccardi planted around 2012. In a cool year like 2021, this has an accent on acidity—a lively, incisive acidity—always accompanied by a body rich in creaminess and in friendly and enveloping textures that give this white a dense body without losing any of its freshness. Pure ripe white fruits, herbs, and spices in one of the best chardonnays in South America today. (Jan 2023)"

95 points Tim Atkin, MW: "[12.8%] The cool 2021 growing season produced what Sebastián Zuccardi calls his “favourite ever vintage of Fósil”. Showing the focus and freshness of this 1,400-metre site, this is indeed a lightly wooded delight, all crunchy acidity, citrus peel, aniseed and lemongrass flavours and a stony, oyster shell finish. 2023-2030. (2022)."

95 points James Suckling: "Tangy and focused nose, effusing mineral allures, lime juice and green apples. Very bright and chalky palate, seeped with a waterfall of fresh acidity. Zingy, nimble and medium-bodied white with lots of purity and drive in the mouthwatering finish. Pure, focused and super delicious with a mineral finish. Irresistible now. (5/3/22)"

94 points Wine Enthusiast: "The wine hails from San Pablo in Uco Valley. In this cold vintage, both white and red wines from this appellation show complexity. This Chardonnay starts with an enticing nose of wet stone, white blossoms and a touch of ginger. The citrus and textured palate includes notes of Meyer lemon, clementine and dried herbs. There is a light saline note in the delicious finish. (Mar 2024)"