NEW RELEASES
Fòsil and Bòtanico - two mesmerising Chardonnay from Familia Zuccardi
Argentina's best-kept secret
Joaquin Hidalgo, vinous.com, August 2025
Zuccardi, Chardonnay, Fósil 2024
£165 per 6 bottle case in bond
Zuccardi, Chardonnay, Botánico 2024
£165 per 6 bottle case in bond
A good bottle is an empty bottle is a refrain we heard numerous times on our recent visit to Bordeaux. If there is truth in that, then the two Zuccardi wines offered here are most certainly good bottles. Opened mid-morning, they were empty well before the end of the day due to the necessity for repeated 'checks' on how they were developing in the glass... Very well, is the answer. And from an already strong starting point when the cork was first pulled.
There is no doubt that Argentina is capable of producing outstanding site-specific Chardonnay, particularly from the Uco Valley. These two new releases from Familia Zuccardi, Fòsil and Bòtanico show how far things have come and they show how individual sites in Argentina are capable of producing completely different styles. Both of these are very highly recommended.
Zuccardi was founded in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi, an engineer from Tucuman, who initially moved to Mendoza to test irrigation systems on vines. He ended up founding an estate in the Uco Valley, effectively in the foothills of the Andes, where vineyards sit between 1,000 and 1,500 metres above sea level, and benefit from a cold dry climate where the difference between day and night time temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees celsius. Today, the estate is led by Sebastian Zuccardi, the third generation, and his focus has placed Zuccardi at the forefront of the move towards terroir, or site-specific, wines - capturing and expressing the different terroirs derived of different microclimates, altitudes, and soil types.
We tasted these two contrasting Chardonnay yesterday and these differences were dramatically evident. Each is a “Vino de Paraje” – a wine of unique place – with Fòsil based in the San Pablo sub-zone (‘IG’) at 1,400 metres altitude and very close to Andes proper. The microclimate is notably cool due to cloud cover and breezes off the Andes and the soils are fine but rich in limestone. This is most certainly translated in the glass to a wine of clarity, purity, minerality and freshness. The palate is vibrant and taut, with white stone and yellow citrus together with a minty, scented herb note on the finish so typical of Argentinian Chardonnay while the San Pablo cool fruit aspect is carried by a pristine, stony, mineral persistence.
The Botánico meanwhile comes from the Gualtallary sub-zone of the Uco Valley, home to Catena’s White Stones and White Bones, which we have offered previously. This sandy, limestone-based vineyard produces a wine that marries ripe, bold fruit with notes of peach, kiwi and grapefruit as well as a note of aromatic herbs. This is broader-textured, more expansive on the palate with juicy, mouthwatering fruit but with good mineral power on the long, focused finish.
This is summarised well by Joaquín Hidalgo in his August 2025 article: “Argentina’s Best-Kept Secret: Continental White Wines” where he writes: As an example of the diversity within these regions, the Chardonnays of San Pablo tend to be leaner than those of Gualtallary. The former has fine, gravelly soils and greater cloud cover from a nearby mountain, while Gualtallary is sunnier and the soils contain more calcareous gravel (when they’re not pure sand). This means that the precise ripening points are quite different in each area. In Gualtallary, the trick is to balance innate richness with the pace of ripening, whereas in San Pablo, it’s to ensure that the fruit hangs long enough to reach full physiological ripeness.
Both wines were absolutely wonderful glasses of wine, highlighting why Chardonnay is such a successful grape variety with its ability to communicate a sense of place in wines through appealing fruit and refreshing structure – textural, mouth-watering, mineral. The Fòsil shows greater tension and mineral energy through the mid-palate compared to the Bòtanico’s breadth and juicy fruit. Both are remarkable for their pure, healthy fruit and mineral persistence, particularly given their price point.
My notes are integrated above, those of Joaquín Hidalgo are below. (While I respect his lengthy drink dates, I see them more as a recognition of intrinsic quality - this are beautifully crafted and constructed. For me, I would suggest 2026 to 2030 for enjoying the wines to the full and, beyond that, more for academic interest perhaps. But his scores are absolutely merited.)
Stunning white wines and exceptional value.
Zuccardi, Chardonnay, Fósil 2024
£165 per 6 bottle case in bond
98 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, August 2025
The 2024 Chardonnay Fósil from San Pablo was aged for 10 months in concrete. Lightly golden in hue, it delivers aromas of green apple, chamomile, huacatay, herbs and a faint pastry nuance. This is lean yet vibrant, with pure white fruit and elevated freshness. The 2024 offers a supple, saline mouthfeel and chalky texture supported by lees contact. Still in its primary phase, this promises further development. Drink 2025-2038
Zuccardi, Chardonnay, Botánico 2024
£165 per 6 bottle case in bond
97 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, August 2025
The 2024 Chardonnay Botanico from Gualtallary spent 10 months in concrete. More fruit-driven and sun-kissed than the Fósil tasted alongside, it displays baked apple notes and accents of field herbs. Broad and creamy, the 2024 offers tension and chalky undertones with vibrant energy. This is a Chardonnay that combines Gualtallary's exuberance with Zuccardi's precise winemaking style. Drink 2025-2038