Bodega Benegas Clara Benegas Chardonnay
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Grapes are sourced from estate vineyard Finca Libertad, Mendoza Upper River Bank (850 meters above sea level).
- This is a mixture of young vineyards descended from the ancient vineyards planted by Tiburcio Benegas in 1888.
- Drink now at a temperature of 8°C – 10°C.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Elaboration: Maceration, pressing and debourbage. Alcoholic fermentation. Aging on lees for three months.
Tasting Notes: The color is clean and bright. Pale yellow in color with greenish reflections. The nose has elegant notes of peach, pineapple and white flowers. Great body and structure. The entry into the mouth is refreshing, exhibiting a delicate structure in the middle of the mouth. Long finish with balanced acidity.
PRESS
2021 – 91 Vinous
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Finca Libertad is planted in an old riverbed, located on the edge of the Alto Río Mendoza, in the Cruz de Piedra area. It was planted with vine cuttings brought by Don Tiburcio from France in the 19th century. Three-meter-high walls were built to avoid the floods caused by the melted snow water flowing down from the Andes mountains during the summer season.
In 1999, Federico Benegas Lynch purchased what Ángel Mendoza, Trapiche’s Head Winemaker, considered to be the best 40 hectares of the old Finca Libertad.
The Finca Libertad is an old riverbed, with alluvial, stony soils, with some sand and superficial layers of clay. As vines suffer great stress in these poor soils, it produces low yields with excellent quality fruit resulting in superb wines. Despite fertilizing with organic guano, the yields are extremely low because of the vines’ old age.