Familia Zuccardi, Fósil Chardonnay, 2024
Familia Zuccardi, Fósil Chardonnay, 2024
- 75cl
- 13%
- White Still
- Chardonnay
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2038
Est. delivery in autumn, 2026
We love what the Zuccardi family achieves in Argentina's high-altitude vineyards, and this Fósil Chardonnay from 2024 shows precisely why they've become one of Mendoza's most respected names. From their estate vineyards at altitude, where the dramatic temperature swings preserve freshness whilst concentrating flavour, this is Chardonnay with real personality.
The wine balances citrus precision with subtle stone fruit richness, touching oak that never overwhelms, and the kind of mineral backbone that makes you reach for another glass.
The Fósil vineyard sits at high altitude in Mendoza's Uco Valley, where ancient alluvial soils rich in limestone and fossilised marine deposits give the wine its name and mineral character. The extreme diurnal temperature variation, with scorching days and cool nights, preserves natural acidity whilst allowing for optimal phenolic ripeness. These challenging conditions force the vines to dig deep, creating wines with remarkable concentration and distinctive mineral expression that reflects the unique geology of this elevated site.
Mendoza is Argentina's most important wine region, stretching from the foothills of the Andes at altitudes ranging from 500 to over 1,500 metres above sea level. The Uco Valley subregion, where this wine originates, represents the pinnacle of Argentine fine wine production with its combination of high altitude, ancient soils, and dramatic temperature swings. Unlike the warmer, lower-altitude areas traditionally associated with Argentine wine, the Uco Valley produces wines of remarkable freshness and complexity that rival the world's great cool-climate regions.
The 2024 growing season in Mendoza delivered exactly what vignerons had been hoping for after a string of challenging years. Winter brought adequate snowfall to the Andes, ensuring steady irrigation flows, whilst spring arrived gently without the late frosts that had plagued recent vintages. Summer heat was intense but not punishing, and crucially, the harvest period in March and April stayed dry and cool, allowing producers to pick at optimal ripeness without racing against rain or extreme temperatures.
What emerged from the cellars shows Mendoza firing on all cylinders. The Malbecs display that perfect balance of power and freshness we associate with the region's finest years - deeply coloured with ripe tannins that don't overwhelm, and acidity that keeps everything lively. Cabernet Sauvignon from the higher altitude sites is particularly impressive, whilst Chardonnay and Torrontés benefited enormously from the cool harvest conditions. Most wines are drinking beautifully now but will happily cellar until 2030 and beyond for the premium bottlings.
What the critics say:
"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."
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