Winemaker Notes
This is an elegant, inspiring and intellectual white wine. Even though today it is young, as time goes by, it will become more subtle and complex.
Blend: 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Green apple, pineapple, lime curd, chamomile and smoked almond on the nose. Some clove and white pepper, too. It’s medium-bodied with sharp acidity and a vibrant, fragrant, floral and fresh-fruited palate. Tangy but creamy and lengthy finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Edad Media Blanco is serious and nuanced, with moderate ripeness and only 11.2% alcohol, notable for the warmer year. The blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc fermented together with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter French oak barrels for 12 months; but the barrels were never topped up, and some developed a thin layer of flor yeasts, which gives it a special spiciness and tastiness. After the élevage, the wine spent five months in stainless steel to let it settle. The nose is complex, subtle and elegant, combining notes of citrus with herbs, spices and a smoky touch. The palate is sharp and very tasty, clean, precise and long. I tasted the 2018 and 2019 next to this 2020 to check the evolution, and despite the warmer year, this keeps the poise and freshness and comes through as a noteworthy followup to the 2019, even a step above. It finishes dry and tasty, with a chalky sensation. It shows very good integration of the oak (better than any previous vintage) and some nuances that appear with time in the glass, like tangerine peel and flowers. It's a beauty.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.