Zuccardi Fosil

Tasting Note Zuccardi Fosil

The nose reveals citrus, green apple, white peach, and pear, complemented by floral notes and a clear mineral impression. As the wine opens up, subtle nuances of herbs, wet stone, and flint emerge.

On the palate, the wine is taut, fresh, and mineral, with beautiful tension and great length. The ripe white fruit is carried by vibrant acidity and an almost saline minerality. At the same time, the wine has sufficient structure and texture to make it gastronomically interesting.

It is striking that the fruit does not dominate. It is precisely the combination of freshness, minerality, fine structure, and subtle creaminess that makes this Chardonnay particularly refined. The finish is long, dry, and energetic, with citrus, white fruits, and a lightly saline, chalky finale.

In short: a very elegant Chardonnay that is more about terroir, tension, and precision than about heavy oak or a weighty, creamy character.

Wine & Food

Zuccardi Botánico Fosil is a versatile companion to a wide range of dishes. It pairs excellently with oysters, shellfish, grilled or pan-fried fish, salmon, and tuna. The wine also comes into its own with chicken in a creamy sauce, soft or aged cheeses, and a creamy mushroom risotto. A surprisingly beautiful pairing is ceviche: the fresh acidity and mineral tension of the wine align perfectly with the fresh citrus and saline character of the dish.

Additional Information

The name Fosil refers to the unique soil on which the grapes grow. The vineyards of San Pablo are located at high altitudes and have soil rich in limestone and fossil deposits. These soils originated from sediments deposited millions of years ago.

It is precisely this calcareous soil that is an important component of the wine's style. This gives the Chardonnay a lot of tension, minerality, and freshness, while the high altitude ensures that the grapes can ripen slowly.

Zuccardi deliberately keeps the influence of oak limited in Fosil. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete eggs and large, used French oak barrels, which keeps the focus on the fruit and the terroir.

At the end of the 19th century, the Zuccardi family emigrated from Italy to Argentina. In the 1950s, Alberto V. Zuccardi founded an irrigation company, a logical step in a country where agriculture is hardly possible without irrigation. To demonstrate the success of his system, he planted his first vineyards in Maipú in 1963, followed by an expansion near Mendoza.

Since 1985, his son José Alberto Zuccardi has led the family business, which is now acclaimed worldwide for its quality. Zuccardi has been named Best Vineyard in South America several times, and their wines consistently achieve top ratings, with some even reaching 100 Parker points.

Wine Scores/Awards

The Zuccardi Fósil Chardonnay is highly regarded internationally. The 2023 vintage received 97 points from Vinous, 94 points from James Suckling, and 93 points from Wine Advocate. Previous vintages also show an impressive series of scores, including a remarkable 97 points from Vinous for the 2022.

Fun Fact

The name Fosil is literally inspired by fossils found in the soil of San Pablo. You don't taste them literally, of course, but the calcium-rich, fossilized soil does contribute to the mineral and saline character of this Chardonnay.