Viña Leyda Falaris Chardonnay 2015

***Bronze at the International Wine Challenge 2015***

What a difference a subtle misspelling can make. Falaris is probably the best value Chardonnay we’ve ever tasted, the kind that scares the bejesus out of Burgundy. Phalaris was a Sicilian tyrant who allegedly ate babies and roasted people alive inside a bronze bull statue.

So,be careful. Because that error on your shopping list could take your dinner party down a very different route. We recommend going with the “F” spelling, which will give you a wonderfully crisp cool-climate Chardonnay packed with lemon, tangerine, almond, cream and salty mineral flavours.

Viña Leyda was founded in 1997 and their pioneering work created the new designation of origin: D.O. Leyda Valley in May 2002. The vineyards are located in the coastal mountain range area of Chile about 7 km from the Pacific Ocean.

Viviana Navarrete is Leyda’s chief winemaker, she graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile as the best student in her year. She started working for Concha y Toro and then moved on to become the winemaker assistant for Ignacio Recabarren. Viviana works with Cristobal Mujica, Vineyard Manager, and Alberto Antonini, Winemaker Consultant. Her aim is to lead wine lovers on a journey to discover the fresh and modern wines of Chile’s coast.

The grapes were hand harvested and then underwent a gentle whole cluster pressing. The juice was chilled and then gravity clarified. The must was fermented with several yeasts selections in French oak barrels, 25% of them new. The wine was aged in barrels for 9 months and no eggs were used to fine it.

The results is an elegant Chardonnay that captivates with its salinity, fresh fruit and soft toasted palate. Refined and complex nose, ripe citrus character like lemons and tangerines combines with almond and mineral aromas. Its fine and integrated oak notes add complexity to the nose. Fresh in the mouth, with a creamy texture in the mid palate and a lively acidity further back, where the minerality stands up providing crispness and length to the wine. This would be a great match to creamy seafood pasta, Indian food, white meats or béchamel sauces.