Pago Balagueses Chardonnay 2023

Peñín Guide 2021 – 92 points
Peñín Guide 2020 – 90 points
Peñín Guide 2019 – 90 points

Direct from the winery. Transport within 48-72 hours to maintain its properties. FREE shipping (orders over €50).

Pago de los Balagueses is recognised as DOP Los Balagueses, Vino de Pago, by the European Union, the highest recognition for a vineyard in Spain. The estate is located near the Solana de las Pilillas, an enclave of piles dug into the limestone rock where the ancient Iberians made wine in the 5th century BC. Although modern technology today allows us to achieve superior quality, Bodegas Vegalfaro carries out practices that were carried out more than 2,500 years ago. It has excellent vineyards that were already in the same place back then, located in natural settings, in the steep Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park, where they enjoy a good altitude, are surrounded by pine forests, with limestone soils from the Tertiary and Upper Miocene and have organic certification applying Biodynamic principles.

VINEYARDS
Our Chardonnay vineyards are cultivated on trellises in a 3-hectare enclave located in the middle of pine forests, aromatic plants and almond trees. Yields are quite low, with less than 1.2 kilos per vine. Viticultural practices encourage biodiversity and sustainability.

ELABORATION
The grapes are harvested at the optimum degree of ripeness, destemmed and cold pre-macerated in a stainless steel tank for a few hours to obtain the free-run juice, which is then fermented in new French oak barrels previously immersed in hot water to preserve the freshness of the grapes. Once this is finished, the lees are stirred during the ageing period of approximately 7 months to achieve a better texture. In this way, the type of grape variety and the expressiveness of the vineyard are maximised.

TASTING NOTES
Straw yellow colour with golden highlights, dense and bright. Intense aroma of ripe tropical fruit, citrus, floral, soft spices (vanilla) and smoked notes. On the palate it has a good entry, it is silky and unctuous. Balanced with good acidity, the sensation of ripe tropical fruit and the hint of citrus peel returns, with a subtly smoky finish and good persistence.

AGE OF THE VINEYARD
40 YEARS

VARIEDAD
100% Chardonnay

ANALYTICS
Alc. vol.: 13%
Total acidity: 7.13g/l
Total SO2: 90 mg/l

SERVICE AND PAIRING
Temperature: 10º – 12º.
Pairing: stewed fish, seafood rice and pasta with sauce, duck and game birds, cured cheeses and foie.

OPTIMAL CONSUMPTION
5 years after the vintage

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Peñín Guide 2021 – 92 points
Peñín Guide 2020 – 90 points
Peñín Guide 2019 – 90 points

*CONTAINS SULPHITES