Santa Julia Chimango Natural Malbec Rosé 2024, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina ($18)
The chimango is a South American raptor in the falcon family frequently spotted circling above the vineyards. Made from 100 percent certified organic Malbec with a brief skin fermentation, delivering that delicate pink color. It sits at the intersection of a serious rosé and a light red, with more structure and energy than most rosés at this price point.
The nose shows petrichor, raw dough, blood orange and strawberry. The palate emulates brined citrus and red fruits with a bright saline-driven acid core. There is a textured mouthfeel with a light perception of tannin.
Your patio-season wine has arrived. The hawk approves.
Santa Julia El Zorrito Naranjo Natural Chardonnay 2024, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina ($24)
El zorrito means the little fox, and this is the wine most likely to make someone double take when you pour it. The color alone earns a conversation. The 2024 vintage underwent 90 days of skin contact, which explains both the depth of color and the tannic texture you do not expect from Chardonnay. Think grilled fish, roasted quail, anything with a little fat and acid to push against. The little fox is more approachable than it looks.
Lemon skin, apricot, beeswax and orange blossom all unveil themselves. The palate shows an unexpected tannic texture and the apricot, lemon and a floral nuance give a lemon verbena tea feel.
Not your grandmother’s Chardonnay. Not trying to be.
Santa Julia La Mantis Pet Nat Natural 2024, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina ($24)
The praying mantis is most visible in the vineyard during harvest, which makes it the right mascot for the most alive and spontaneous wine in the lineup. The pét nat method predates Champagne: the wine is bottled mid-fermentation and finishes in the bottle with no additions. The result is a naturally hazy, frothy wine with a low-pressure bubble that is nothing like Champagne and does not pretend to be.
Dining and Cooking