Bandana Chardonnay-Torrontés – My Kind Of Chardonnay!

50% Chardonnay and 50% Torrontés from Mendoza, Argentina.

SRP of $10 and available for $9. Sample received courtesy Winesource International for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“In the lower foothills of the Andes, in Mendoza, stands Bodega Cruz de Piedra, the winery that pioneered the single varietal history in Argentina. The founding Alonso family tend to the vineyards while the stunning vista of the snow-covered Andes in the vineyard’s background reminds us of the stark contrast of nature’s forces — intense heat in the vineyards and the snow on the Andes that becomes precious water flow to feed the vine’s root systems. This 2011 Chardonnay-Torrontés is a perfect offering of those natural forces in the vineyards reflecting bright golden hues of the Mendoza sun. Bright yellow in the glass with subtle green undertones, young and expressive with luscious floral aromas and bright pineapple flavors with a crisp bright finish.

The name Bandana is a nod to the famous Argentinean cowboys of past, known as Gauchos, who wore brightly hand-woven fabrics known as Bandanas.

13.5% Alcohol”

Now this is my kind of Chardonnay! Maybe that’s because it’s not just a Chardonnay but a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and one of my favorite white varieties, Torrontés. This is my first time trying this type of blend, and it definitely won’t be my last.

This wine showcases the reason I love white (and red) blends so much. When you drink a single varietal wine, they can be really good, but you know basically what you are getting based on the grape. Not so with blends — these unexpected pairings can give some really surprising and delicious results, such as today’s wine.

The 2011 Bodega Cruz de Piedra Bandana Chardonnay-Torrontés begins with pleasing aromas of honeysuckle and other flowers, apple, some tropical fruit and a few mineral notes. The wine tastes quite delicious with a nice full and lively texture and layers of ripe pineapple and other delicious fruit. Add in a little minerality, and this is shaping up into quite a blend! The refreshing finish features juicy fruit and even a hint of spice. All of that resolves into some long lasting mineral notes and even longer lasting zesty fruit. Fantastic!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive spreadsheet.