Tabali Talinay Chardonnay 2022

Region and Vineyards

The Talinay vineyard is nestled in the Limarí Valley, in northern Chile’s Coquimbo region, just 12 km from the Pacific Ocean. Uniquely positioned beside the Fray Jorge National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, this site experiences pronounced coastal influence. The constant cool sea breezes moderate the vineyard’s temperature, with summer highs rarely exceeding 23.5°C, establishing it as the coolest viticultural zone in the valley.

The defining feature of the site is its calcareous soil. An ancient uplifted marine terrace now forms the vineyard floor, dominated by fractured limestone that allows roots to delve deep into the subsoil. This type of geology, rare in Chile, contributes calcium carbonate, acting as a natural water regulator and imparting a hallmark mineral character to the wines. The stony, porous nature of the soil supports excellent drainage and low yields, resulting in wines of finesse and tension.

Winemaking

The 2022 vintage of Talinay Chardonnay was crafted entirely from hand-harvested fruit, picked on February 25 at optimal ripeness. Grapes were collected into 20 kg bins to prevent bruising, and then pressed as whole clusters. This gentle technique minimizes phenolic extraction and helps preserve acidity and freshness. The must underwent cold settling for 18 hours to remove heavy lees before fermentation.

Fermentation and aging took place in French oak barrels sourced from prestigious forests including Fontainebleau, Jupille, and Vosges. The wine was aged for 10 months in barrel, developing its creamy texture while maintaining clarity of site expression. The result is a wine that marries vibrant acidity with judicious oak, allowing the vineyard’s maritime signature to shine through.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Pale yellow with greenish reflections.
• Aroma: Fresh-cut herbs, citrus zest, green apple, pineapple, and smoked pear; saline and precise with subtle oak.
• Palate: Creamy yet vibrant, with refreshing acidity. Lime, sea breeze salinity, and a mineral backbone give way to a long, elegant finish.

Did you know?

The Talinay vineyard sits atop one of Chile’s few exposed limestone formations, making it geologically unique in the country. These ancient marine soils, once submerged beneath the ocean, are now a source of complexity and minerality for Tabalí’s most celebrated wines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Grilled scallops with lemon butter – The wine's saline edge and citrus freshness complement the shellfish's sweetness.
• Roast chicken with tarragon cream – Its acidity cuts through the richness, while subtle oak harmonizes with herbaceous notes.
• Goat cheese tart with caramelized onions – A match for the wine's creamy texture and mineral drive.
• Ceviche with mango and lime – The zesty palate balances the dish's acidity and fruit intensity.

History of Tabalí

Founded in 2002 by Guillermo Luksic, Tabalí was born from a bold vision: to reveal the fine wine potential of Chile's remote Limarí Valley, a region largely unexplored at the time. While much of Chile's viticulture was focused in the central valleys, Luksic looked northward, toward austere landscapes, cool maritime influences, and rare geological formations.

A turning point came with the discovery of the Talinay vineyard, located on ancient uplifted limestone just 12 km from the Pacific. Planted in 2004, it became the first commercial vineyard in Chile to fully exploit limestone terroir, and it remains one of the only sites in the country where calcareous soils dominate entirely.

Winemaker Felipe Müller joined Tabalí early on and remains the guiding force behind its distinct identity. Recognised for his precision and deep respect for site expression, Müller has crafted a portfolio that speaks more of place than technique, using native yeasts, gentle extractions, and restrained oak to allow the soils and climate to tell their story.

Region and Vineyards

Tabalí's vineyards are concentrated in the Limarí Valley, within Chile's Coquimbo region. This area stands apart for its extreme aridity, cool climate, and diverse geological origins. Tabalí works with three principal vineyard sites:

The Talinay vineyard, nestled within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is one of the estate's crown jewels. Just 12 km from the sea, it is blanketed with coastal fogs and cooled by persistent ocean breezes. Its defining feature is its pure fractured limestone, a soil type more often associated with Burgundy or Champagne than South America. The resulting wines-especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-are marked by saline tension, fine structure, and unmistakable mineral lift.

The Dom vineyard lies further inland and features colluvial and alluvial soils. Warmer and more sheltered, it is suited to producing fuller-bodied reds such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenère, bringing flesh and density to the range.

The Río Hurtado vineyard, located at an altitude of 1,600 metres in the Andes, is one of the highest vineyards in Chile. Its volcanic andesite soils are thin and fractured, challenging the vines and concentrating the fruit. This site produces Syrah and Malbec of remarkable freshness, floral lift, and refined tannins.

Wine Range of Tabalí

Tabalí's portfolio is built to showcase its terroirs through a range of focused expressions:

• Talinay Series: This flagship line is sourced exclusively from the limestone soils of the Talinay vineyard. These wines are mineral, tense, and age-worthy: Talinay Chardonnay - Linear and saline, with citrus peel, chalk, and vibrant acidity, Talinay Pinot Noir - Earthy, precise, with red berry fruit, crushed stone, and refined tannins, Talinay Sauvignon Blanc - Aromatic and sharp, with sea spray, lime, and flint.
• Talinay Caliza Chardonnay: From a distinct limestone plot, "Caliza" (Spanish for limestone) is more textural, with depth and savoury minerality. A wine of clarity and power, it showcases Talinay's most expressive Chardonnay parcel.
• Talinay Pai Pinot Noir: A micro-parcel selection from the estate's finest massal clone Pinot vines. "Pai" means father in Mapudungun, evoking the wine's role as the most profound expression of Pinot Noir at Tabalí. It is ethereal, age-worthy, and limited in production-complex and fine-boned with underlying power.
• Roca Madre: A high-altitude Malbec from Río Hurtado, grown on volcanic andesite soils. The wine is floral and structured, with notes of violets, herbs, and volcanic minerality, matured in French oak for 18 months.
• Payen: The estate's icon wine, made from Syrah grown in Dom. Named after the Incan word for "sacred," Payen is a brooding, elegant red, with black olive, cassis, smoked meat, and exceptional ageing capacity.
• Vetas Blancas: This line highlights varietal precision across the estate's vineyards, offering excellent value without sacrificing quality. Grapes include: Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
• Pedregoso Gran Reserva: A more accessible, fruit-driven range for early enjoyment. These wines are clean, fresh, and varietally faithful-ideal as an introduction to Tabalí's philosophy.

Did you know?

The Talinay vineyard lies on an ancient seabed that was pushed to the surface by tectonic activity. It is Chile's only vineyard planted entirely on limestone, and its wines often show a distinctive salty finish-an echo of their marine past.