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Cara Sur Criolla Chica 2023

$2999

Cara Sur is the project of Pancho Bugallo and Sebastian Zuccardi in the Calingasta Valley of San Juan — high desert country in the shadow of Cerro Mercedario, named for the harder southern face of that peak. They work ancient, pergola-trained, often pre-phylloxera vines of Criolla varieties, the heirloom grapes that arrived with Spanish settlers in the 16th century. This Criolla Chica (known in Spain as Listan Prieto) is pale, perfumed, and weightless — all wild strawberry, rose petal, and red-fruit lift, with the fine tannins and bright acidity that make this old grape such a revelation. Argentina, but nothing like the Argentina you think you know.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

93 points

"The 2023 Criolla Chica Cara Sur from Paraje Hilario in Calingasta, San Juan, is whole-cluster fermented in concrete. Its delicate cherry hue pairs with reductive aromas of iron and quince jam. The palate is rich and modern in style with a firm grip and reactive yet fine tannins, giving way to a cleansing finish with soft strawberry flavors." —Joaquín Hidalgo

Robert Parker

91 points

"The 2023 Criolla opens with a delicate, nuanced bouquet of dried cherries, pomegranates and crushed stones. It is followed by a sleek, racy and high-toned palate that closes with a taut, focused finish propelled by persistent mineral notes. It's a lovely, spry and cleansing expression of northern Argentina." —Matthew Luczy

More about Cara Sur

Formed in 2011 as a partnership between two couples, Cara Sur is at the forefront of a movement in Argentina to revive ancestral vines and produce wines from traditional and lesser known Argentine varieties.

The two couples behind Cara Sur are Sebastián Zuccardi & Marcela Manini, and Nuria Año Gargiulo & Pancho Burgallo. Sebastian comes from a well known winemaking family and is among the leading lights in the industry. When Marcela and him decided to start their own personal project they teamed up with their close friends Nuria and Pancho, who owned a small vineyard and a tiny winery. While Sebastian may be the most famous of the quartet, this project is a true partnership amongst the closest of friends.

The winery is located next door to Nuria and Pancho's homes in Barreal, in the Calingasta Valley of San Juan, north of Mendoza. Here the couple farm an 80 year old vineyard of Moscatel, Moscatel Negro, Bonarda Piemontese, and Criolla Chica (the Argentine iteration of Pais) as well as bit of Malbec. The old vines are cared for using organic and biodynamic techniques and trained in the Tendone system where the grapes grow overhead in a thick canopy. This helps to protect the grapes from the intense southern sun and allows for air flow to help keep the grapes cool and disease free.

Sebastián and Marcela drive up from Mendoza regularly to help out in the vineyards and the cellar. Together they work the vineyard which sits alongside the Los Patos River on stony soil at 1500 meters above sea level. Barriel is a place that has garnered much interest in recent years as having tremendous potential. The stony soils, old vines, dry climate and intense diurnal shift help produce wine that is light and fresh yet redolent with exotic flavor and aromas, a far cry from the rich and heavy Malbecs the country is famous for.

Work in the winery is decidedly low intervention. But these are no rank amateurs. Sebastian's generational winemaking knowledge plays a role in producing wines that are natural yet never flawed, allowing the true flavor and aroma of each variety to shine through. In the tiny space they call a winery, they manage to stuff a plethora of fermenting and aging vessels including large Austrian barrels, demi-johns and concrete eggs. Each wine is a vivid and vibrant expression of this unique and underrated terror. No matter which one, there is always a crystalline quality that keeps you coming back for more.

The wines of Cara Sur are rustically elegant. What I mean by that is that they never try to tame a varietal’s more wild qualities but allow them to become focused through the prism of their terroir. They are like a perfect marriage of Alpine and Mediterranean wines with notes of freshly cut herbs, vibrant and high toned fruit, and electric minerality.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Other White Grape

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Earthy , Minerally

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Bowler Wine

<p>100% Criolla Chica from 80 year old vines that are mixed between three parcels within the estate. A majority of the grapes are destemmed but 30% are kept whole cluster. Grapes are fermented separately depending on their parcel in 1,000- 2,000L concrete eggs. Fermentation is spontaneous without temperature control on the lees. Maceration lasts between 25-35 days with low extraction. The wine ages in concrete eggs for six to seven months.</p>

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Grilled chicken with chimichurri, empanadas, charcuterie, mushroom tacos, or salmon with cherry-tomato salsa. Try slightly chilled.

Tasting Profile

Light-bodied and aromatic with wild strawberry, rose petal, and red cherry, with fine tannins and bright acidity.

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