In Decanter Magazine's 2023 panel tasting of 139 Pinot Noirs from across the Americas ("from Canada all the way down to Patagonia"), the Otronia Pinot Noir 2020 - described by Anne Krebiehl MW as "concentrated, peppery, bright and wonderful" - was the highest-scoring wine with 95 points and one of just two wines rated 'Outstanding'.

Otronia is located in Patagonia's far south, in the province of Chubut, the most southerly winemaking region in the world, where the hostile environment gives rise to elegant wines with distinct vibrancy, aromatic intensity and a very unique sense of place.

Extreme winemaking best describes Alejandro Bulgheroni’s ambition to produce world-class, cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Patagonia’s far south. Otronia is located at 45.33° S in the province of Chubut, the most southerly winemaking region in the world. The vines are planted on the shore of Lake Musters, once called Otron by the region’s native inhabitants. The environment is incredibly hostile, with very little rainfall, bitterly cold temperatures, year-round frost risk and blusterous winds of up to 110km/hr, all providing extremely challenging conditions for viticulture. In addition to nets, thousands of trees have been planted around the vineyard to help shelter the vines from battering gales. Proving that fortune favours the brave, the merciless conditions give rise to elegant wines with distinct vibrancy, aromatic intensity and a very unique sense of place.
 
Fifty hectares of vineyard, organically certified, were planted in 2010 with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Torrontés, Riesling, Merlot and Malbec. A fascinating mosaic of small, individual plots, each was meticulously selected for a specific variety according to its soil type and microclimate. In the winery, rising star Juan Pablo Murgia, named ‘Young winemaker of the Year’ by Tim Atkin MW in 2021, is supported by world-renowned consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini. Alberto’s influence is evident in their hands off approach, as well as their use of concrete eggs and large, neutral French oak to enhance the wine’s character, not mask it. The Chardonnay is a blend of the best fruit from the limestone soils of blocks 3 and 6.  Aged for 18 months in old French foudres, the wine displays wonderful freshness and purity. Sand and clay soils of Block 1 are the source of the Pinot Noir. It is fermented with 50% whole bunch to enhance its perfume and structure. With aromas of wild strawberry and herbs, and silky tannins on the palate, it displays precision, elegance and tension.
 
Proving that the wines are getting better and better with every vintage, Otronia was promoted to ‘First Growth’ status in Tim Atkin MW’s 2023 Special Argentina Report, a remarkable feat considering the relative infancy of the project. Despite this, Juan Pablo admits “we're all still learning, it’s all so different from how we do things in Mendoza”. This desire to explore, experiment and learn, and to develop a vineyard in a region as marginal as this, singles out Otronia as one of the most individual producers in Argentina. 

45 Rugientes Pinot Noir 2021 - a more open and direct Pinot Noir, in the same aromatic and perfumed style, with a wonderfully refined palate. It is dense, yet open and deliciously fruity, offering superb value at a little over half the price of its older sibling, and just one point less from two top critics.

N.B. This wine is not currently in stock but can be ordered, usually for delivery within a few weeks -  please email info@cellarselect.co.uk for availability and lead time, or it will be confirmed after an order is placed.