Querciabella "Batar" Chardonnay / Pinot Bianco Toscana IGT 2020
(Tuscany, Italy) - [DM 95] [OB 95] [JS 94] [WRO 94] [WA 93] [VM 93]

About the Winery:
Founded in 1974, Querciabella enjoys the acclaim of the world’s most discriminating critics and consumers for wines such as Camartina, Batàr, Palafreno and Querciabella Chianti Classico. In its uncompromising pursuit of quality, sustainability and authenticity, Querciabella has continually honed its approach to biodynamic viticulture for over a decade. With vineyards located throughout Tuscany’s Chianti Classico and Maremma areas, Querciabella exemplifies the mindful preservation of tradition through forward-thinking, albeit completely natural, winemaking. Camartina is made and released only if the vintage reaches a very high quality level.

About this Wine:
Batàr’s Chardonnay owes its flinty minerality and precision to the prevalence of galestro in two distinct south-facing sites: Casaocci Sud, at an altitude of 350 meters, and Il Pallonaio, Querciabella’s highest vineyards at 600 meters, where more sandstones are present. The Pinot Bianco grows on cooler north-facing plots around 400 meters, where the galestro has broken down into clay and schist. These denser and fresher soils contribute to shaping the renown textural quality of Batàr. The vineyards from which Batàr is sourced have been cultivated organically since 1988, and in 2000 have undergone a full conversion to biodynamic techniques.

Varietals: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Blanc

Wine Alcohol: 14%

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"The 2020 vintage is more herbal than usual, with sage, thyme and a citrussy character, then its typical peach kernel core. The attack is full, silky, concentrated and textured, yet vibrant on the finish.One of the most sought after white wines of Italy, with proven ability to age, Batàr originates from vineyards in Ruffoli, in Greve in Chianti, some of which reach 600m. The Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grapes are fermented and aged for nine months in French oak. It's a very classic white SuperTuscan (first vintage was 1988) with a stylish Corton-Charlemagne attitude.” – Aldo Fiordelli (Feb 2023)

95 Points - Owen Bargreen:
"This wine was first made back in 1988, as the 2020 ‘Batar’ blends Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay. This was barrel-fermented in French oak for nine months before bottling. The wine comes off heady and intense with bright pear and starfruit notes alongside roasted hazelnuts and shades of baking spice dusted brioche. The palate is lithe and polished with a seamless texture. Very seamless throughout the drinking experience, coming off almost weightless, this is quite simply a joy to drink even so young. Savor this beauty now and over the next ten plus years." (Mar 2023)

94 Points - James Suckling:
“Intense nose of cedar, smoked almond, mango puree, papaya and lemon pie. Full-bodied, dense and creamy with delicious praline and pie-crust character, balanced by just the right amount of lemony acidity. From organically grown grapes. Vegan.” (Jun 2022)

94 Points – Wine Review Online:
"A rare Tuscan white that can stand bottle shoulder to bottle shoulder with its pricey red siblings. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, it is about as exotic and tropical as you will get for a Chardonnay and as upper-crusty as you will achieve from a fairly warm climate Pinot Bianco. It is like sipping a fine whiskey as you try to dissect its flavor strands–floral like honeysuckle, but some green floral undernotes, some oak barrel spiciness, and only a hint of apple, Chardonnay’s go-to comparison. It is fullish and textured without being heavy–a rare Tuscan treat.” – Roger Morris (Jun 2024)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
“I have not tasted this wine in a while, and it's a delight to come back to it now. Compared to older vintages, I find this blend of equal parts Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay to be quite improved. The organic 2020 Batàr (with 20,000 bottles made) offers fresh, citrusy tones with lemon curd and candied peach. This barrique-aged white also offers mid-weight density and plenty of orchard fruit, saffron and light spice. It concludes with fresh acidity.” – Monica Larner (Feb 2023)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2020 Batàr, Querciabella's Chardonnay/Pinot Blanc white, is laced with hints of tangerine oil, jasmine, spice and pear. Light tropical accents appear later, adding gorgeous nuance throughout. The move towards high elevation vineyards and picking earlier yields a Batàr endowed with terrific freshness and plenty of style.” – Antonio Galloni (Jul 2022)