Single Vineyard Loma Blanca Carmenère 2022

Located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of Chile's Central Valley wine region, the Loma Blanca vineyard belongs to the Viu Manent estate, a historic family property near Santa Cruz. Planted in colluvial alluvial soils composed of clay, silt, and gravel, the vines benefit from a Mediterranean climate characterized by significant temperature variations between day and night. The proximity of the Andes Mountains promotes good ventilation and a slow, even ripening of the grapes, ideal for the balanced expression of the varietal.

The Carmenère grapes from the Loma Blanca vineyard are harvested at optimal ripeness and then sorted before alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks with pump-overs to extract color and aromas. Maceration is carefully controlled to preserve the fruit and the varietal character. Malolactic fermentation then takes place, primarily in tanks, before aging in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for several months, aiming to refine the tannic structure while maintaining the freshness and varietal expression of Carmenère.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits , plum , and red berries , complemented by floral touches reminiscent of violet and spicy nuances of pepper and licorice, supported by discreet oak with hints of cocoa and vanilla . The palate is full-bodied and smooth, supported by supple tannins, moderate acidity that brings freshness, and a persistent, harmonious, and slightly spicy finish.

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered the cultivation of vines upon the conquest of Mexico in 1524. It gradually spread from Mexico southward, reaching Chile in 1555. During the first three centuries of colonization, only país, a characterless and very productive black grape variety, was cultivated in Chile. It was not until the mid-19th century that noble varieties were introduced: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, mainly. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the impetus of wealthy landowners and French experts who had been forced out of work by phylloxera in Europe. Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, and the Patagonian plains and glaciers to the south. These natural barriers prevented phylloxera from entering the country. Although the country is only 160 kilometers wide, it enjoys ideal conditions for growing grape varieties from warm, intermediate, and cool regions, so much so that it is often described as a vineyard paradise. With nearly 300 estates producing bottled wines, Chile ranks between 6th and 8th in the world.