Viu Manent Single Vineyard Loma Blanca Carmenère 2022

Located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of Chile's central wine region, the Loma Blanca vineyard belongs to the Viu Manent estate, a historic family property situated near the city of Santa Cruz. The Carmenère vines are planted on well-exposed slopes, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate tempered by the influence of the Pacific Ocean and Andean breezes. The soils, composed of alluvial deposits blending clay, sand, and gravel, offer natural drainage that promotes slow and even ripening of the grapes, ensuring balance and concentration.

The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, and destemmed before a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with regular pump-overs to encourage the gentle extraction of tannins and aromas. Post-fermentation maceration continues for a few days, depending on tasting. The wine is then aged primarily in French oak barrels of various types, supplemented by a portion in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit, before final blending and bottling at the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruit , plum , and black cherry , complemented by floral touches reminiscent of violet and spicy nuances of sweet pepper and clove. Oaky accents of vanilla and cocoa, imparted by barrel aging, blend harmoniously. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and supple, supported by fine tannins, moderate acidity, and a lingering finish that leaves an impression of freshness and balance.

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.