De Martino Vigno 2021

Located in the Maule Valley, south of Santiago, the De Martino winery's Vigno vineyard is rooted in deep clay soils mixed with gravel, originating from ancient alluvial deposits. Planted around the dry interior area, the old Carignan vines are goblet-trained and dry-farmed, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate tempered by the Pacific's coastal influence. Significant diurnal temperature variations promote a slow and complete ripening of the grapes, yielding concentrated, fresh, and structured wines.

Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, and destemmed before spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in tanks, with extended maceration to gently extract color and tannins. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. Aging then takes place in large oak foudres and old barrels, on fine lees, to preserve the terroir's character and add complexity without imbuing the wine with excessive oak notes.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruit, crunchy red fruit, and violet, enhanced by hints of sweet spices, pepper, and garrigue, complemented by subtle woody accents and a mineral nuance. The palate is full and juicy, driven by vibrant acidity, firm yet polished tannins, and a silky texture, which extends into a long and fresh 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.