Secret Carmenère 2022

Located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of Chile's Central Valley wine region, the Viu Manent estate cultivates Carmenère on plots benefiting from a Mediterranean climate tempered by the Pacific Ocean and the proximity of the Andes Mountains. The vines are planted in well-drained, predominantly alluvial and clay-loam soils, which promote slow and even ripening of the grapes. This mosaic of terroirs allows for the expression of a Carmenère that is both ripe and balanced, marked by a distinctly Chilean identity.

The Carmenère grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness and then sorted before undergoing traditional red winemaking, with maceration and fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks to preserve the fruit and varietal character. Aging then takes place partly in oak barrels and partly in inert containers, in order to maintain the balance between structure, integrated oak notes, and the aromatic expression of the grape variety and the Chilean terroir.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruit , fresh red fruit , and plum , complemented by hints of black pepper , sweet spices , and tobacco , as well as delicate floral nuances and integrated oak with accents of vanilla and cocoa . The palate is ample and supple, supported by rounded tannins, moderate acidity, and a velvety texture, with a persistent and harmonious 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.