Viu 8 Cuvée Infinito 2018

Located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of Chile's Central Valley wine region, the Viu Manent vineyard benefits from a Mediterranean climate tempered by the influence of the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. The grapes for the Viu 8 Cuvée Infinito come primarily from selected plots around the municipality of Peralillo, on well-drained alluvial and colluvial soils. This mosaic of terroirs allows for slow and complete ripening, promoting the expression of concentration and elegance.

The grapes are hand-harvested, carefully sorted, and destemmed before a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with regular pump-overs to extract color and tannins. Post-fermentation maceration is extended to refine the structure. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels, mostly new, for a long aging process that allows the oak influence to integrate, the tannins to soften, and the aromatic complexity to develop before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of blackberry , black cherry , and plum , complemented by floral touches of violet, spicy nuances of pepper and licorice, and woody accents reminiscent of vanilla, cedar, and chocolate. The palate is ample and concentrated, with a velvety texture, fresh acidity that supports the fruit, ripe and structured tannins, and a long, lingering finish marked by a return of spice and integrated oak.

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.