Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir 2021

20 Barrels Pinot Noir is Cono Sur's most ambitious selection of this variety. Long sourced from the vines of Fundo El Triángulo, planted in 1989 in the Casablanca Valley, it now comes mainly from the San Antonio Valley, very close to the Pacific Ocean. These coastal vineyards, cooled by morning mists and sea winds, allow slow ripening that preserves the acidity and finesse of Pinot Noir.

The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and then given a five-day cold maceration. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in small tanks with neutral selected yeasts, at around 27 °C. Ageing lasts fourteen months: around 70% of the wine in French oak barrels, the rest in 2,000- and 5,000-litre foudres, using methods inspired by Burgundy.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, plum, leather, sweet spices, toast and toasted sesame. Vibrant red fruit dominates the bouquet, lifted by a spicy touch and the toasty nuances of ageing. On the palate, the wine is fresh and juicy, with lively acidity, long, smooth tannins and a persistent 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.