Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Located in the Itata Valley, in southern Chile, the Las Olvidadas vineyard belongs to the De Martino estate, a pioneer in rediscovering the country's old vines. The plots, planted goblet-style on ventilated hillsides, rest on poor granitic soils that naturally limit yields. Close to the Pacific Ocean, the region benefits from a cool climate with strong maritime influences, promoting slow maturation and a beautiful natural freshness in the grapes, while preserving the authentic expression of Chile's heritage grape varieties.
The grapes for this cuvée are hand-harvested from old País vines, then destemmed and placed in vats as whole clusters. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks, with very gentle extraction to preserve the fruit's finesse and freshness. After fermentation, the wine is aged in large oak casks or old oak barrels, on fine lees, with no new wood, to respect the purest expression of the terroir and the grape variety.
This wine reveals notes of crunchy red fruits, juicy black fruits, and floral touches, enhanced by spicy nuances and a slight smoky character derived from the granitic terroir. On the palate, the body is lean, with a silky texture, refreshing acidity, and fine tannins that structure the whole, extended by a savory and persistent finish, marked by great drinkability and a sensation of purity.
Where are we traveling?
Maipo Valley
It is located at the gates of Santiago, the Chilean capital, stretching from the southern suburbs of the city to the foothills of the Andes to the east and the coastal range to the west. The vineyard is divided into three distinct zones — Alto Maipo at altitude at the foot of the Andes, Maipo Central on the alluvial plains, and Maipo Costa open to Pacific influences — forming a gradient of remarkably diverse terroirs over barely 100 kilometers. Its viticultural history dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors planted the first vines, but it was in the mid-19th century that Maipo took off, when great Chilean families — the Concha y Toro, the Cousiño, the Errázuriz — brought Bordeaux vines and French oenologists to establish the estates that would forge the country's viticultural reputation. Chile's geographical isolation, protected by the Andes, the Pacific, and the Atacama Desert, spared the vineyards from phylloxera, and Maipo today preserves some of the New World's oldest ungrafted vines. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean, hot and sunny in summer, cooled by cold winds descending from the Andes each evening and by morning mists from the ocean, offering ideal thermal amplitudes for slow and steady maturation. The soils range from stony alluvial deposits carried from the Andes to the calcareous clays of the lower sectors, as well as the granitic and volcanic rocks of Alto Maipo. Maipo Valley has established itself as the cradle and absolute benchmark of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, producing powerful, structured wines with an elegance that rivals the best Bordeaux, complemented by silky and spicy Carménère — a Bordeaux grape variety that disappeared in France and was rediscovered here — deep Syrahs, and ambitious blends that have placed Chile on the map of the world's greatest wines.
The little history of the country
Chile
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.