Payen Syrah Cabernet Franc 2018

The Vetas Blancas Pinot Noir comes from two of the estate's vineyards: Talinay and Espinal. Espinal is slightly further inland than Talinay, but both are considered "cool climate" regions. Pinot Noir thrives in these cooler climates, where it ripens slowly and develops all the nuances for which it is renowned. 70% of the grapes for this wine come from the alluvial, clay, and limestone soils of the Espinal vineyard, located about 24 kilometers from the sea in Limarí. The remainder is completed by the almost pure limestone soils of Talinay, much closer to the sea, about 12 kilometers away. The grapes were hand-harvested into 20-kg crates to avoid damaging the fruit. After careful destemming, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. This wine reveals notes of fresh cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, redcurrant, pepper, blond tobacco , and sweet spice. The palate is fresh, delicate, and balanced with good acidity.

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered, upon the conquest of Mexico, the cultivation of vines in 1524. It gradually extended from Mexico southwards to reach Chile in 1555. During the first 3 centuries of colonization, there was no Cultivated in Chile as país, a black grape variety without character and very productive. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that noble varieties were introduced: mainly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the leadership of wealthy owners and French experts who were forced into unemployment by phylloxera in Europe. Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, 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 has ideal conditions for growing warm, intermediate and cool grape varieties, so much so that it is often described as a paradise for growing grapes. With nearly 300 properties producing bottled wines, Chile fluctuates between 6th and 8th place in the world.