Viu Manent Estate Reserva Carmenère 2022

Located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of the Rapel region of Chile, the vineyards for this cuvée benefit from a Mediterranean climate characterized by strong temperature contrasts between day and night. The vines are planted in well-drained alluvial and clay soils, which promote slow and even ripening of the grapes. Close to the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range and influenced by the cool Pacific Ocean, this terroir yields Carmenère wines that are ripe, balanced, and possess excellent aromatic intensity.

The Carmenère grapes for the Estate Reserva cuvée are hand-harvested, sorted, and destemmed before a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with regular pump-overs to extract color and tannins, followed by a post-fermentation maceration tailored to the vintage. The wine is then aged in stainless steel tanks and partially in oak barrels for several months to preserve the fruit while adding complexity and structure before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits such as blackberry and plum , complemented by touches of red bell pepper and black pepper typical of the grape variety, as well as discreet floral accents and toasty , vanilla nuances from barrel aging. The palate is supple , with rounded tannins , moderate acidity , and a fruity , slightly spicy finish that lingers elegantly.

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.