Description
Carignan reserve wine: Carignan 52% , Pais 27% and Cinsault 21%
Origin of the grapes: The grapes come from Valle Central, in the subregion of Valle del Maule, coastal land zones.
Valle Central’s lands of the coastal land zone are characterised by its granitoid soils with clay textures, which normally means a slow drain. These grounds contain a low level of organic matter, around 2% and a medium pH of around 5 to 6.
These are rustic and difficult soils, only suitable for some strains that evolutionarily learned how to adapt to the harshness of a dry environment, strong solar radiation during summer time and a low irrigation capacity, which means that only the varieties that are suited for those harshness survive via natural selection.
The harvest is manual and it is done between the first and the second week of April, which is when the grapes of that zone fulfil their full phenolic ripeness (soft and sweet tannins). In addition, during this time of the season the wine gets its appropriate amount of sugar and the right balance of organic acids required for a well-balanced and with fruity characteristics wine.
The winemaking is done with cold maceration for 30 hours before starting the alcoholic fermentation. The remounts are soft for a more light color look and that way avoiding rustic and aggresive tannins, which, in part, are a characteristic of these traditional strains.
The storage is done using American oak casks and French oak semi-toasted casks. The storage takes place for 8 to 10 months (depending on the wine), which adds complex and elegant characteristics to the natural flavour of the mature and fruity wine, with roast, wood and smoke flavourings