Matetic Vineyards Syrah 2017
An intense and expressive wine, with aromas of violet, black cherry, cracked pepper and attractive menthol notes. The palate shows poise and balance with fresh acidity alongside a firm yet velvety structure, luscious fruit offset by a meaty-savoury backbone that adds depth to the finish.
The grapes come from two of the oldest blocks in the El Rosario vineyard, one flat with deep, loamy granite soils and the other with decomposed granite, quartz and volcanic silt. Two Syrah clones are planted here and some blocks have developed deep enough root systems to allow dry farming for a large part of the growing season. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically and the grapes were hand-harvested.
Following a rigorous selection the grapes underwent a ten-day pre-fermentation cold maceration, with 50% whole bunches. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out using wild yeasts, with pumpovers and pigeage employed. The wine was then racked to French oak barrels where it underwent twenty-two months' ageing, before being bottled unfiltered.
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14.5% |
| Awards | Tim Atkin, 95pts; James Suckling, 94pts |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | San Antonio |
| Grapes | Syrah 100% |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | No |
| Organic | Yes |
| Biodynamic | Yes |
| Closure | Cork |
Matetic vineyards embody the pioneering spirit and vision of modern Chilean winemaking. This biodynamic project was founded in 1999 by the Matetic family, originally Croatian settlers who arrived in Chilean Patagonia in 1892. Having established themselves as farmers with extensive landholdings, the fourth generation of the family turned their attention to grapes. Confident of the attributes of the climate and soils in the coastal El Rosario Valley of San Antonio, they developed 120 hectares of vineyard. This unique enclosed valley of rolling hills, in close proximity to the sea, offers one of the most spectacular vineyards in Chile. Matetic has fast gained a reputation as the modern face of Chilean wines, and achieved particular renown for their signature style of cool-climate Syrah, hitherto not established in this part of Chile.
Since the start, the team at Matetic embraced organic and biodynamic agriculture as a way of crafting balanced wines with a sense of place, as well as making a commitment to the environment for future generations. Today, they farm 160 hectares of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards, focusing on cool-climate varieties. The vineyard is treated as one organism, with the application of biodynamic compost (all of which is made on the estate), seeding cover crops, and cultivation between the rows. A walk through their vineyards will afford you views of alpacas, geese and ducks that work in natural harmony with the vines to control pests and limit undergrowth.
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