Undurraga TH Carménère 2022

The grapes come from a carefully selected 4.05-hectare vineyard in Peumo, on the western side of the Valle de Cachapoal, in an area known for producing the best Carménère wines in Chile. The climate in Peumo suits Carménère; its latitude ensures high temperatures throughout the ripening period, but its proximity to the Pacific Ocean results in gentle breezes that encourage the grapes to retain acidity, resulting in fresh flavours and aromas in the wine. The vineyard is situated at 171 metres above sea level, where the red clay soils are one metre deep and retain moisture to nourish the vines. Below the clay profile lies decomposing granite rock with greater drainage, enabling excess winter and springtime moisture to drain for better plant balance. The grapes come from a small, low-yielding plot of ungrafted vines planted in 1998. The vines are subjected to strict irrigation control during the ripening period. The yield is just 1.7 kilograms per plant, providing the necessary concentration for a deeply flavoured wine.

The manually harvested grapes were rigorously selected to ensure that only the ripe, healthy clusters passed to the destemming stage. After crushing, the grapes underwent a pre-fermentation cold maceration under anaerobic conditions for eight days at 6 to 8°C. Fermentation took place with natural yeasts at 27 to 28°C for 14 days, with pump overs carried out three times per day. The wine was then left in contact with its lees and skins for another 17 days to enhance its structure. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 35% of which were new, for 12 months.