Viu Manent, Single Vineyard, 'San Carlos' Malbec 2021

San Carlos Malbec, Single Vineyard, 2021, Viu Manent

Colchagua Valley, Chile

Grape Variety: Malbec

Alcohol: 14% ABV

The Story

The wines in the Single Vineyard series are extraordinary examples of the definition of their region and variety, which contributes to the complexity and personality of each wine.

These are small productions made with the finest Viu Manent grapes from selected blocks of our 3 Colchagua Valley vineyards. Controlled yields and very ripe, concentrated hand-picked fruit give rise to these wines of outstanding characteristics that are aged for 14–18 months in French oak barrels.

Vineyard & Winemaking

These grapes come from the best sections of blocks 5 and 6 on our Fundo San Carlos estate, near the town of Cunaco, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley. The vineyard was planted more than 100 years ago. Cunaco, where our San Carlos vineyard is located, has alluvial soil with a sandy–clay texture, with very good drainage - extraordinarily porous and with a very good capacity to administer water to the plant throughout the year, which is very beneficial to the production of high-end Malbec.

The vines are planted to a density of 4,464 plants/hectare. They are trained to low vertical shoot positions, and cane or double guyot pruned. Shoots are pulled in spring and the beginning of summer. 

The grapes were harvested by hand into 10-kg containers between 5–13 April, 2021. There was an initial selection of bunches in the vineyard so that only the grapes that have reached optimal ripening are harvested. Next, the bunches were transported in 10kg crates to the selection table for another review. Once finished, the grapes were gently destemmed in order to undergo a selection of berries, removing any that were green or dried. Finally, just the berries that pass the selection process are crushed and sent to stainless steel tanks for a pre-fermentation maceration for 5–7 days at 10°C.  Alcoholic fermentation took place with selected yeasts, with 4 pump-overs occurring daily, finishing with a post-fermentation maceration of 10 days. The wine aged for 13 months in four different containers: 26% in French oak barrels (8% of which were new), 67% in untoasted French oak foudres, 5% in concrete eggs, and 3% in clay tinajas. 

Tasting Notes:

With a deep-red colour, the wine’s nose shows great complexity, highlighting aromas of small black fruits, accompanied by floral and citrus notes such as ripe orange peel. The palate shows a wine with refined silky tannins with great texture that support a finish that is fresh, broad, and persistent. 

Cellaring & Service

Cellaring Potential: 8-10 years  

Serving Temperature: 18°C

Allergens: This wine contains sulphites