A deep, intense ruby-red color, our Apaltagua Colección Carignan has a powerful nose, with notes of wild fruits like blackberry and cherry, with floral notes reminiscent of Syrah and Pinot Noir. More subtle hints of sweetness and cedar are also present. In the mouth it is fresh, deep and potent, with an irresistible purity and an impressive persistence.

Variety: 85% Carignan – 12% Syrah – 3% Pinot Noir (Valle de San Antonio)
Appellation: Maule Valley
Winemaker: Carolina França
Winemaker Consultant: Juan Carlos Faúndez
Bottled: At the Estate

Vineyards
Our Colección Carignan comes from a vineyard on the banks of the Cauquenes River, with an alluvial soil consisting of thin, poor loam and clay, with a presence of quartz. This vineyard was planted in bush vines during the 1960s, and up until today all of the agricultural work is done using horses. The vines are also completely dry-farmed, allowing a very limited production of highly concentrated grapes. Harvested by hand, the grapes are transported in bins of 10-12 kg. at night, in order to avoid any type of oxidation.

Climate
Situated in the Maule Region, the most traditional wine-making zone in Chile, this vineyard is located in the province of Cauquenes, just 50 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Cauquenes River, giving this vineyard a unique micro-climate. The rain is concentrated principally in the winter, with annual average of 700mm. The Mediterranean-style climate averages 22°C in the summer (January), and 7°C in the winter (July). The large temperature difference between day and night (more than 18°C), favors a large phenolic maturity for the grape, allowing it to maintain its acidity, while the tannins mature and soften, delivering a fresh and elegant Carignan.

Vinification
The grapes are harvested at the end of April. In order to extract color and aromas, once the grapes are de-stemmed, they pass through a grape-by-grape selection table, and then onto a small stainless steel tank (10,000L capacity), where they remain for four to six days in cold maceration (temperatures lower than 10°C). Afterwards, the fermentation takes place, lasting eight to ten days, using selected yeasts, at temperatures between 24°-26°C. A selective post-fermentation maceration is done for just a few days, before finishing malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels with one to two years of previous use. The wine remains in the barrels for 12-14 months. Finally, the wine is blended in a stainless steel tank, and ages for three to four months before bottling.

Notes from the winemaker
A deep, intense ruby-red color, our Apaltagua Colección Carignan has a powerful nose, with notes of wild fruits like blackberry and cherry, with floral notes reminiscent of Syrah and Pinot Noir. More subtle hints of sweetness and cedar are also present. In the mouth it is fresh, deep and potent, with an irresistible purity and an impressive persistence.

Ageing
from now until 2020.