Red with glints of purple, Apaltagua Reserva Merlot has notes of raspberry and creme de cassis. The aroma is intense, with touches of fresh fruit and a light hint of spices. In the mouth it is elegant, with a medium body. The tannins are smooth and round, with just enough oak to lend elegance and a persistent finish.

Variety: Merlot
Appellation: Colchagua Valley
Winemaker: Carolina França
Winemaker Consultant: Juan Carlos Faúndez
Bottled: At The Estate

Vineyards
Our entire vineyard is carefully tended with affection and respect for the natural surroundings. The grapes cultivated for our Apaltagua Reserva Merlot come from 14 year old vines in our own 60 hectare vineyard in the Colchagua Valley, in the community of Palmilla. Harvested by hand, the grapes are transported in bins of 400 kilograms so that the bunches remain intact, thus preserving the organoleptic quality of the grapes. Yields are approximately 10,000-11,000 kilograms per hectare.

Climate
The Colchagua Valley has a Mediterranean-style climate with cold, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The valley is known for the marked differences in temperature between day and night, ideal conditions for the growth of our grapes. Palmilla is located in the center of Colchagua, and is characterized by the strong winds that come from the Pacific Ocean and remain within the valley. The temperature difference between the hills and the lowest part of the valley is considerable, and allows us to have a slower maturation of the grapes.

Vinification
Our grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of April. In order to extract color and aromas, the grape is de-stemmed and the must is placed in stainless steel tanks, where it remains for four to six days during a cold, pre-fermentation maceration (temperatures below 10°C or 50°F). Next, the alcoholic fermentation lasts for seven days, with selected yeasts, at temperatures between 28° to 30°C (82° to 86°F). Malolactic fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks. Afterwards, one part of the wine (between 30-40%) is transferred to French oak barrels with two to three years of use, and is aged for five to six months. Finally, the wine is blended in stainless steel tanks and continues to age for three to four months before being bottled.

Notes from the winemaker
Red with glints of purple, Apaltagua Reserva Merlot has notes of raspberry and creme de cassis. The aroma is intense, with touches of fresh fruit and a light hint of spices. In the mouth it is elegant, with a medium body. The tannins are smooth and round, with just enough oak to lend elegance and a persistent finish.