2022 CHARDONNAY, Gran Reserva, Valle de Curicó, Viña Echeverría

Made by Roberto Echeverría from 100% Chardonnay, sourced from a single vineyard in the Curicó Valley on ungrafted vines. The soils are alluvial, with clay loam and gravelly stones. There is a high diurnal range here (high: low, day: night temperature range) which makes for ideal ripeness whilst preserving high levels of acidity.

100% Chardonnay

Viña Echeverría remains a family-owned estate having been established in 1930 by the Echeverría family in the Valle de Maule in Central Southern Chile. They make a large cross section of wines and styles from numerous varietals, and from several different areas, adapting their growing and sourcing of vines that are in ideal climatic, soil type, and growing conditions. Viña Echeverría has recently been awarded its Sustainable Winery status by Wines of Chile, as well as its ISO9000 certification.

The grapes were pressed, and the juice and skins were left in cold contact for 36 hours. Fermentation was split between 50% barrel fermented in French oak for 15 days and 50% in stainless steel for 25 days, with a mix of inoculated and wild yeasts. There is only partial malolactic, with 6 months lees aging with the barrel element.

This is a very elegant and refined style – medium to full bodied, with bright stone fruit flavours and light gently toasty oak, with fine underlying acidity which gives the whole wine great balance and vitality; nice and textural but nothing heavy. Remarkable quality and style for the money – this is modern day, New World, Chardonnay at its best.

Serve chilled, but not too cold. Ready for drinking now and over the next year to 2-3 years whilst at its fresh and vibrant best.