Made with grapes from old-vine Malbec hidden away in San Rosendo, this is a great example of small, independent vignerons bringing to light old-vine gems. With fragrant notes of violets and plum, wild earthy notes and lively acidity.
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This is a modern take on Itata’s white wines. The grapes come from new(ish) vines and are vinified with a Burgundian philosophy. The result is sublime: a full-bodied yet linear wine with notes of butter, stone fruit and almonds. One of my ‘go to’ Chilean Chardonnays.
If there’s anyone who has got me excited about new vines in Itata, it’s the wines of Pandolfi Price. One of the landmark wineries in Itata for proving the great potential of Chardonnay, and now Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The Pandolfi Price story started in 2002 when the Pandolfi family happened across a Chardonnay vineyard planted in 1992 and made it their goal to make top quality dry-farmed Chardonnay from these relatively new vines.
With the help of winemaker François Massoc, they made this corner of Chillán a little taste of Burgundy in Itata. The Los Patricios Chardonnay is one of the best of Chile, and Larkün is a worthy second line. Today several other varieties have joined the family, but still with the same ethos: human scale, sustainable wines that show the exciting potential of new vines in Itata.
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Natural winemaker Roberto Henríquez puts Semillon on the label, but there’s Corinto and many other old vines in this field blend with its complex nose of wild herbs and white fruit, and its textural finish. An intriguing wine showing the wilder side of Itata’s whites.
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This is Francois Massoc’s ode to País. Making a wine from old vines in Itata, he ages this in barrel for a couple years in order to give País more longevity. The result is delicious, a very noble Pais indeed.
Founded in 2015, Massoc Frères as a project has always been guided by the family’s affection for their Chilean and French roots, their faith in the Itata and Bio Bio valleys, and their desire to produce excellent wines from the old vines of southern Chile.
In 2017, the family bought an old winery located on the slopes of Cerro Cayumanqui, in the municipality of Quillón in Itata and restored it to adapt it to their small-scale winemaking style. All the Massoc Frères wines are made, aged and bottled on the estate.
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