The slightly warmer sub-region of San Julián further inland on the river terraces gives this silky Pinot Noir juicy notes of ripe strawberries and black cherries. A seductive wine with freshness and layers of liquorice, red fruit and black pepper.
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This Pinot Noir from vines planted on schist terraces brings a whole new face to Maule. With a few years in bottle before release, this Pinot Noir shows more evolved tertiary notes of stewed red berries and leather but ultimately it’s a savoury, mineral wine with graphite and grip on the finish. The early vintages are promising, and I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from this special site.
Miguel Torres Chile winery is based in the heart of Curicó, a region which the Spanish vigneron came to in 1979. The Miguel Torres winery has been revolutionary in Chile for many reasons. Bringing the first stainless steel tanks with temperature control and the first French barrels to Chile in the 80s, it was ahead of its time then and continues to innovate today. In particular, Miguel Torres Chile has helped lead the renaissance of Chile’s ancient País variety.
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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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