Carménère: 66%

Merlot: 19%

Cabernet Sauvignon: 15%

Located 170 km southwest of Santiago in the Colchagua Valley, the Apalta vineyard features a rare north-to-south exposure.

The Tinguiririca River and surrounding Coastal Cordillera hills create a horseshoe-shaped amphitheater, moderating sunlight and temperature.

This unique geography ensures balanced vines and slow, even ripening.

The region has a semi-dry Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall (~550 mm annually) and long dry summers.

Warm days and cold nights create wide temperature fluctuations, enhancing color, tannins, and acidity.

Slow maturation ensures concentration and long aging potential.

Colluvial granitic soils with light texture and clay layers contribute to structure and complexity.

A hot, dry spring followed by a sunny summer with cold nights created ideal thermal amplitude.

No rain during harvest and early ripening resulted in concentrated fruit with preserved acidity.

Harvest occurred up to 3 weeks earlier than usual.

Organic and biodynamic vineyard management, certified by CERES and DEMETER.

Includes pre-phylloxera old vines (planted 1920).

High-density planting (5,400–6,666 plants/ha) with low yields (2,000–3,000 kg/ha).

Hand-harvested between February 23 and April 26, 2012.

100% hand-destemmed grapes and gravity-fed into French oak vats.

Fermentation uses native yeasts with controlled temperatures below 28°C.

Maceration lasts 4–5 weeks with manual punch-downs for extraction.

Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrels.

Aged 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels (225L).

Coopers include Saury, Taransaud, Seguin Moreau, Demptos, Sylvain, and Radoux.

Not fined, cold stabilized, or filtered.

Color: Dark, deep inky purple red

Nose: Ripe red and black fruits (plum, cherry, fig, blueberry) with spice notes (clove, black pepper)

Palate: Concentrated, round attack, velvety polished tannins, long rich finish

Decant for at least 1 hour or allow to breathe before serving at 17°C.

Pairs with game, lamb, entrecôte, and rich cocoa desserts.

BBPH pairing ideas: Wagyu, lamb, truffle dishes.

Bottled: March 25–28, 2014

Production: 5,084 cases