Santa Macarena
Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
Leyda, Chile
Where
A single vineyard Pinot Noir from one of the most coastal vineyards in Chile, sited in the Leyda region just south of the port of San Antonio.
Vines were planted on the advice of top Viticulturalist, Pedro Parra, in the 1990s on a single slope only 5 km from the ocean and 55 miles west of central Santiago, morning mists and spring frosts, often associated with the Napa Valley and Bordeaux are brought from the west coast by the Humboldt current.
How
Grapes are carefully selected and picked manually early in the morning . Cold maceration prior to alcoholic fermentation at 10C for 3- 4 days allows the more delicate Pinot characters to develop before the more aggressive alcoholic extraction of tannins. Alcoholic fermentation is carried out at low, controlled temperature, which avoids the loss of aromatic compounds. Regular pumping over facilitates colour extraction and skin components. Ageing in tank with oak helps to add complexity, spice and texture. The final wines have a deep red- purple colour with delicate sweet red fruit flavours and aromas.
Taste
Great varietal definition and beautiful balance mark this out as benchmark Pinot Noir. The proximity to the see adds an almost savoury, briny note to the sweet, wild strawberry laced fruit character. Bright and juicy yet silky and smooth.