Errazuriz Single Vineyard Sangiovese

ABV 14.5%

Aconcagua Valley

Grapes 88% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet, 2% Shiraz

Single Vineyard Sangiovese come from Sector II of Don Maximiano Estate in the Aconcagua Valley, a Mediterranean climate region with hot summer days and an extended dry season with cooling afternoon breezes that blow in from the Pacific. The combination of these natural conditions with careful vineyard management are ideal for creating wines with intense flavours and good concentration. The Sangiovese vineyard is planted on a north-west-facing 5° slope with gravelly, sandy clay soils that ensures excellent drainage. The vineyards are drip irrigated with high-density planting and a spur pruned vertical trellising system. Our Sangiovese vines were planted in 1994 with mostly R24 clone (also called Sangiovese Piccolo), which features small berries and intense berry fruit characters. A smaller section is planted with the R10 clone.

Winemaking

The grapes for Single Vineyard Sangiovese were hand-picked in 12 kilo boxes and plastic bins to avoid bruising during the transport to the winery. The fruit was rigorously hand-sorted to guarantee optimum quality of the grapes. Some lots were pre-fermentation cold macerated to brighten up the fruit in the wine.  Selected yeasts were inoculated and fermentation took place at an average temperature of 26°-30° C. In order to allow maximum extraction of the ripe fruit flavours, extended post-fermentation maceration took place during 10-30 days, depending on the development of each individual lot. The wine aged for seventeen months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (13.2 % new) integrating beautiful oak characters into the wine. Dashes of Shiraz and Cabernet Franc were added for spiciness and a more interesting character to this beautiful wine.

Winemaker’s Comments

Single Vineyard Sangiovese shows a beautiful varietal typicity and great complexity. On the nose we are offered a broad range of ripe red fruit and dried stone fruit aromas set against a framework of floral notes. The palate is full, with a beautiful, lively attack and a backbone of firm tannins which give this wine vibrancy and volume in the mouth in combination with its well balanced acidity. Barrel ageing integrate toasty notes and fragrant sweet spices which melt together into an ideal harmony with the fruity flavours and lead to a complex and lush finish. This wine shows best when served with food which complements the natural acidity of the variety.