Viu Manent Malbec Single Vineyard San Carlos
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The wines in the Single Vineyard series are extraordinary examples of the definition of their region and variety, which contributes to the complexity and personality of each wine.
- These are small productions made with the finest Viu Manent grapes from selected blocks of the winery’s 3 Colchagua Valley vineyards.
- Controlled yields and very ripe, concentrated hand-picked fruit give rise to these wines of outstanding characteristics that are aged for 14–18 months in French oak barrels.
- The grapes for this wine come from the best sectors of Blocks Nº 5 and 6 of Malbec at the San Carlos Estate near Cunaco in the heart of the Colchagua Valley. The vineyard was planted more than 100 years ago.
Varietal Composition: 100% Malbec.
Elaboration: The bunches underwent a preliminary selection in the vineyard, and only those with ideal ripeness were picked. The grapes were then transported to the cellar, where they underwent a second inspection on a selection table. They were then gently destemmed and any unripe or dehydrated berries were discarded. The perfect grapes were crushed and deposited into stainless steel tanks and cement eggs, where they underwent a 5–7-day pre-fermentation maceration at 10ºC. Alcoholic fermentation took place with native yeasts and 4 pumpovers per day, ending with a post-fermentation maceration for approximately 10 days. Oak treatment: The wine was aged for 16 months in three types of containers: 37% in French oak barrels (15% new), 53% unroasted French oak Foudre, and 10% in concrete eggs.
Tasting Notes: Bright cherry red in color, this wine presents a complex nose marked by notes of plums, blackcurrants, and violets. The palate is delicate, fresh, and crisp, with tremendous structure and vivacity and ends with a long and flavorful finish.
PRESS
2015 – 91 James Suckling | 93 Tim Atkin | 94 Descorchados
2016 – 90 James Suckling
2017 – 90 Wine Advocate | 93 James Suckling
2018 – 93 James Suckling
2020 – 90 Vinous | 91 James Suckling | 92 Wine Advocate
2021 – 92 Wine Advocate | 92 Vinous
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
After working as a wine merchant alongside his father and brother since the 1930’s, Miguel Viu Manent made the decision to branch out on his own in 1965, purchasing a historic vineyard and winery in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. The estate was and still is one of the most well-exposed sites in the region, and it included 150 hectares of pre-phylloxera massal selections from France.
This company provides us with wines we consider the best value wines in the country (see “Reserva line), forward/experimental options (see “Secreto” line), some of the most solid “under $20” varietal wines you’ll find anywhere in the world (see “Gran Reserva” line), site specific/terroir driven releases (see “Single Vineyard” wines), and most famously the iconic “Viu 1.” Malbec is clearly the house specialty here – Viu Manent was the first Chilean winery to bottle, label, and market Malbec, and they’ve for years been Chile’s Malbec leaders both in terms of accolades and quantity produced.
After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking).