Viu Manent Merlot Reserva

Viu Manent Merlot Reserva

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • Very Fresh in Style, the grapes for this wine come from different estate Merlot vineyards in the Colchagua Valley.

Varietal Composition: Merlot 91%, Syrah 5%, Malbec 4%.

Elaboration: The grapes were destemmed and crushed into a stainless steel tank. Alcoholic fermentation took place with selected yeasts at 24º–25ºC with light extraction through just 4 pump overs per day and ending with a post-fermentation maceration for approximately 1 week. Malolactic fermentation occurred normally. Approximately 30% of the wine was aged in oak barrels, and the rest remained in stainless steel and cement tanks. The different components were later blended, lightly filtered, and bottled. Oak: The blend was aged for 7 months in previously used French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes:  Ruby red with violet nuances and intense aromas of spices and abundant ripe fruit such as plums and black cherries along with a bit of cinnamon. The palate is juicy and medium bodied with very good balance. balanced, with a smooth texture and a pleasing finish.

PRESS

n/a

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).

PRINT SHELF TALKER