Echeverria Unwooded Chardonnay Reserva

Producer Note

Viña Echeverria is a family-run estate winery, owned and managed by the Echeverria family. Established in 1930, but with an agricultural heritage going back to the 1700s, Viña Echeverria is as much today, as always, driven by a shared passion for winemaking and an uncompromising search for excellence. Viña Echeverria combines nearly a century of viticulture and winemaking experience with a modern state-of-the-art winery, to produce a range of over 20 quality wines from nine different grape varieties. It has recently been awarded its Sustainable Winery status by Wines of Chile, as well as its ISO9000 certification.

Vineyard

Viña Echeverria´s vineyards and winery are located in the Curico Valley, Chile's wine heartland. Situated on the 35th parallel south, between the towering Andes mountains and the cool Pacific Ocean, this privileged viticultural zone sits at 243 metres above sea-level. With its cold nights and warm dry days, intense sunlight and long growing season, it is ideally suited to produce healthy vines and grapes. The cooling influence of the oceanic breeze, allows the grapes to achieve outstanding fruit aromas and exceptional colour concentration. The rows are planted in an east-westerly direction, to maximise the sun's exposure. Working with a model of micro viticulture, each plot, of no more than half a hectare, is identified according to its terroir and microclimate and planted accordingly. Grapes are subjected to specific pruning, irrigation, canopy management and harvesting, which results in grapes of optimum quality and flavour. The soil is loam & clay with a well-drained gravelly subsoil.

Winemaking

The grapes were de-stemmed and chilled to 8°C followed by a direct pneumatic pressing. A static sedimentation took place at 8 to 10°C for 24 to 48 hours. 30% of the blend then underwent a cold maceration for 18 hours to enhance the fruit flavours. The must was fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts at controlled temperatures of between 14 to 18°C for 25 days. Partial malolactic fermentation took place followed by six weeks maturation in steel tanks, with continuous stirring of the fine lees, imparting a creamy texture to the final wine. Blended with Viognier following fermentation, the wine was stored in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, prior to bottling.

Tasting Note

Fresh and juicy, this delicate Chardonnay expresses aromas of pineapples, melon and peach combined with fresh citrus notes. The palate is silky and vibrant with a long and mouth watering finish.

Serving Suggestion

An excellent aperitif wine which also pairs well with shellfish and seafood, especially oily fish; sashimi and sushi; salads; grilled white meats and pasta served with a creamy sauce.

Grape

Chardonnay 97%, Viognier 3%