Viu Manent : Loma Blanca Single Vineyard Carménére 2022

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the Loma Blanca Single Vineyard Carmenère 2022 from Viu Manent

Tasting

Appearance

A beautiful deep purple hue.

Nose

The bouquet reveals aromas of blackberry and wild berries, complemented by notes of damp earth and white pepper.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its elegance and freshness. The structure is harmonious, carried by silky yet firm tannins leading to a lingering finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Carmenère pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, a spiced duck breast, or a selection of aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Loma Blanca Single Vineyard Carmenère 2022 can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2031. Ideally serve at a temperature of 16-18°C.

The elegance and complexity of a Chilean Carmenère from the Colchagua Valley

The estate

Founded in 1935 by the Catalan immigrant Miguel Viu García and his sons Agustín and Miguel Viu Manent, the Viu Manent estate is located in the Colchagua Valley, in the heart of the Central Valley, following the acquisition of the San Carlos de Cunaco vineyard in 1966. Family-owned for four generations, Viu Manent grows Carmenère, Chile’s emblematic grape variety, as well as century-old Malbec. The estate combines aging in French oak barrels, clay amphorae, and concrete vats to produce wines of remarkable structural elegance.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the single El Olivar vineyard, located in the Colchagua Valley near Peralillo. The vines, averaging 18 years of age, are planted on a terroir with a 20 to 25% slope. The soil consists of a top layer of granite with gravel, resting on a second stratum of fragmented granitic rock.

The vintage

The winter of 2021-2022 was dry, followed by a spring with moderate temperatures that slightly delayed bud break. Summer began with high temperatures before a cooler month of January. March and April provided conditions conducive to optimal grape ripening.

Winemaking and aging

The Loma Blanca Single Vineyard Carmenère 2022 harvest was carried out by hand, parcel by parcel, between April 20 and 29, 2022. Cold maceration was conducted at 8-10°C for 6 days prior to fermentation, followed by a one-week post-fermentation maceration. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at 26-28°C. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in barrels. Aging of this Central Valley wine lasts 14 months, with 88% in French oak barrels and 12% in concrete eggs. The wine was lightly filtered before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Carmenère.