Miguel Torres Cordillera Vigno Old Vines Carignan 2017

Miguel Torres Cordillera Carignan has an opaque, intense ruby red colour. Floral and fruity aromas waft from the glass with a background of toasted oak notes. The full-bodied palate is broad, unfolding beautifully with an excellent texture. Dark plum, blackberry and cherry flavours mingle with hints of vanilla, prunes, bay leaf and mint. Closes with a long black fruit liqueur finish.

100% Carignan. Ever since Miguel Torres's arrival in Chile, they've gone to every corner of the country in search of the best places to make unique wines. Cordillera Carignan is a part of their Valley Collection concept, which strives to offer intense varietal characters from the country's different winemaking valleys. The fruit for Cordillera Carignan comes from Maule Valley. These rain-fed vineyards within the coastal range hold some of the oldest Carignan vines in the world, many of them dating back more than 80 years. This variety is undoubtedly one of Chile's great treasures and has been rescued from oblivion.

The vineyard lies on red clay soils with a sandy loam texture on the surface, turning to clay loam 70–180 centimetres below. The soil is deep and has good drainage. The vineyards experience a warm, arid climate with cold nights and plenty of rain. The vines withstand the temperatures well and the dryness of the inland climate provides them with good conditions.

After picking and sorting the grapes, they enter 16 days of maceration. Fermentation lasts for 10 days at 24°C with alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. Following fermentation, the wine ages for 14 months in French oak barrels, 34% new and 66% second-fill.