Merlot Gran Reserva Colchagua 2020 – Viña Echeverría

The grapes to produce Merlot Gran Reserva Colchagua  Viña Echeverría were hand-harvested and fermented in 25,000 litre open stainless steel tanks for seven days with selected yeasts, at controlled temperatures of 25 to 28°C. Merlot Gran Reserva Colchagua Viña Echeverría had an extended skin maceration, for an additional six to eight days. The wine then went through 100% malolactic fermentation, before being aged in 225 litre Frenchoak barrels, of second and third use for 10 to 12 months.

The vineyard is located in Maipo Alto in the Central Valley. Alto Maipo reaches into the foothills of the Andean Mountains; the vineyard is situated at elevations of between 400 to 800 metres above sea level. The afternoon sun warms the vineyard and the cool mountain breezes that slide down the hillside at night create a broad oscillation between day and night temperatures. This diurnal temperature difference creates perfect conditions for bold yet elegant red wines. Careful pruning is carried out to allow the correct balance between the canopy and the fruit, while irrigation is carefully managed to avoid dehydration. The vines are grown in medium fertility soils of mostly red and black clay.

Viña Echeverria is a family-run estate winery, owned and managed by the Echeverría family. Established in 1930, but with an agricultural heritage going back to the 1700s, Viña Echeverría is as much today, as always, driven by a shared passion for winemaking and an uncompromising search for excellence. Viña Echeverría 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.