Vina Marty Pirca Carménère 2014 – Maule Valley Chile

Viña Marty was established in 2008 when Winemaker Pascal Marty set out to create his own project in Chile. Marty had been with Baron Phillipe Rothschild in Bordeaux for 14 years before he became one of the key winemakers /Directors responsible for setting up Opus One in California and then Almaviva in Chile. (These two world class iconic wineries form part of the Rothchild’s portfolio and produce some of the best wines on the planet.) After his time with these giants of the wine world, Pascal decided to remain in Chile and set down his roots into Chilean soil with an array of winemaking consultancies before he went solo to create Viña Marty. He combines the experience he gained in France, California, Chile to create wines with history and soul.
The Maule valley is one of the oldest wine regions in Chile, located 250 km south from Santiago. It has recently come to the forefront of the Chile Wine industry as younger winemakers re-discover the potential of these old vine sites.  Some of the most exciting wines are now coming from this region.
The fruit for this wine is sourced from a specific zone called Pencahue Valley in the greater Maule Valley. They have 26 hectares planted between 1997 and 2008, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Syrah. This valley is well known for its dry-warm climate and rocky soils. At the same time, moisture is well retained by the soils due to the clay content. It is an ideal place to produce full-bodied Carménère.
The fruit is hand harvested and taken to the winery, where is fermented in stainless steel for 8-12 days at a coolish temperature 24-26 degrees C. It is then aged for 8 months in French Oak.
Toasty, herbal aromas of smoked meat, leather and black fruits are in the lead. It’s plush and thick, with flavours of baked blackberry, herbs, spice and pepper that finish with a mocha flavour and chewy tannins.