Antiyal "Pura Fe" Carménère 2022

Excellent nose of spices, tobacco, espresso coffee and dark fruit. On the palate, rich in dark fruits and spices, blackberries and black pepper. Full body, well structured, with vanilla, oak, clove, plum, blackcurrant, green pepper, gentle tannins and medium acidity. Another fantastic wine from winemaker Alvaro Espinoza, expressing the pure character of this region.

Often called the "Lost Grape of Bordeaux," Carménère was one of the original six red varieties (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot), and was presumed extinct in the 19th century after phylloxera decimated European vineyards. It was famously rediscovered in Chile via DNA testing in 1994, where it had been mistaken for Merlot for over a century, making Chile the leading producer of the "lost grape." Today, Chile accounts for roughly 96-97% of global production.

Antiyal's Pura Fe Carménère is made from 88% Carménère and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed biodynamically and made with minimal intervention. All grapes are fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks, pressed into 3-4 year old French oak barrels and aged for 10-12 months before bottling. The wine is a pure and well-defined example of Carménère.

In 1996 Alvaro Espinoza founded Antiyal, which means "sons of the sun" in Mapuche (native Chilean). The estate is known as one of the leading organic and biodynamic producers in the country. Originally a small, "garage" winery, Antiyal has grown to a larger, but still personable size, producing wines from Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Garnacha. The Pura Fe vineyards are located in the Maipo Valley, totaling 9.4 hectares of vineyards. All grapes are organically and biodynamically grown with balanced irrigation and careful canopy management.