Laberinto "Arcillas" Riesling 2022

Clean, deep yellow-green color. Intricate nose of lemon rind, apples and just a touch of petrol. Bone dry and gastronomic, with a textural allure to the center palate. It has an intense fruity and oily character with hints of quince and medlar on the one hand, and on the other, rich aromas of white flowers such as acacia and trees native to Colbún such as Quillay Saponina. A structured wine with good depth, rich acidity, and a pithy, mineral-driven finish.

This hand-harvested, single vineyard, 100% estate Riesling, was planted in 1995 in Colbún, Maule, Chile. Volcanic soils, 100% organic, very very low yielding, 15% stem inclusion, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged in clay amphora and concrete tanks for eight months. 20% of the grapes had 15 days of skin contact.

Dubbed "Laberinto" for the labyrinth-inspired row plantings in his 23 hectares under vine, Rafael Tirado (Rafa) established the winery in 1993 in the easternmost corner of the Maule Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, after previously serving as winemaker for several larger Chilean wineries in the Maipo Valley.

Rafa is widely considered to be of the most seminal figures in the modern history of Chilean winemaking, and younger winemakers across South America mention his name in reverence. He is an artisan in the time of bulk production.