Vina Carmen Merlot Rapel Valley Chile

Winemaker Comments: The wine shows a bright strawberry red colour with intense aromas of caramel, intense cherries and strawberries ripe fruits, spices, coffee and hints of mint. On the palate the wine shows fruity and spicy flavoured, with soft tannins, good balance and lingering finish. Harvest and Production: The grapes were harvested in the middle of April. The clusters were selected and then crushed. 30% of the grapes remained with the skins for 6 days at 2ºC before the fermentation. The alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 26ºC to 28ºC. The maceration period for this wine was 18 days . Malolactic fermentation took place naturally in tanks and in barrels. 20% of the wine remained in French and American oak barrels for 6 months. After this the wine was blended, fined and bottled. (24 x 37.5 cl)

Winemaker Comments: A nice deep ruby colour, starts with intense aromas of ripe red fruits, rhubarb, chocolate and pepper. Soft and velvety tannins in the mouth; jammy ripe red fruits, a hint of mint and spicy flavours. A nice balance, rich and lingering finish. Harvest and Production: The grapes were hand harvested from Rapel Valley known for its alluvial soils and summer high temperature days and fresh nights, ideal for the Carmenère. The bunches were crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at 28ºC with a total maceration period of 15 days. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in stainless steel tanks. After this the wine was blended. 20% of the wine was aged in French and American barrels for a period of 6 months. Then, the wine blended and bottled. (12 x 75 cl)

A brilliant combination of fine fruit ripeness, massive chocolatey depth and huge complexity on the palate with good, firm but supple tannins and length. Major league stuff! (6 x 75 cl)

Carmen's best selling varietal and you can see why. Beautifully balanced fruit and tannins enhance this great wine from Chile's Central Valley. (24 x 37.5 cl)

'Matured in French oak barrels. Intense aromas of ripe tropical fruit, melons, pears and hazelnuts, with a toasty complexity. Grapes from an outstanding individual vineyard. Rich fruit and savoury complexity.' Joanna Simon, Sunday Times Style Magazine. (6 x 75 cl)

Winemaker Comments: It has the fruit intensity and character of a Reserve range. A bright yellow-greenish colour with intense herbaceous characters, a hint of mineral notes; citric and tropical fruit flavours. A full palate, naturally balanced with its fruit acidity to provide a lingering finish. Vineyards and Winemaking : The grapes were hand harvested from our own premium selection of vineyards in the Casablanca Valley. The canopy of the vines was managed to provide greater fruit exposure to the warm morning temperatures, but also preventing overexposure of fruits to the afternoon sun. Irrigation was controlled to allow vines to accumulate sugars, but preventing an excessive vegetative growth. The combination of soil, sun exposure and climate in each of the vineyards provide the components to the final blend and produce the distinctive characteristics of Casablanca Sauvignon blanc. The juice was fermented in vats with selected yeasts. Temperature was kept at an average of 13ºC, which produces a long and gentle fermentation process. After fermentation the wines were left on its lees for two months. Then the wines were racked, blended, gently fined and bottled. (6 x 75 cl)

Zippy, grassy, clean, fresh Sauvignon Blanc from Chile's Central Valley. Excellent aperitif wine. (24 x 37.5 cl)

• Winemaker Comments: The fruitiness in the nose and the freshness on the palate show a good example of a well balance wine. The complexity given by the oak adds a pleasant creamy sensation. The green-yellow littering colour reminds limes, peaches, pineapples and lemons. This medium-bodied wine has an elegant and long finish. • Winemaking techniques: 100% of the grapes were handpicked and carefully selected before pressing. The grapes were crushed and macerated with the skins for 5 hours. With the skin contact we are looking for the intensity of the aromas and the elegance in the palate, the vineyards from warmer areas of Casablanca give the structure and a very concentrated body. After the pressing, which is one of the most important steps for the white wines, the juice was finned, racked and fermented in tanks and in barrels , where it remained during 4 month before blending and bottling. No malolactic fermentation was made in this wine. (12 x 75 cl)

Carmen make great reds but their whites are also improving vintage by vintage. This has good varietal herby fruit which is concentrated but not flabby and delicious grapefruit acidity.