Santa Rita : Pewën de Apalta Carmenère 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Pewën de Apalta Carmenère 2023 from Santa Rita

Tasting

Colour
This wine displays a carmine red colour with deep purple highlights, both dense and luminous.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with mineral and graphite notes, accompanied by scents of black cherry, sweet spices and a delicate touch of tobacco.

Palate
Precise and concentrated, the palate offers a velvety texture supported by round, fleshy tannins. It reveals delicious aromas of blackberry and ripe plum, stretching into a long, persistent finish with lovely, balanced freshness.

Food and wine pairing
This cuvée will pair beautifully with grilled or braised red meats, a mushroom risotto or semi-hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring
The Pewën de Apalta Carmenère 2023 has excellent ageing potential and can be enjoyed until around 2033.

The authentic expression of a Chilean Carménère by Santa Rita

The estate
Founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernández Concha in Alto Jahuel, Viña Santa Rita is a historic figure in Chilean winemaking. Now owned by the Claro group, the estate stands out for its exceptional heritage and strong commitment to sustainability. Having become a leading brand on the international stage, it cultivates vines in the country's finest valleys. The estate skilfully combines tradition and modernity to produce high-quality cuvées that reflect the richness and diversity of Chilean terroirs.

The vineyard
The grapes come from a small plot nestled in the foothills of Apalta, where the vines were planted in 1938. This Central Valley terroir is distinguished by its weathered granitic soils, which offer low fertility, good porosity and optimal drainage. Grown without any irrigation, the vines naturally maintain their water balance thanks to the soil's reserves and the inflows from spring basins. These ideal conditions help control the vigour of the vines, promote healthy canopy development and ensure perfect ripening of the berries.

The vintage
The year was marked by a sub-humid Mediterranean climate. Rainfall, averaging 482 mm annually, was mainly concentrated during the winter months. Spring proved cold and dry, giving way to a particularly hot summer, with temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C. These weather conditions, combined with a heat accumulation of 1,836 degree-days, encouraged slow ripening of the grapes, ensuring lovely concentration.

Vinification and ageing
The Pewën de Apalta Carmenère 2023 was harvested by hand at the end of March. After destemming and partial crushing, a five-day pre-fermentation maceration was carried out, with 3% whole berries placed at the bottom of the vat. Spontaneous fermentation took place in stainless steel and concrete vats at between 24 and 26°C. Extraction, initially intense through daily pump-overs and rack-and-returns, was softened towards the end of the process to preserve the elegance and suppleness of the tannins. Following a six-day post-fermentation maceration that added roundness, the pomace was pressed in a vertical press. The press wine, essential to the final blend, and the rest of the cuvée were aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (40% new and 60% second-use). The wine was bottled unfiltered.

Grape variety
This cuvée is made from 100% Carménère.