Harvest 2009 Report

General Considerations

This season was influenced by the Niña phenomenon, which results in cold currents towards Chile’s coastline, and low Ocean temperatures. This derives in a low precipitation level and high temperatures during the summer.

Winter 2008 was an average winter, with precipitations concentrated between May and September, with a peak in August. There was a total of 520 mm of rain for the Cachapoal area, whereas the year before it was only 328 mm. There were no frosts in spring, so the phenological cycles of the vines were normal, and the production was not affected, as the year before.

Spring and summer had a complete lack of rain, with average temperatures higher than the previous year. In the Cachapoal valley, average high temperatures were 33ºC in January and average low 12°C in the same month. There was no rain in autumn, which allowed the time to wait for the right maturity of the tannins for the red grapes.

Characteristics of the wines

2009 was a long harvest. We started on February 19, and ended on May 15, which is almost 3 months of harvest.

This harvest has had a higher yield than expected, mainly in the Requínoa vineyard. The newer vineyards in Leyda, Las Cabras and Ninquén Hill (Colchagua) have had the expected yields or lower. Even with this yield increase, the quality for 2009 wines is looking very good.

The Sauvignon Blanc from Leyda have the clear fresh notes from the cool area. They have mineral notes on both the nose and the palate, and also fruit notes of citrus types, such as lime and grapefruit. On the palate they have a natural intense acidity, with good structure.

The Pinot Noir from Leyda is also looking very consistent, with fresh fruit aromas and natural acidity. Pinot Noir from Casablanca is too showing good potential. In general it seems that quality for Pinot Noir will be better than 2008, with more structure, but maintaining the finesse that characterises them.

The Syrah from Las Cabras and Ninquén Hill (Colchagua) show good fruit and soft tannins; an excellent potential that make us very optimistic as to the future of these vineyards. The Malbec from Requínoa is also excellent quality, with good fruit and round tannins, confirming the potential of Alto Cachapoal for this grape.

Good intensity and quality of aromas present the Cabernet Sauvignon, with good tannins. The development of fermentation was in general normal, with some tanks of Cabernet taking longer, but within normal standards.