Wine Report 2011

The 2010-2011 production season that has just ended was marked by a lower heat build-up in all areas Viña Anakena has vineyard operations. Indeed, there were delays in the growth stages (budburst, flowering, etc.) in all fields and varieties of about one to two weeks. Therefore, the major part of the harvest took place well into the fall.

Another striking feature was the significant dry winter we experienced in central Chile. Fortunately we didn’t have any particular effect in our fields with the exception of our production in Palmilla where water rationing had to be made for a few days in December. However, the production saw only a marginal decrease.

Following our low winter rainfall an already classic dry summer came. This low moisture conditions were very favourable to assure the grapes’ health. Only the wetter coastal climate that Leyda has offers more challenges as the temperatures are substantially lower than in the inland valleys and air moisture is higher, challenges that are both necessary and fruitful if one considers oneself belonging the faction that produces high quality wines.

VARIETES

WHITE WINES

In a cool season like this one the earliest varieties are precisely the main beneficiaries. Moreover, given that it was, like last season, a year of reduced crops, it may have been an important factor for concentration in the grapes. So generally, white wines had a very good performance in quality.

Sauvignon Blanc

As for our high end Sauvingon blancs we count on our fabulous farm which is very close to the ocean in the Leyda district. Sort of an extreme weather place, showing cool temperatures even in the middle of summer, it makes itself like a near to perfect site to grow this variety. Therefore, probably due to a matter of place, once again it’s performing just great. It is really a luxury to have a so consistent grape year after year which delivers a wine of great peculiarity and identity. It has its distinctive character, herbaceous, with hints of yellow pepper, fruity, with citrus, very mineral, almost salty, and in fact reminiscent of seawater braking on a rocky beach, extremely tasty for its fine acidity and great length.
In short, again a great year for our Sauvignon Blanc from Leyda.

Chardonnay

This variety surprised us with significantly lower yields than expected, which did not made us precisely happy. But in return, the concentration of aromas and flavors that this has generated, at least from the qualitative point of view, tends to reward the decline in production.

After a slow ripening, we brought the grapes to the winery in mid-April to ascertain the great quality of the juice they gave us. Highly concentrated, with aromas of exotic tropical fruits as very influential. We decided to ferment these musts with wild yeasts to learn more about the character of the area, which ended worth trying.

In another stage, we are working some malolactic fermentation with a few lots. While avoiding the classic notes of buttery cream or heavy wines, the intention is to get the version of this process that contributes to the elegance and finesse of the resulting wine. So, we think this year’s wines have great potential, especially the aspect of typicity and personality.

Viognier

An already classical of the Viña Anakena wine portfolio, it had an exceptional performance this year. It has also expressed its nobility as to be one of the varieties that did not suffer further declines in production. A very fine fragrance of ripe fruit such as peaches and apricots, mixed with floral aromas of jasmine and lavender make wines that have an above average complexity and intensity compared to what has happened in other years.

Perhaps because of the cooler season and therefore higher acidities the wines have more nerve. This, along with the ability of this variety to be creamy and full bodied, it has made itself very tasty in the mouth.
It is certainly a variety well adapted to our climate and soils of our Requínoa farm.

Riesling

This variety from Leyda was one of the hardest hit by the drop in yield; however, its qualitative performance is well above average. A great scent of flowers is coming out in the different lots of wine, and then the mouth is marked by a sharp acidity that gets no one unmoved. Almost salty and very concentrated. It will be interesting to follow this wine after some time in bottle.