Derain Pinot Noir Las Nubes Chile 2018

Description

This wine comes from the north-east corner of Casablanca region is only 20 minutes from the ocean, benefiting from relatively mild temperatures, and decent rainfall. The young Pinot vines are planted on terraces at an aelevation of 350 metres on granitic-clay soils rich in manganese, and farmed biodynamically. 

The grapes for Las Nubes were manually harvested at night to retain acidity, whereupon French winemaker Dominique Derain from St Aubin in Burgundy, did a saignée of the grapes destemming 60% with the remainder whole bunches. Transferred to a cuve tronconique béton, the wine was macerated with skins overnight, whereupon 7hl of juice was drawn off. The wild ambient ferment proceeded in a cement egg, then free-run juice and the press juice were blended and transferred to 40-hectolitre stainless steel vat with adjustable lids, and containing an air chamber, where the wine subsequently spent a further three months ageing and completing its alcoholic fermentation.

'This has a bright raspberry colour; nose of red cherry and plum, hints of barnyard, leather, savoury herbs such as bayleaf. On the palate it is medium bodied, and has medium rounded tannins and a balanced, good acidity. At 11% alcohol and that much flavour this is a perfect wine for summer drinking.' Anja Breit, Philglas & Swiggot