2011 De Martino "Las Cruces" Single Vineyard Cachapoal Valley

The 2011 Single Vineyard Las Cruces is sourced from a 2.8-hectare alluvial terrace in Cachapoal, opposite Peumo, a dry-farmed vineyard planted in 1957 on granitic and clay soils. In Cachapoal it rains around 500 millimeters per year, compared with the Maule Valley where it rains around 800 millimeters. These old vineyards are planted with a mix of about two-thirds Malbec and the rest Carmenere. They are harvested when the Malbec is ready, then everything is co-fermented. This wine has a fresh note of red fruits, violets, a hint of raspberry leaf and some yummy notes of cooked meat with the complexity of old vines that have slowly developed over time. The fruit is bright and shiny, with a high-toned mix of ripe peaches and flowers, something I have seen in other wines from Cachapoal. The palate is vibrant with fine tannins, and supple with a strong imprint from the soil rather than the fruit, finishing with a high-toned licorice note. A great terroir-driven red. Drink 2014-2020. (LG)