Although the weather conditions were difficult in terms of ensuring vine health, the consequences were particularly beneficial for the wines, which display fresh fruit and elegant tannins.
A cold and dry winter followed by a cool spring with relatively little sunshine caused a 15-day lag in vine development which persisted throughout the growth cycle. Despite this lag, a hot and dry summer and a sharp difference between day and night temperatures in April favoured concentration of the fruit while preserving the freshness of the vintage in remarkable fashion.
Of great aromatic power, the 2011 vintage expresses all the refinement and freshness of the fruit while revealing a tannic structure of great elegance.
In another unusual vintage for Chile, the 2011 wines also stand out for their strong varietal identity and ageing potential.
Hot and dry weather in the second half of spring and summer enabled the crop to ripen evenly.
Autumn, marked by an earthquake on 27 February, saw a fall in average temperatures and a very sharp difference between day and night temperatures, enhancing the presence of phenolic compounds. The conditions made it possible to preserve all the potential and, above all, the freshness of the fruit.
That freshness, combined with higher acidity than in 2009, gives the 2010 vintage a balance and an elegance that will indisputably rank it among Chile’s best even-year vintages, with the added advantage of considerable ageing potential.