Carignan
75cl * Vegan * Sustainable * 14.0% ABV * Maule Valley, Chile
Santiago Achurra Larrain founded Viña Requingua in 1961 and since then, working alongside several generations of his family, has grown the winery to be amongst Chile’s top 20 producers. Winemaking is led by Frenchman Benoit Fitte, who has overseen things since 2001. Maule was one of the first areas of Chile to be planted with vines. Part of the Central Valley region, it stretches for around 60 miles, with the centre of wine production around 180 miles south of Santiago. Slightly cooler and damper than other Central Valley regions it enjoys the same extended growing season, giving grapes a balance of ripeness and acidity. It is beginning to see success with dry-farming methods and old vine varietals such as Carignan, which this Viña Requingua Toro De Piedra Gran Reserva Carignan is a beautiful example.
Following a traditional fermentation the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barriques which have a minimum age of 3 years. This softens the wine, which is a deep cherry red with an intense, complex nose of raspberry and strawberry with some floral notes plus spicy cedar from the barrel aging and intriguing forest floor. Despite these complex aromas, it is still lively on the palate with fresh acidity, rounded tannins and a lingering, fresh fruity finish.
Ideal with richer poultry dishes (turkey, duck), roasted pork, or even a meaty beef brisket, good with cheeses like Parmesan, Gouda, ripe Cheddar. Try with savoury mushroom dishes too as well as charred vegetable dishes.