Christie Kiley on August 18, 2014 0 Comments Quick Characteristics Winery: Matetic Vineyards Location: Santiago, Chile Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Vintage: 2013 ABV: 13.5% pH: 3.09 Acidity: 6.5 grams/l I hope you guys are enjoying the summer heat and not sweating it out too much. Enjoy it while it lasts, as it is only as if fall and winter are just around the corner and while now you might be complaining about the heat, pretty soon, we will all be complaining about the cold. If you are still on the search for great summer whites, here is one more. The wine of this week is the Matetic EQ 2013 Coastal Sauvignon Blanc. The majority of the vineyards found in Chile are located starting around the area of Valparaiso, to Santiago and Concepcion. Neighboring Argentina, these mountainous vineyards lie within the same latitudinal lines to those of Mendoza. However, these are completely two different climates and the cultivation of different varietal grapes in accordance to each climate must be considered. Mendoza is at high altitude with hot, dry summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters. The Andes Mountains isolate this region from the influences of the Pacific and are ideal for many hearty red wine grapes and whites that require longer growing seasons. In Chile however, the close proximity of the sea and lack of protection from what sometimes can be a harsh climate is another factor when considering which vines to grow. The story of Matetic Vineyards began in 1999, when the Matetic family wanted to diversify their business and begin a new journey into viticulture who strongly believed in growing fruit along in harmony with the benefits you can get from any type of climate. They decided to settle and grow in the Rosario Valley. The key of the Matetic Vineyards is to always have a professional team to guide their project on in the present and into the future and part of this falls under the practice of biodynamic farming. Maybe let’s meet one of their team members, Julio Bastias, the wine maker. His career began at the University of Talca in enology research with the Technology Center of the Vine and Wine. He had worked vintages with Viu Manent, Maule Vineyards and the Organic Vineyards of Santa Emiliana as the assistant winemaker. During a stay in Napa Valley, California, he also worked as the assistant to Ken Bernards and as an associate in various projects involving fine wine in the United States; Ancien wines, Withford Cellars and Donum State, among others. The Land In many parts of the vineyards of Matetic’s Estate, you will find soils in the steps of the mountainsides of red rocks with a fine layer of clay. If you were take a cross-section of the land and go a few centimeters deeper, about 30-40cm, you will fine decomposing granite rock. These poor soils are ideal for producing concentrated fruit and in low yields. Located in the Rosario Valley, Matetic is part of a subdivision of the San Antonio Valley about 120 kilometers from Santiago, in between Casablanca and San Antonio. The valley stretches out in 9,000 hectares in a perfectly closed valley, facing perpendicular to the ocean. The 121 hectares of bio-dynamically farmed vines are grapes which are 100% natural. This specific valley has a perfect climate and condition that are perfect for certain red and white wine grapes. With a location such as this, it goes without saying that the ocean has a large impact on the cultivation of vines. Throughout the day in the growing season, there are huge fluctuations in temperature with a difference of twenty degrees from morning to night. Normally, the temperature increases fairly quickly, and by noon the soft ocean breeze maintains a temperature of around 79°F (26°C). This is ideal for balanced maturation of the fruit. The success of Matetic’s vineyards sort of goes against the thinking that only the best wines come from warmer climates. The summer days of this valley are hot, and the evenings cool, ideal for producing elegant red wines. The Origins of Matetic Sauvignon Blanc The grapes that are used for the Sauvignon Blanc we are featuring today are from the “Valle Hermoso” or ‘beautiful valley’, located eleven kilometers from the Pacific Ocean on soft hillsides where the vines receive a direct influence from the cooler coast. This microclimate along with the granite soils is where their clone 242 and 1 have been planted, creating one of a kind wines with beautiful maturation and balance, with characteristics that could only be unique to this region. At the end of March, harvest begins when the precise level of maturation has been reached for each section of the vineyard for each clone. Once the grapes have been harvested, they are taken to the winery and are cold pressed within the first six hours. Once the juice has been sent to small stainless steel fermentation tank, it is treated with an inert gas to prevent any damage from oxygen. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in neutral barrels to allow some ‘sur lie’ aging in order to obtain a unique texture. The Resulting Wine The color takes a liking to the precious gemstone, peridot with pale yellow and green tinges and reflects similarly as well. For a Sauvignon Blanc, this wine has a fairly complex nose with everything from light and delicate citrus; kumquat, lime zest and fluffy lemon Chantilly cream. The back end of the nose is quite tropical with mango and custard, papaya all mixed with a touch of oceanside minerality and do I get cilantro? Yup. The palate is impressive and lively. It will make you anxious for another sip of the concentrated citrus fruits and persistant minerality with lingering fresh herbs on the finish. More Wine Reviews: Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Robert Oatley Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Oakville Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Flora Springs Winery Cakebread Napa Valley 2012 Chardonnay
