Boise Coop Wine Shop

Morandé Premium Wines of Chile

• November 9, 2011

Vina Morandé was founded in 1996, in wine terms they are but an infant. However, some infants are born a little unique! Morandé wines are derived from such a category. Under the sterling stewardship of founder Pablo Morandé, they have jumped light years in terms of producing wines of immense character and quality. They have always sought to produce wines with identity, with results that are specific to the vintage and enhanced by their particular terroirs. All of this is supported by the knowledge, experience and technology they have acquired over the years. The constant desire to find areas that best reflect the aromas and flavors of each grape variety has led Vina Morandé to diversify their fruit production between different valleys within Chilean territory. Here is a description of their varied vineyards:

Casablanca (545 acres) / The main geographical feature of this valley is the influence of the sea, entering from the Pacific Ocean and producing a morning mist that acts as a temperature moderator. This characteristic favors the best possible development of the vineyard, while requiring special treatment in order to achieve the desired ripeness. The varieties that grow best in this zone are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Maipo (532 acres) / This valley is the one with the greatest wine producing tradition in Chile and is the most famous worldwide. It has a temperate climate with a dry, hot summer. It is a zone that is almost frost-free and the rainfall is concentrated between April and September. The soils are alluvial in origin, stony, with good drainage and average fertility. Its climatic conditions favour the development of red wine varieties, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rapel (317 acres) / The valley has a warm climate with a high concentration of rainfall in the winter months, frosts in spring and high temperatures in the summer. Its climate helps red varieties to develop best. Although most of the planting corresponds to Cabernet Sauvignon, the main varieties identified with this valley are Merlot, Carmenère and Syrah.

Curicó (62 acres) / This zone has a sub-humid Mediterranean climate, influenced by the Pacific anticyclone. It is characterised by its strongly marked seasons, with rainy winters and dry summers, cloudless and sunny. The breadth of the thermal range, so necessary to obtain optimum quality, spans 20º C, allowing the adaptation of a number of varieties. The wines have a high concentration of fruit, with Sauvignon Blanc being the most representative.

Maule (112 acres) / The climate of this region can be defined as sub-humid Mediterranean, though it is recognised as the valley with greatest climatic diversity of all the different areas. The rainfall is heavy and concentrated in winter and temperatures tend to be low, with greater thermal variation between day and night. The soils are alluvial and volcanic in origin. The main varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère.

Here are the wines we’ll be tasting this weekend:

2010 Pionero Chardonnay 2010, $8.49
Ripe peach and roasted hazelnut aromas with fresh tropical fruit flavors, that are superbly balanced with a long, round finish

2007 Reserva Carmenère, $11.49
Wild blackberry, blueberry aromas are backed by a touch of green pepper. This is a superbly balanced wine with a long, velvety finish.

2003 Gran Reserva Syrah, $16.99
Opens with red fruits, dried cherry, cinnamon, black chocolate and intriguing touches of ash. A complex wine with soft, ripe tannins

2007 Edicion Limitada Cabernet Franc, $23.50
Filled with black cherry fruit aromas laced with candied fruit and coffee. Again, balance is the hallmark on the palate where ripe fruit flavors play against smooth tannins.

2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, $12.49
Prepared with grapes affected by noble rot, harvested late and selected by hand. In the winery a second selection takes place, first by clusters, to separate out those that have gray rot, and then grape by grape. The wine offers a golden yellow color with greenish tones, together with a particular sweetness and aromas of vanilla and honey.