Intro to Adobe Reserva Organic Merlot Chile – Adobe Reserva Organic Merlot from the Rapel Valley in Chile is full of juicy, organic Merlot with fruit and freshness in abundance. Full tasting note and wine making – The Adobe Reserva Merlot is bright ruby-red in colour with plum and red cherry aromas elegantly combine with subtle black pepper notes. The palate is juicy with ample fruit character. A delicate wood influence contributes complexity, good structure and rounded tannins. It has a soft texture and a fruity finish. Rapel Valley is located on the 6th Region, 160 kms south to Santiago. This zone has good drainage, excellent fertility especially for red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot. This valley has a Mediterranean climate, it has coastal influence because it is bounded by the Cordillera de la Costa, which is low. There’s a great concentration of rain during winter (710 mm average) and in summer this valley receives southern winds with morning mist and the summers are very hot and have big temperature fluctuation. The grapes were manually harvested in mid-April. Vinification begins with a prefermentation cold soak at 8°C for a week in order to extract the fruit. Alcoholic fermentation takes place between 25°C and 28°C with a pump over program determined by daily tasting. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in stainless steel tanks and part of the wine was aged in barrels for 6 months; after this the wine blended in order to obtain a more complex character. The Producer – The Adobe range of wines are made by Emiliana which is one of the world’s most important producers of organic and biodynamic wines and the largest in South America. They have a total of 997 hectares under vine in the valleys of Casablanca, Maipo, Colchagua, and Cachapoal of which 923ha are IMO certified organic and the remaining 77 in conversion. Their spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from all over the world. General Manager José Guilisasti and winemaking consultant Alvaro Espinoza were key to establishing this project to convert a large commercial winery into a commercially viable organic one. These innovative wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring. Drink with – Great with full flavoured meaty dishes and strong cheeses.
