Since Vina Tarapaca was founded at the foothills of the Andes mountain range in 1874, they have crafted elegant, quality wines, becoming one of the most traditional and historical Chilean wineries, as well as a benchmark for viticulture in Chile and over 50 countries.

RESERVA Chardonnay

Casablanca Valley

BIN 158

Harvest Time: 2
Alcohol Level: 12.8%
Average Grape Production: 225.000 litres

This season was relatively cold compared to previous harvests. Maturation was extremely slow, preserving the primary aroma of the grape. Fortunately, the vineyards were in a very healthy condition to facilitate this process. The wine is made of grapes from three vineyards in Casablanca Valley. Two of these are located in areas with the coolest climates, giving the wine freshness and vivacity. The third vineyard is located in a warmer area, whose climate brings out texture on the palate. All grapes were harvested at night to avoid the loss of aromas through oxidation. The entire procedure was conducted in a semiinert atmosphere, assisted only by the constant addition of dry ice throughout the reception process. Grapes were then pressed for a short period, with the juice separated into two parts: free run juice and pressed juice. Having decanted for 24 hours, the juice underwent fermentation at a medium temperature range for approximately 20 days. Around 10% was fermented in second and third use barrels, with the rest in stainless steel tank, of which 25% included small amounts of French and Hungarian oak staves. This year, the wine underwent 15% malolactic fermentation, to bring out a creamy mouth feel. Once the fermentation was complete, the wines were kept in contact with the fine lees to enhance unctuousness on the palate, before finally being mixed.

RESERVA Sauvignon Blanc

Casablanca Valley

BIN 159

Harvest Time: M
Alcohol Level: 12.2%
Average Grape Production: 225.000 litres

This season was relatively cold compared to previous harvests. Maturation was extremely slow, preserving the primary aroma of the grape. Fortunately, the vineyards were in a very healthy condition to facilitate this process. The wine comes from a number of our wineries in Casablanca, mainly clones 1 and 242. It contains small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc from the Elqui Valley, providing strong notes of tomato leaf and unctuousness on the palate. It also contains 5% Sauvignon Blanc from Leyda, which adds mineral touches and gives a certain complexity to the wine. All grapes were harvested at night to avoid the loss of aromas through oxidation. Around 50% of the batch was kept in contact with the grape skin for approximately five hours, in order to extract the maximum fruit aroma. The entire procedure was conducted in an inert atmosphere, free of oxygen, assisted by the constant addition of dry ice throughout the reception process. Grapes were then pressed for a short period, with the juice separated into two parts: free run juice and pressed juice. Having decanted for 24 hours, the juice underwent fermentation at an initially high temperature, then at medium temperature range. The initial high temperature was to liberate thiols, while the subsequent medium temperature range helped to complete the fermentation process. Once fermentation had been completed, the wines were kept in contact with the fine lees to enhance unctuousness on the palate, before finally being mixed.

RESERVA Cabernet Sauvignon

Maipo Valley

BIN 160

Harvest Time: 2
Alcohol Level: 14.1%
Average Grape Production: 540.000 litres

Vinification:
Conditions were quite interesting this season for Cabernet Sauvignon. Generally, the grapes reached different levels of ripeness, depending on the temperature in the different areas. Unlike the spiced notes so characteristic of this grape variety, this wine features more ripe red fruits. The final blend is composed by different lots from Andes Maipo and Coastal Maipo on the Coastal Mountain Range and riper grapes, like those from the Pencahue and Talca areas. To add complexity to the wine, the blend also includes a percentage of Merlot and Syrah. The Merlot comes from Isla de Maipo and has a strong color and robust spicy notes. The Syrah comes from the northern Maipo area and has more meaty, ripe, and rich features. The grapes underwent a very extractive fermentation in tanks for approximately two weeks. Afterwards, some lots were kept in contact with the skins for two more weeks of additional extraction. Then, the wines were defined based on their style of aging: in barrels, staves, or tanks. 17% were aged in barrels, 60% were aged with French, American, and Hungarian staves. Finally, the cleanest and most fruity 13% of the wines was kept in tanks. On average, the wine was aged for a period of six months before being bottled in January.

RESERVA Carménère

Maipo Valley

BIN 161

Harvest Time: 2
Alcohol Level: 13.8%
Average Grape Production: 315.000 litres

The wine is made of grapes from four vineyards in Maipo (85%). The pronounced mineral and earthy notes come from Maipo region harvests. The spicier notes are from Isla de Maipo, while the fresher and fruitier characters come from the regions close to the coast in Cuncumen. In addition, the wine contains 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Alto, to bring out the tannins and give balance to the natural smoothness of the Carménère. The grapes were harvested from the end of April to the end of May. Once in the winery, the fermentation process began immediately at a high temperature range, at which point an intensive extraction process was applied during the first phase. The temperature was later reduced until fermentation was complete. The wine was kept for another couple of days before eventually being separated and the malolactic fermentation began. Aging lasted for about six months, in which 15% of the wine was placed in barrels, and another proportion in a tank with French, American or Hungarian oak staves. Another 20% or so was aged in tanks to guarantee the wine a fresh and fruity component. Once the wines had matured, they were mixed together and later bottled.

GRAN RESERVA Cabernet Sauvignon

Maipo Valley

BIN 162

Harvest Time: A
Alcohol Level: 14.3
Average Grape Production: 450.000 litres

The 2012 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 33 different lots from 14 vineyards in the Maipo Valley of Chile. 6% of the Cabernet Sauvignon come from a vineyard in the Aconcagua Valley. The final blend has 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot. 25% of the must was cold macerated previous to fermentation, that was carried out in stainless steel vats between 20°-28°C. The wines was aged in French and American oak barrels ( 15% new) for 12 months prior to blending and cold settled and filter but not fined prior to bottling,

GRAN RESERVA Carménère

Maipo Valley

BIN 163

Harvest Time: M
Alcohol Level: 14.4
Average Grape Production: 160.000 litres

The 2012 Gran Reserva Carmenère is a blend of 17 different barrel lotes from 5 different Carmenère and 2 Syrah vineyards from the Maipo Valley of Chile. The Maipo subregions used in the blend are from Isla Maipo, Alto Maipo, Maria Pinto and coastal Maipo. 6% of the blend is Syrah from coastal Maipo which adds a red fruit and smoky notes. WINEMAKING NOTES ED FLAHERTY The 100% of the component wine was aged in French and American oak barrels with 20% new oak for 12 months prior to blending and bottling.