Cornellana Merlot Reserve 2008 - Notas Técnicas

Quando criei o Post do Cornellana Estate Grown Reserve Merlot 2008, não encontrei quase nenhuma citação na Internet sobre este vinho. Consegui descobrir a vinícola que o produz, no caso a chilena La Rosa. Tentei então um contato por email (pr@larosa.cl) que foi um sucesso. O email enviado solicitou maiores informações sobre o rótulo, vejam a resposta:

Dear Gustavo:

That’s right, Viña La Rosa produce the Cornellana range of wines, but for this moment in our official web site (www.larosa.cl) we only promote the Viña La Rosa range.

Attached is the technical sheet of the Cornellana Merlot Estate Grown 2008.

If you need anything else please let us know, we’ll be glad to help you.

Best regards,

Viña La Rosa

Como prometi no Post do vinho que traria as informações técnicas caso as conseguisse, cá estou!

WINE DETAILS

Alcohol: 14,3% vol.

Total SO2: 69 mg/l

Free SO2: 32 mg/l

pH: 3.69

Total acidity: 3,36 g/l H2SO4

Volatile acidity: 0.63 g/l C2H4O2

Residual sugar: 2,1 g/l

GRAPE VARIETIES

85% Merlot;

15% Carmenère (Estate grown) from the Rapel Region.

VITICULTURE

Nature of Soil: Alluvial with a mixture of sand and gravel

Planted surface of the particular species: 197,2 ha.

Yield: 8-10 tons/ha

Type of harvesting: By machine

Date of harvest: Third week of March

The Merlot clone planted at Viña La Rosa is unknown but is possibly an old Viña La Rosa clone from the Peumo area. Vines were planted on their own roots in 1960 and are irrigated by furrow and drip. Region of origin: Cachapoal Valley, Rapel Region, Chile.

The vineyard is on vertical shoot positioned trellis. The fruiting zone is about 0.8–1.0 m above the ground, and shoots are trained vertically upward. The shoots are held in place by four foliage wires, in pairs. Shoot thinning is carried out in spring to reduce water shoots. This is quickest to do when shoots are only about 15 cm. The goal is to about 15 shoots/m. Shoot trimming typically is carried out after flowering and may need to be repeated during the rest of the season. Shoots are normally trimmed 1.0–1.2 m in length. Vines are either cane or spur pruned. Leaf removal is carried out 2–4 weeks before veraison, to improve fruit composition.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The 2008 vintage was marked by an atypical season: the coldest and driest winter of the last 40 years. Late bud-breaking and flowering, in addition to low availability of water due to a dry winter, resulted in a shorter vegetative growth period. In general, this process led to moderate vigor and transparent canopies; two aspects related with good quality in grapes. As a result, red wines show great fruit intensity, a good tannic level, displaying a good balance between ripeness and liveliness, good acidity along with round and silky tannins, and a juicy sensation on the mouth.

WINEMAKING PRACTICES

The grapes were picked with a typical analysis at harvest of pH< 3.6, acidity 5.5–6.0 g/l (as tartaric acid), and 23.5°–24.0° Brix. The grapes were destemmed and crushed and the stems discarded. The must was pumped to a fermentation vessel and tartaric acid added (0.5-1.0 g/l), with a small quantity of sulfur dioxide (50 milligrams per liter), followed by a selected yeast culture (EC 1118). During fermentation, the open pump over method was used. The must fermented at 27°C for seven days.

Pressing took place when the required amounts of color, flavor and tannin had been extracted; the pressed wine was kept separate. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally. The 50% of the wine were matured in French oak medium toast barrels for nine months.

TASTING NOTES

A smooth red with an intense purple colour, it has a ripe fruit aroma and lots of soft berry and plum flavours, enhanced by oaky notes.

FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS

Serve this wine at room temperature (16-18ºC). Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with a wide range of savory dishes especially pork and duck, soft cheeses, chicken, casseroles, or pasta with tomato-based sauces.

E então? É ou não é completa? Não sei se foi pq me enviaram por email, mas foi das notas mais completas que já consegui, falando até sobre a safra do vinho!!

Espero que tenham gostado!

In Vino Veritas!

(GK)