De Martino Viejas Tinajas Cinsault
Country: Chile Region: Central Valley
Varietal: Cinsault Vintage: 2018 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: De Martino
Description:
De Martino Viejas Tinajas Cinsault Itata Valley 2018 – complex wine, with youthful acidity and fruity character.
De Martino is a family-run winery founded by Pietro De Martino. In search of new vineyards, he came from Italy in 1934 and settled in the Maipo Valley, Chile. It is rich in floodplains (alluvial soils) and has a maritime climate, which makes it possible to produce fresh, elegant classic wines. Over the years, the area of the vineyards managed by the company has expanded. De Martino now operates vineyards not only in Maipo but also in the regions of Limari, Casablanca, Maule and Itata, whose different terroir allow the portfolio to expand, showing the multifaceted world of Chilean wine through the prism of the winery.
All vineyard areas, more than 250 hectares, are grown sustainably, with the least possible human intervention, using ecological practices. According to the winemakers, this highlights the reflection of the terroir. In addition, to keep the wines fresh, they try to pick the grapes earlier, avoid new oak barrels, experiment with maturation alternatives like amphora (tinaja). One of the ceramic wines (matured in amphorae) is De Martin Viejas Tinajas in the Cinsault Itata Valley 2016. It is made from 100% Cinsault berries grown in the Itata Valley. The wine is fermented and matured in centuries-old amphorae, which have traditionally been used to make wines in Chile. This wine is a tribute to the first wine growers and a great reflection of the terroir of the Itata Valley.
Tasting Note:
Dark violet with floral notes, mingled with succulent red and black fruits on the nose. The palate displays red cherry, locked in with rich blackberry fruit, light bodied with soft tannins, finishing with more red fruit, earthy with hints of spice. An excellent red that needs time to open up and consume young. Best served with soft cheese, shell fish and cold dishes.
