Description
GENERAL CLIMATE CONDITIONS OF CASABLANCA VALLEYCasablanca Valley exhibit a cold Mediterranean climate. Located right next to the pacific ocean in the central part of Chile, the climate is moderated by the cold Humboldt current traveling from the Southern Pole. This current drops the temperatures and the coastal winds refresh the valleys climate. Winters tend to be mild with only a slight risk of frost. Summers are also fairly mild with moderate temperatures. November to April, the critical harvest period in the Southern hemisphere is usually dry. Casablanca has the perfect combination of cold temperatures with a dry summer, so our Chardonnay maintains its acidity and ripens very slowly with very little risk of rain during the fall.THE SOILSoils are from granitic origin from the Chilean Coastal Mountains, with some layers of clay and sand. There is good drainage and low fertilityVINTAGE CONDITIONS IN 2013The winter of 2012 in general, was dry and cold, except in june which showed higher temperatures and was also humid. All spring rains where concentrated in october. The temperatures between october and november were a little bit lower than a normal year 2C bellow the normal. Summer was colder and more humid. During december, rains at Atalayas made it the wettest december known in Lapostolles history. These rains supplied our water reserves and allowed the grapevines to develop without the necessity of extra summer irrigation. Only february brought back normal recorded temperatures. All the grapes from our Atalayas Vineyard were hand harvested in small cases of 14 kilos.WINEMAKINGWe want to enhance the best fruit that Casablanca offers with bright acidity and freshness and a little touch of complexity from the oak. We hand harvested the grapes in small cases of 14 kilos and sent them in refrigerated containers to our winery in Colchagua Valley. We fermented 88% of the juice in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the freshness of the fruit. 12% was fermented in a mix of new and used French oak barrels. All the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks for 9 months.No malolactic fermentation was done.TASTING NOTESColor Bright light yellow.Nose Fresh and expressive. Sweet flowers and tropical fruit such as pineapple and papaya.Palate Vibrant acidity. Persistent and long lasting finish.Service and Food Pairing Serve cold at 10/12 C 50/53 C. The ideal companion for appetizers and seafood in general, ceviche, fish and white meat.AGEINGFermentation 88% Stainless Steel; 12% new and used French Oak.Ageing 100% aged in stainless steel tanks for 9 months, only during fermentation.Barrel use 21% news, 47% first and 32% second used French Oak Barrels 225 L Coopers Saury, Hermitage, Francois, Freres.All medium and light Toast.I think of the coastal breezes from the Pacific Ocean, the misty mornings and the granitic soils on the slopes of the Coastal Cordillera. A unique terroir for a unique young and vibrant Chardonnay.’ – Jacques Begarie, Chief Winemaker.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.