2014 Pucalan Arenaria Pinot Noir

Tasting the 2014 Pucalan Arenaria Pinot Noir next to the unoaked Subsollum from the same year, you can notice the élevage, which otherwise is imperceptible if tasted in isolation. This is sourced from a vineyard in the Aconcagua Costa appellation some eight kilometers away from the sea. It was planted with 10,000 plants per hectare of Burgundy clones on limestone soils that turned into sandstone that yields 800 grams of grapes per plant. It fermented in concrete vats and matured in new French oak barrels for 18 months, including malolactic. It has a musky nose with some sour cherries and a hint of earth, a very nice interpretation of Pinot Noir. The palate is seamless, with very fine tannins and delicate flavors that linger on your tongue. The texture is velvety and the tannins ultra-fine. Simply superb. I'm dying to see how these wines age, because I think we're still missing the best from them... In any case, I'd wait a little more before pulling the cork. 5,400 bottles were filled in March 2016.

Pucalan is the name of the place and Arenaria is the name of the local rocks. 10,000 vines per ha planted in 2008. Mainly mass selections of Pinot Noir clones 02 and 04 from French nursery Guillaume. Quite close to Montes and not too far from Errázuriz. Pale blackish ruby. Current release. Recognisably Pinot if very slightly beetroot. Sweet and liquorice, rather heady and exotic. Lots of pleasure even if not the purest. Definitely worth a budget-conscious burgundy lover checking this out! Hot year. (JR)

Sophisticated, ferrous and iodine and earth as well as ripe red fruit. Staunchly savoury, very bright acid, loads of clove spice on the finish. (RH)