2020 Miguel Torres Cordillera Chardonnay

In 1979, the Torres family purchased 100 hectares of vineyards and a winery in the Curicó Valley.  Miguel Torres was one of the first foreign investors to buy land in Chile, and brought with him 140 years of family tradition and expertise.  He was attracted by the perfect climatic conditions of the region, which can be described as extremely arid, with a warm days and very cold nights.  The Andes Mountains are key to the irrigation of the vineyards, with snowmelt water doing more to replenish the region’s water reserves than the annual rainfall.

The Chardonnay vineyard lies in the Tabali area of Limari Valley, where the temperatures are cool and influenced by the sea breezes.  The cool and fresh climate is perfect for the production of high-quality Chardonnay.

The Cordillera Chardonnay is a brilliant example of barrel fermentation and the wine is aged on its lees for 9 months, to add richness and complexity.  On the nose, floral notes of peach and lychee leap from the glass, followed by a juicy palate with refreshing acidity.  It also has a subtle saline quality, indicative of the vineyard’s calcareous terroir. This wine would be sublime with caviar (if you’re feeling fancy), but would also be a great pairing for fresh trout and smoked salmon.