Caliterra

Winemaker Comment

With a bright pale yellow colour, our Caliterra Reserva Chardonnay 2009 has an intense nose that recalls tropical fruits such as pineapple and passion fruit, with well-integrated soft, toasty notes given by the aging in wood. In mouth, this wine shows delicate sweet flavours that come from the oak along with a lively acidity that brings freshness to the wine, leading to a long, elegant finish.

Vintage Notes

The Casablanca Valley presented a very warm 2008–2009 season. Our vineyards registered a mean temperature of 20.8ºC (69.4ºF) in January, significantly higher than that registered in past seasons (19.º1C / 66.4ºF in 2008 and 18.9ºC / 66ºF in 2007) as well as a heat summation of 1,613 degree days, more than 100 degree days higher than the historic average of 1,469 degree days. No frosts were registered in the area, and this, along with good budbreak, fruit set, and bunch size explain the higher yields obtained. It was a demanding year, as it required numerous shoot removals and crop thinnings to ensure quality. Fortunately, because it was a warm year, good ripening was ensured despite the increase in production.

Fermentation and Aging

The Chardonnay is the most versatile and friendly white grape variety. It can undergo any winemaking process. Reductive fermentation in stainless steel tanks, oxidative aging, aging in wood barrels for 6 months (50% of the wine), batonage, and no malolactic fermentation this year, were some of the techniques used to successfully create a pleasant and drinkable wine characterized by a varied array of aromas. There is no a fixed process but a dynamic adaptation to the conditions of the harvest and the characteristics of the season. All this diversity enhances the complexity of this wine.