Sutil Grand Reserve Merlot 2020

Ruby red color with glints of violet. On the nose, aromas of fresh fruit like cherry and wild blackberry are well integrated with the notes from the oak aging, including toasted oak and spice. The palate shows smooth tannins, great texture, balanced acidity, and fruit flavours that stand out on the tongue. The finish is smooth, long, and fruity-forward.

Sutil Grand Reserve

The grapes for our Merlot come principally from our Huertos de Ucuquer vineyard in the Colchagua Costa Valley, 19 km from the coast, on the southern bank of the Rapel River, close to the mouth, on the 24oN parallel, and 170 meters a.s.l. The soil is granitic with a presence of clay and silt, lending the wines elegance and soft mineral notes. The soils are low in organic material, with good drainage, and allow the roots to penetrate deeply into the soil. The climate is semi-arid coastal, with a strong influence from the Pacific Ocean and the Rapel River. The cool mornings lend a slow ripening to the grapes, translating into a great concentration of aromas and flavours in the grapes.

The grapes were harvested by hand at the beginning of April. They were placed in stainless steel tanks for a 4-day pre-fermentation maceration, and afterwards the juice was inoculated with yeast to begin alcoholic fermentation. This took place at temperatures between 24–27oC, over 10 days-time. Once finished, the wine remained in contact with the skins for 10 additional days before being racked to second-use French oak barrels, where it remained for 12 months. Here the wine underwent malolactic fermentation naturally. The wine was lightly filtered prior to bottling.