Viu ꚙ Cuvee Infinito
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Viu ꚙ is made from a selection of the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc grapes, planted in the San Carlos Vineyard in the Colchagua Valley.
- The Cabernet and Malbec vineyards were planted more than 100 years ago.
- Sandy-clay alluvial soils with very good drainage, extraordinarily porous and able to manage water delivery to the plant very well throughout the year, which is very beneficial for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec
Varietal Composition: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Franc
Elaboration: The grapes were hand-harvested into 12-kg boxes in mid-April. The first selection of clusters was performed in the vineyard and consisted mainly in the removal of leaves and poorly developed clusters. Once the grapes reached the winery, a second selection of clusters was performed, removing any remaining leaves and unevenly ripened clusters. The grapes were destemmed, then underwent a third selection, this time of the berries, primarily to eliminate stem remains. That selection was followed by a 5-day, cold pre-fermentation maceration at 8ºC. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out with selected yeasts in small stainless steel tanks at 26º–28ºC. During this stage, several short pumpovers were performed each day to keep the pomace moist. Maceration lasted a total of 25 days, then the wine was racked to oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation occurred naturally. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (25% new) for 14 months, then blended and aged for 5 months in cement eggs. It was later bottled unfiltered to preserve its full concentration and character.
Tasting Notes: A deep ruby-red color with violet hues. The nose is serious and classic, with aromas of blackcurrant, red fruit, cherries, and forest floor coupled with a subtle note of cedar. The palate offers abundant fine tannins and is concentrated, tasty, elegant, vibrant, and very well balanced, with a deep finish.
PRESS
2016 – 93 James Suckling | 93 Wine Advocate
2017 – 93 James Suckling
2018 – 91 Vinous
2019 – 91 Vinous | 93 James Suckling | 94 Wine Advocate
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
After working as a wine merchant alongside his father and brother since the 1930’s, Miguel Viu Manent made the decision to branch out on his own in 1965, purchasing a historic vineyard and winery in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. The estate was and still is one of the most well-exposed sites in the region, and it included 150 hectares of pre-phylloxera massal selections from France.
This company provides us with wines we consider the best value wines in the country (see “Reserva line), forward/experimental options (see “Secreto” line), some of the most solid “under $20” varietal wines you’ll find anywhere in the world (see “Gran Reserva” line), site specific/terroir driven releases (see “Single Vineyard” wines), and most famously the iconic “Viu 1.” Malbec is clearly the house specialty here – Viu Manent was the first Chilean winery to bottle, label, and market Malbec, and they’ve for years been Chile’s Malbec leaders both in terms of accolades and quantity produced.
After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking).