Viu Manent Malbec Reserva
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Great for a daily wine, this fresh but strong Malbec will show you the feminine side of the varietal.
- Sourced from different estate Malbec vineyards in the Colchagua Valley.
Varietal Composition: Malbec 95%, Syrah 5%
Elaboration: The grapes were destemmed and crushed into stainless steel and cement tanks, where they fermented at 24º–26ºC with light extraction and just 4 pumpovers per day, and ending with a post-fermentation maceration for about a week. The subsequent malolactic fermentation occurred naturally. Approximately 20% of the wine was aged in oak barrels. After the different components were blended, the wine was lightly filtered and bottled. Oak: The blend was aged for 6 months in previously.
Tasting Notes: Cherry red with a violet hue. This intense Malbec recalls blue flowers, forest fruits, blackcurrants, plums, and wild blackberries on the nose. The palate is juicy, well balanced, and fruity with friendly tannins and a pleasing finish.
PRESS
2019 – 91 James Suckling
2021 – 90 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).