Viu Manent Punta del Viento “ViBo”

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • ViBo was created by the third generation, the Viu Bottini family, and is a line of wines that originated from experimentation and innovation at Viu Manent.
  • Punta del Viento is the name of the hill where the vineyards that give rise to this wine are planted. Breezes from the Pacific Ocean reach and cool these vineyards, especially in the afternoon.
  • This assemblage wine is a result of years of work in the vineyards with varities that many believe have good future in Colchagua; Grenache, Mourvèdre, and  Syrah.

Varietal Composition: Grenache 81%, Mourvèdre 9%, Syrah 10%

Elaboration: The grapes were manually selected prior to destemming and crushing into a stainless steel tank for a 5-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8ºC for greater extraction of color and aromas. Alcoholic fermentation took place with native yeasts at 24º–26ºC with 1–2 short pumpovers per day to extract just the most elegant tannins and obtain a fruitier, friendlier wine. The final blend was made three months after the fermentation was completed and underwent malolactic fermentation naturally in French oak barrels. Oak: 100% of the wine was aged in used French oak barrels for 9 months.

Tasting Notes: Purplish ruby red in color. A very complex and elegant wine with outstanding aromas of red fruits on the nose. The palate is very fresh, vibrant, juicy, and long.

PRESS

2013 – 90 Wine Advocate | 92 James Suckling,

2014 – 90 Wine Advocate | 93 James Suckling,

2015 – 90 Wine Advocate | 91 James Suckling

2020 – 91 James Suckling | 92 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).

Print Shelf Talker (2014)
Print Case Card (2014)