About this WINE
Vina Dona Javiera
Viña Doña Javiera has a history of winemaking that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The family was one of the first to recognise the potential of the Maipo Valley and begun planting vines there in 1942. Located at El Monte, 50 kilometres west of Santiago, a site which gives its name to their Monte Verde range, with exposure to cooling Pacific breezes, this vineyard is blessed with a superb climate for viticulture. The winery has a capacity for 1.5 million litres and the plantings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines.
Viña Doña Javiera only produces wine from its own vineyard, with grapes hand-harvested after a strict selection process. Award-winning Chilean winemaker Felipe de Solminihac, ensures his wines have an impressive purity of fruit, delicate aromas and excellent structure.
Merlot
The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
In St.Emilion and Pomerol it withstands the moist clay rich soils far better than Cabernet grapes, and at it best produces opulently rich, plummy clarets with succulent fruitcake-like nuances. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of hedonistically rich Merlot wines at their very best. It also plays a key supporting role in filling out the middle palate of the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Médoc and Graves.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in California, Chile and Northern Italy.
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Description
Our Chilean Merlot is perennially popular for its easy drinking style and soft, ripe fruit. The nose of the 2014 vintage is full of warm red plums and black damsons. The palate is medium-bodied, dominated by blackberries, with earthy hedgerow notes adding interest, whilst a herbaceous lift adds freshness. With plush damsons coming through on the juicy finish, this is an extremely drinkable wine, and a perfect partner for mid-week suppers.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
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