Late Harvest Noble Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Special Selection

Vineyard

Valley: Curicó Valley (Entre Cordilleras)
This exquisitely sweet, golden wine is rare and valuable, since it is only produced during vintages when a benevolent mold called Botrytis cinerea, or “noble rot,” occurs naturally on the grapes. The weather has to cooperate; Botrytis likes cool, misty mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. The grapes are left on the vine later into the harvest season and the mold causes them to shrivel, producing concentrated, rich flavors and a higher sugar content. The production of these fickle wines is a small miracle; too much rain or damp and the crop is history, which is why Late Harvest dessert wines are some of the most sought-after wines in the world.
Soil: Alluvial in origin. Clay loam with the presence of stones at 80cm. Fertile soils allow the vines to express all their vegetative and fruit potential.
Altitude: 243m above sea level.
Climatic conditions: Mediterranean with a long, dry Summer season and intense sunlight. Marked DTR (Diurnal Temperature Range, or difference between day and night temperatures), key for assisting the development of flavors.
Annual rainfall: 600mm average during Winter, mostly between June and August.

The vineyards at Viña Echeverría are located in the Curicó Valley and the rows are planted in an east-westerly direction to potentiate the sun’s exposure. We work with a model of micro viticulture, which means that each plot, no more than half a hectare, is identified according to its terroir and microclimate and planted, pruned, irrigated and harvested accordingly, resulting in grapes of optimum quality and flavor.

Vintage & Harvest

Blend: Sauvignon Blanc estate single vineyard grapes, from ungrafted selected clones of pre-phylloxera French rootstock.

Harvest:

June 26th, 2017, in four different stages, to select specific clusters with the desired degree of ripeness and noble botrytis.
100% Hand-picked in 18 Kg. boxes and carried to the winery immediately after cutting.
Carefully selected before processing.

Winemaking

Vinification:

Whole cluster pressing with a 48 hour static sedimentation prior to fermentation
Fermented with selected yeasts between 16 18ºC constant temperature in stainless steel tanks for 45 days
Transferred to used French oak barrels for moderate aging

Roberto Echeverría Jr has been the Chief Winemaker at Viña Echeverría since 2001. Inspired by his French heritage, Roberto’s signature style produces wines with a combination of Old World elegance and New World energy. More European viticultural techniques include timely harvesting to avoid over ripeness and therefore good balance and control of alcohol levels. Focus is on French varietals, barrels and yeasts, as well as longer fermentation and aging in barrels and diverse blending.

Tasting Notes

This Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is made using our own estate grown grapes and hand picked in several stages in late autumn to ensure the presence of true Botrytis, which requires very specific conditions for growth. Powerful aromas of mature peaches, apricots and honey, these characters reappear on the palate, enhanced by marked notes of quince jam. Creamy honey flavours are enlivened by balanced levels of acidity. Rich, intense and full-bodied, this exceptional wine has a long and elegant finish where fruit and botrytis qualities express themselves in perfect harmony.

Food Pairings

When pairing this wine with food, consider echoing the flavors already present in the wine, such as honey, peach, apricot and almonds. Desserts with a custard base (crème brûlée) or caramelized fruit (think tarte tatin) go spectacularly well. Thanks to the viscosity of this wine, it can also stand up well to strong cheeses, like Roquefort, but shouldn’t be overpowered by anything sweeter than it is.

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