Country: Chile  Region: Maule  Vintage: 2017 Category: Red Wine  Color:  Red Producer: Clos des Fous "A midnight tasting in Chile in March 2011 was our first encounter with the 'Fous' ('crazy men'), when Alberto Antonini introduced us to Pedro Parra, with whom he works closely at several of South America's top estates. Pedro, the viticulturalist, works alongside winemakers François Massoc and Paco Leyton, as well as the fourth 'Fou', Albert Cussen, who looks after the business. The name 'Clos des Fous' refers to the 12 years that both Pedro and François spent studying and working in Burgundy, as well as to what their peers described as their 'craziness' in crossing the traditional Chilean vineyard boundaries to source grapes from those in the extreme conditions further south and east. Pedro, who was described as a 'modern-day Indiana Jones' by the Wine Spectator, is the person credited with discovering many of the top vineyard sites across Chile, as well as revolutionising the way in which iconic wineries such as Montes plant and manage their vineyards. The key to this has been to move the plantings away from the fertile plains and up the slopes into the Andean and Coastal ranges, where the rockier soils result in lower vine vigour and deeper roots, which Pedro believes gives better balance and more finesse to the wines. The same philosophy is applied at Clos des Fous. The Chardonnay 'Locura 1' is sourced from the volcanic and alluvial soils of the Coya vineyard in Cachapoal. Situated 26 kilometres deep into the Andes, at nearly 1,000 metres in altitude, Coya is said to be Chile's highest vineyard and the cooler temperatures and longer growing season give verve to the wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown in a single vineyard called 'Grillos Cantores' (or 'singing crickets') in the Alto Cachapoal, just six kilometres from the Andes mountains. The decaying granite and volcanic rocks that are present in the soil here provide the wine with a distinct mineral character, soft tannins and good levels of balancing acidity. Perhaps their most original exciting wines are their red blends, Cauquenina and Pour Ma Gueule (meaning 'for my gob'). The varieties in these blends change depending on the vintage in order to achieve a complex, fluid, modern red blend. The blends would include to some extent Carignan, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cinsault, Carmenere and Pais. Cauquenina has some degree of oak influence with 20% of the blend going into new oak, whereas Pour Ma Gueule has no new oak influence and is meant for drinking while young. These off-piste wines are just what you'd expect from a cellar full of madmen!" Winemaker: François Massoc Vineyards: Clos des Fous has 19 hectares of vineyards in total, which is supplemented by fruit from selected growers. Pedro Parra's key aim was to move plantings away from the fertile plains and up the slopes into the Andean and Coastal ranges, where the rockier soils result in lower vine vigour and deeper roots, which he believes gives better balance and more finesse to the wines. Cauquenina means “girl from cauquenes”. This blend comes from non-irrigated old vines, planted on ancient red granite slopes. Vinification: Cauquenina is a blend of several varietals. Each lot was vinified and aged separately. Fermentation took place in cement vats. A portion (about 15 to 20%) of the wine was put into new French oak barrels and the other part in one-year-old barrels. The fermentations were slow and careful so as not to over-extract. Tasting Notes: A dark ruby-red wine with violet tones and outstanding red and black fruit aromas. Black pepper, tea leaves and notes of graphite and violets come through on the palate, revealing a full-bodied wine. The wine is generous and silky with very fine tannins and excellent acidity which enhance the Cauquenina's liveliness and balance. Food Suggestion: Great with grilled red meat, a mixed bean casserole or fried aubergines. Closure: Natural Cork  ABV: 13.5%  Acidity [g/l]: 5