Vina Maipo Vitral Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Viña Maipo was founded in 1948 in the village of Maipo, the heart of Maipo Valley, a world-renowned region for producing wines of outstanding quality. Twenty years later, Chilean leader Concha y Toro, the largest Chilean wine group, acquired the winery, enhancing the quality of its wines and laying the foundations for its global spirit. In 2007, Max Weinlaub joined Viña Maipo as chief winemaker, giving way to a new strategy focused on developing world-class wines, expressive of their origin.
Viña Maipo sources from almost 5,000 acres of owned and grower vineyards, split approximately 60% (2,965 acres) between own vineyards and 40% (1,977 acres) from growers. Growers plant under close supervision by Weinlaub and his team, ensuring quality production across the spectrum; for the top wines, 100% are sourced from estate vineyards. Maipo Valley has a signature elegance and complexity, particularly near the village in upper Maipo, due to fluctuation in day-to-night temperatures between the Andes and the valley floor. The soils offer a combination of volcanic and alluvial influences and support different varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in alluvial areas, while Syrah is well-suited to volcanic conditions.
Maipo Valley accounts for 20% of the winery's total production (including estate and growers), and three wines (made principally from Cabernet and Syrah) are classified as D.O. Maipo. Viña Maipo also makes wines in the Central and Maule Valley, with all of the whites coming from excellent white-wine terroirs in Casablanca, Rapel and Maule. Overall, the winery pursues a sustainable approach with the aim of minimizing environmental impact through responsible practices such as water management and minimal treatments. For winemaker Max Weinlaub, sustainability is a key part of his "craftsmanship philosophy—a belief that every wine must be treated individually with a critical attention to detail.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Dramatic geographic and climatic changes from west to east make Chile an exciting frontier for wines of all styles. Chile’s entire western border is Pacific coastline, its center is composed of warm valleys and on its eastern border, are the soaring Andes Mountains.
Chile’s central valleys, sheltered by the costal ranges, and in some parts climbing the eastern slopes of the Andes, remain relatively warm and dry. The conditions are ideal for producing concentrated, full-bodied, aromatic reds rich in black and red fruits. The eponymous Aconcagua Valley—hot and dry—is home to intense red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
The Maipo, Rapel, Curicó and Maule Valleys specialize in Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends as well as Carmenère, Chile’s unofficial signature grape.
Chilly breezes from the Antarctic Humboldt Current allow the coastal regions of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley to focus on the cool climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s Coquimbo region in the far north, containing the Elqui and Limari Valleys, historically focused solely on Pisco production. But here the minimal rainfall, intense sunlight and chilly ocean breezes allow success with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The up-and-coming southern regions of Bio Bio and Itata in the south make excellent Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Spanish settlers, Juan Jufre and Diego Garcia de Cáceres, most likely brought Vitis vinifera (Europe’s wine producing vine species) to the Central Valley of Chile sometime in the 1550s. One fun fact about Chile is that its natural geographical borders have allowed it to avoid phylloxera and as a result, vines are often planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted.