Azul Profundo Azul Profundo Pinot Noir 2006
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Blend: 100% Pinot noir
Bottling date: 24 January 2007
Color: Youth evidenced by a transparent deep violet
Nose: The first pass yields rose petal. Followed by a tightly wound array of tobacco, whole nutmeg pods, roasted coffee, anise, blackberry, and new saddle leather.
Mouth: The soft entry of dusty plummy fruit with a note of cranberry asserts itself as classic Pinot noir. As more flavors present themselves…dried cherry…rootbeer…roasted coffee…the wine spreads out across the palate and displays its extract (extract denotes how completely and subtly the flavors of the grape and the terroir are wrung from the fruit during fermentation). And here the fine-grained yet abundant tannin betray its youthfulness, polished yet firm in their grip. The lengthy finish resonates with what was displayed earlier, again comes forth the roasted coffee tones, and rootbeer spice…the saddle leather, this time with an edge of earthy compost and hint of mushroom indicate the direction in which the wine will journey. Patience in your cellar as well as your glass will allow the fullest procession of flavor to unfurl and nuance to be expressed.
The expansion of viable Chilean wine regions in recent decades has revealed several suitable appellations (In Chile the term is denominacion de origen, or DO) for Pinot Noir. This finicky grape requires a cool climate along with good air flow to minimize disease pressure; Chile’s unique geography delivers both in a number of spots. Here’s a quick look at the most notable DO’s, moving from north to south.
In the Coquimbo region, both the Elqui and Limarí Valleys enjoy lots of sunlight throughout the year, which promotes consistent ripening. Of equal importance, their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Humboldt Current that flows just offshore provides the necessary cooling influence that yields good balancing acidity.
Due west of the country’s capital, Santiago, are the Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys. The former runs east-west and therefore sees cool, foggy conditions many mornings. The latter runs north-south but is close enough to the ocean to benefit from cool breezes. Very promising Chilean Pinot Noirs can be found from both DO’s.
Chile’s southern region includes two more Pinot-friendly appellations, Bio-Bio and Malleco. These and the other DO’s mentioned above have seen a growing number of producers delivering crisp, fresh versions. Pinot Noir from Chile typically offers the varietal’s trademark elegance and fine drinkability, complete with ripe red fruit, earthy tones and food-friendly acidity. Try Chilean Pinot Noir wines from producers like Viña Leyda, Santa Carolina, Casas del Bosque and Hacienda Araucano.