Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Pinot Noir 2011
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The Undurragas were early pioneers in Chilean winemaking, planting French varietals before the turn on the century and using wood barrels crafted by a master French cooper to age the wines and bring forward rich bouquet and flavors. In 1903, they were first to export wines to the U.S.
Undurraga's Santa Ana Estate, pictured on every label, is a proud expression of their long tradition of quality and innovation. Over the last few years, Undurraga has heavily invested in prime vineyards and facilities.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
The Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous wine region. Set in the country’s Central Valley, it is warm and quite dry, often necessitating the use of irrigation. Alluvial soils predominate but are supplemented with loam and clay.
The climate in Maipo is best-suited for ripe, full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon (the region’s most widely planted grape), Merlot, Syrah and Carmenère, a Bordeaux variety that has found a successful home in Chile.
White wines are also produced with great prosperity, especially near the cooler coast, include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.