Undurraga Terroir Hunter Pinot Noir 2014
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2013-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast
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.”
An officially recognized sub-zone in the southern part of the San Antonio Valley, the Leyda Valley was the original settlement of the wine pioneers who came to the area in the 1990s. They were in search of cooler and wetter growing conditions—as compared to more eastern, drier and often warmer locations.
Planting, which began only in the late 1990s, focused on Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot noir and some limited spots for Syrah. The area continues to receive well-earned accolades for wines of these varieties.