Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Carmenere 2018

Cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant before serving.

Clos de Luz is a family-run winery that boasts some of Chile’s finest and oldest Carmenere vineyards. The winery was founded in 1892 by the great-grandfather of the current owner in the stunning Almahue Valley some 70 miles southeast of Santiago. The estate now has some 33 acres of vineyards including some very old Carmenere planted in 1945. To maintain quality and consistency all of the fruit is harvested by hand and the vines are farmed sustainably wherever possible.

Once in the winery the fruit is strictly selected and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Maturation takes place in a combination of 7000 litre casks, small French oak barrels, and some 600 litre French barrels. The family relies on the cold winters to help stabilise the wine without any need for chemical additives.

On the nose there are heady notes of cassis and blackberry while the first sip reveals ripe plums, and hints of cedar from the oak ageing. The tannins and alcohol are well-integrated with a solid structure that will benefit from a few more years in the cellar. It is also ideal to serve now alongside duck, tomato-based pasta dishes, or a generous platter of charcuterie and hard cheeses.