Kuyen 2019

At the Antiyal estate, everything functions as an ecosystem in its own right because biodiversity is used in the vines. There are meadows to feed the animals and the manure is used to make their own compost in order to maintain the fertility of the vineyard. The grapes for the " Kuyen " vintage are grown organically using biodynamics and according to Alvaro Espinoza, the estate's oenologist, this is what gives its fruits a superior expression of the terroir. This wine, the fruit of a sophisticated blend of 4 red grape varieties, followed a natural fermentation. It then ages for 1 year in French oak barrels, then rests for a further 6 months in bottle before being released for sale. The aromatic palette is very complex expressing notes of licorice , prune , blackcurrant , blackberries, blueberry , sweet spices and mocha . The wine is dense and fleshy, with soft tannins and refreshing acidity which makes it juicy and delicious. A superb vintage!

It was Hernán Cortés who ordered, upon the conquest of Mexico, the cultivation of vines in 1524. It gradually extended from Mexico southwards to reach Chile in 1555. During the first 3 centuries of colonization, there was no Cultivated in Chile as país, a black grape variety without character and very productive. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that noble varieties were introduced: mainly cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Twenty years later, winemaking was modernized under the leadership of wealthy owners and French experts who were forced into unemployment by phylloxera in Europe. Chile stretches 4,300 kilometers from north to south. It is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, the Patagonian plains and glaciers to the south. These natural barriers prevented phylloxera from entering the country. Although the country is only 160 kilometers wide, it has ideal conditions for growing warm, intermediate and cool grape varieties, so much so that it is often described as a paradise for growing grapes. With nearly 300 properties producing bottled wines, Chile fluctuates between 6th and 8th place in the world.