Odfjell Orzada Carignan 2018

Description

Odfjell Orzada Carignan

Odfjell Orzada Carignan is deep ruby in colour with a mix of aromas such as cherry liqueur, liquorice, black fruits, pears & lychee. Elegant and mature in profile, the palate is juicy and round, with notes of cassis, vanilla, and blackcurrants with ripe tannins and a long and complex finish.

Norwegian born ship owner Dan Odfjell discovered and fell in love with a small corner of the famous Maipo Valley in Chile over 25 years ago. He invested in some land which serendipitously turned out to be located in Chile’s premium red wine producing valley.

While most other top producers in Chile work with relatively young wines, Odfjell has forged a unique reputation by rediscovering the forgotten wealth of Chile’s winemaking past. In fact, they believe their Carignan vines in Cauquenes are the oldest in Chile at over 100 years old! Although at times, this was considered an eccentric move, interest in these old sites has since grown hugely. Crafting wines that fully maximise the great potential of the region, this year having joined the new association of Vignadores de Carignan, Odfjell are committed to sustainable agriculture and green winemaking practices, the vineyards are all cultivated organically and biodynamically and are working towards certification.

Carignan is a black-skinned wine grape variety, most likely native to Aragon, northern Spain (specifically the town of Carinena). The variety goes by a number of distinct names, depending on its precise locality. Very few of these numerous synonyms ever appear on wine labels, either due to appellation labeling laws or because Carignan’s key use is as a blending component. The most famous wines in which Carignan plays a role are those from Rioja, where it is known as Mazuelo. Carignan prefers warm, dry climates when the grape can express high tannins, acid and color. This makes it an excellent addition to red wine blends that have plenty of aroma and flavor, but lack body and depth of color. Carignan is only rarely made as a varietal wine, but the best examples can show characteristics of dark and black fruits, pepper, liquorice, and spicy and savoury accents. It is a late-ripening variety that is known to produce high yields if not properly cropped. This was once considered an attractive attribute of the grape but, as this can make it difficult to achieve good flavour concentration, it also led to it falling out of favour. Most of the worlds Carignan can now be considered old vines as little has been planted in the last 40 years and the age of the vines means smaller crops and greater concentration of flavour in the grapes.

odfjellvineyards.cl

Odfjell Orzada Carignan – Hay Wines