2022 Escudo Rojo (Rothschild) - Carmenere Valle de Colchagua Gran Reserva (750ml)

This comes from vines averaging 20 years old growing in the communes of Couffy, Seigy and Chateauvieux just south of the Cher River, a major tributary of the Loire. The Loire Valley is an open window to the Atlantic, blessing the region with clement weather. L’Aumonier’s soils range from tufa hillsides rich in clay and limestone to flatter sites of flint and clay, sand and clay, and silt and clay. Ferments are typically spontaneous (the occasional difficult tank may get a dose of neutral yeast) and the wine is raised in tank. There's no fining during élevage and only a light filtration at bottling. Production averages 8,500 cases.

Note that during warmer harvests, they do their harvesting at night to retain as much freshness in the grapes as possible. Certified organic and biodynamic

-Importer notes (Vintage 59)

Brothers Giuseppe and Pierino Bisci first purchased their vineyards in 1972. The land was widely regarded as optimal for planting Verdicchio and 85% of the roughly 50 acres of vineyards are devoted to Verdicchio. The south-facing vineyards are at elevations of about 900–1000 feet above sea level, located within a valley that runs parallel to the sea, providing excellent protection from hail and frost, and also creates a more continental microclimate than the surrounding environment. The grapes are able to ripen fully during the hot summers while maintaining refreshing acidity with cool nights. The vineyards are all certified organic. The Bisci Verdicchio is fermented in inert cement vats at a cool temperature to protect the aromatic compounds. The wine is then matured for 8 months in cement, which allows for slow micro-oxygenation, while not imparting additional flavor characteristics to the wine. Exposure to small amounts of oxygen over time helps protect the wine from oxidizing in the bottle and increases the complexity of aromas and the wine’s structure. Intense notes of Meyer lemon, white flowers, and green apples on the nose continue on to the palate. Bright acidity and the wine’s minerality make this a great companion to light foods.

-Importer notes