A Chardonnay can be made in many different ways, depending on the soil and climate. The grapes for this Carmen Premier Reserva Chardonnay are planted in the cool Casablanca Valley, giving this white wine, like Carmen's Sauvignon Blanc, a fresh and aromatic character. The grapes are hand-picked at different harvest times. This gives the wine greater complexity through the varying characteristics of the harvested fruit. Early-picked grapes have more acidity and nervousness, while later-picked grapes provide depth and power. A short, intense exposure to abundant oxygen (hyperoxidation) results in less bitterness and a creamier character. Sixty percent of the wine was fermented in used French oak barrels, and the remaining juice was aged exclusively in stainless steel. Thanks to this fermentation method, the wine has a fresh, creamy, and powerful character. Eight months of aging on lees resulted in a powerful and aromatic glass of Chardonnay.
This Chardonnay was released by the Carmen winery. Founded in 1850 by Christian Lanz, who named the winery after his wife, Carmen, Carmen is the oldest winery in Chile. Today, they utilize the latest techniques for making their wine and are one of the largest players in both quality and quantity of Chilean origin.
The aromas of almonds and hazelnuts, pear, and a pleasant hint of citrus, smoky notes, and a hint of grapefruit, are on the nose. The taste is of almonds and hazelnuts, pear, and a pleasant hint of citrus, smoky notes, and grapefruit. It's creamy and has a lovely thick texture, while fruity notes of peach, apricot, and mango complete the whole. The finish still has a touch of acidity for freshness, which is very pleasant.
