Description

Ungrafted Carmenere

The De Martino family has been producing wines in Chile since 1934. The winery is now run by the 4th generation – brothers Marco and Sebastian. Like the generations before them, they have been focused on producing wines that reflect their origin and the character of each vineyard, based on solid principles of sustainable farming and traditional winemaking methods. The brothers have a very strong attachment to their vineyards in two areas, the Isla de Maipo (Maipo Valley) and Guarilihue (Itata Valley). In both these places, they have successfully cobbled together over time a beautiful array of ungrafted vines.

Ungrafted vines are a privilege to farm and are scarce. Their uniqueness stems from their ability to transmit their origin at its purest level, both in terms of the specific grape variety as well as the underlying soil in which they are planted. The brothers’ passion for these two areas and their ungrafted vines led to the decision to create a new boutique wine brand, separate from the larger De Martino empire, and focused solely on these special areas and vines. And alas, Ungrafted was born with the 2020 vintage.

The De Martino brothers carefully tend the Ungrafted vines and continue to farm them under sustainable principles as they have been farmed for decades. They strive to produce wines from these great areas with a maximum expression of their terroir and using vinification methods that are traditional and that further highlight the place without “makeup”.

From the Isla de Maipo, they make two wines – a Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon. Isla de Maipo translates to “Maipo Island” and this area gets this name because the Maipo River splits into branches before coming back together creating an island in its center that was an old riverbed. The soils are classic riverbed gravels and this type of location and soil creates the perfect place for the Bordeaux varieties to grow.

he 2022 Carménère Gravel Soils hails from Isla de Maipo. Purple in hue. The nose opens with ashes and spices, green bell pepper and sandalwood, and hints of incense. It is an attractive and nuanced red. On the palate, it offers loose and fine grain tannins textured as well as a more silky than velvety palate. A rare red lean in the flow and voluptuous in weight.

Ungrafted Carmenere Notes For The Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Purple
• AROMA: Ashes and spices, green bell pepper and sandalwood, and hints of incense
• TASTE: Loose and fine grain tannins as well as silky red fruit and spice
• FINISH: Long and lingering
• ABV: 13.5%