Maquis Franco 2013 - 96 pts Tim Atkin
96 points Tim Atkin
95 Points “Best Cabernet Franc from Chile
Descorchados 2017, 93 Points, Robert Parker
VARIETIES
Cabernet Franc (94%) - Cabernet Sauvignon (6%)
ALCOHOL CONTENT
14.5% Vol.
VINTAGE
2013
ORIGINS
Colchagua Valley, Chile
PRODUCTION
Hand picking and sorting of clusters and grapes. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
“Again, the cooler vintage seems to have favoured the 2013 Franco, which came through as complex, compact, powerful and elegant. This time it's not a pure varietal, as it contains some 6% Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. This is a Cabernet Franc all about finesse but with enough power and character. It's very floral and exuberant”, Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, 28th Apr 2017
VINEYARD
Viña Maquis is located in the heart of the Colchagua Valley between the Tinguiririca River and the Chimbarongo Creek. Both waterways act as pathways for cool coastal breezes that moderate the warm summers and have a dramatic effect on lowering the maximum temperatures by 2o–3oC.
This area with deep alluvial soils and a two-meter layer of highly concentrated clay set over a deeper layer of gravel—brought by the rivers—provide natural drainage that allows the grapes to lose the green characteristics very early in the season. The waterways also help moderate extreme weather conditions throughout the year by protecting the vineyards from spring frosts and lowering the maximum summer temperatures. These features are distinctive of Viña Maquis and uncommon in the rest of the Colchagua Valley.
2013 CLIMATE
This harvest occurred after a warm year, with rains throughout the spring and cool temperatures around March, which, by the end of the season, resulted in a slower ripening of the grapes and eventually in fresh, elegant wines with an excellent natural balance.
On top of it, the rains during the spring enhanced bigger berries, later submitted to a smooth extraction during the fermentation process, which favored a youngyet pleasant wine.