Maquis Lien 2015 - 92 pts Tim Atkin
93 Points Descorchados, 92 pts Tim Atkin, 91 pts Robert Parker
VARIETIES
Carmenere (49%) - Cabernet Franc (42%) - Syrah (9%)
ALCOHOL CONTENT
13.5% Vol.
VINTAGE
2015
ORIGINS
Vina Maquis, Colchagua Valley, Chile
PRODUCTION
Hand picking and sorting of clusters and grapes. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
It is elegant with the variety nicely integrated and quite fresh for the year. It's tasty with a combination of power and elegance.
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.
2015 CLIMATE
2015 was a special harvest because we had a warm summer and autumn, with lower rainfall than the previous year. We had a normal yield, but an early maturity of berries. Therefore we picked grapes earlier than year 2014 so we achieved a nice balance between freshness and body expression.