2018 El Principal Kiñe

Viña EL Principal belongs to the absolute top of South America - Chile and that is not surprising because the house was founded in 1993 by partners Jorge Fontaine Aldunate, owner of the estate El Principal, and Jean Paul Valette, French winemaker and former owner of the famous Premier Grand Cru Classé Château Pavie in Saint-Émilion. Today, the owner is the Said Sandal Family and the winery is of Chile's most exclusive and premium with only 4 wines, but a range of the highest quality wines that reflect the spirit and typicity of Chilean terroir. The hand, tradition and experience of the Valette family of Château Pavie is reflected in every element and the style (and choice of grape variety) has an inextricable Bordelaises St Emillion twist but in the end that is not surprising given the background.

Located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the Alto Maipo Valley (DO Maipo Andes), El Principal's terroir was perfect for their project; The unique combination of climate, soil type and altitude made it ideal for producing wines with character, unique identity and extraordinary quality.

Kiñe represents the visionary and innovative spirit of Viña El Principal. Launched in 2014, this is the first New World wine made from the white Verdejo variety, originally from the Rueda region of Spain. The name comes from the word for the number one in Mapudungún, the native language of the indigenous Mapuche people. Kiñe means "first" or "unique", terms that truly reflect the exceptional character of this wine, made from a pioneering varietal in Chile. Nowhere else can you find a Verdejo wine from a high Alto Maipo valley hence Number 1 or Kiñe.

The Verdejo vineyard is located at an altitude of almost 800 meters on a calcareous loamy soil. The 2018 Kiñe Verdejo comes from the cooler 2018 year when the grapes were picked later (of course by hand), with good ripeness and acidity. It fermented in used barriques with native yeasts, and 80% of the volume matured for 12 months in 500 liter French oak barrels sur lie and the rest matured in concrete eggs. The wine has a beautiful pale yellow color and does not taste or smell oaky (oak) as is often the case. The wine has nice notes of freshly cut grass, bay leaf and quince complemented by aromas of white pepper. The taste is fresh and has volume, clean flavors and a long, dry aftertaste and will certainly improve with the years given its great beautiful acidity and the long oak aging.