In last week’s Chile trip we were lucky to see some incredible vineyards. One of the most spectacular was Vina Falernia’s high altitude Huanta vineyard, at 2000 m. It’s practically in the Andes, at the end of the Elqui Valley, and has some incredible old Pedro Ximenez and Muscat vines. Vina Falernia are planning to plant other varieties there too. A truly beautiful location.
Here’s a short film of the visit:
3 Comments on Video: Vina Falernia’s spectacular Huanta high-altitude vineyard, Elqui, Chile
Fascinating stuff!
God, it is so arid! I guess there is some form of irrigation in that Falernia vineyard?
There are a number of considerably higher vineyards in Colombia and especially Bolivia, btw, and maybe in Peru and Ecuador too.
Yes, wouldn’t exist without irrigation – they use the old fashioned channels, rather than drip here.
I would like to suggest you a wine coming from the higher Elqui Valley.
CAVAS DEL VALLE ALTO DEL SILENCIO SYRAH ELABORADO Y ENVASADO EN ORIGEN POR RAYMUNDO PIRACÉS LÜBBERT D.O. VALLE DEL ELQUI – CHILE 2004 14 %
VISUAL ANALYSIS: limpid, ruby, quite thick
OLFACTORY ANALYSIS : intense, complex, fine
DESCRIPTION : fruity(marmalade), toasted, spicy(black pepper, clove), flowery(violet)
GUSTATIVE ANALYSIS : dry, warm, quite soft
quite fresh, quite tannic, tasty / vigorous
quite balanced, intense, persistent(8/9), fine
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS : mature, quite harmonious EVALUATION 84
BLEND: syrah 80% + cabernet sauvignon 20%
WELL-AGEING : 12 meses en barricas de roble francés y desde 15 meses en la botella
NOTE : producción limitada 913 botellas
•At the olfactory analysis is not totally open but with various, interesting, and intriguing scents
•At the gustative exam is vigorous and persistent with a corresponding final
•The final is with fruit and marmalade
•EVOLUTION : ready to be drunk in this moment even if within 6/12 months it can provide us something more at the olfactory analysis
•PRICE-QUALITY COMPARISON: good
•WINE-FOOD COMBINATION : red meat
•MY PERSONAL OPINION: a wine to drink and combine with meat cause its great salty note due to the terroir; the gustative-olfactory persistence is its best part