VINEYARDS:
The grapes for our Apaltagua Signature Cabernet Sauvignon come from the Maipo Cordillera area, at the foot of the Andes Mountains, where the best Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in Chile, wines made from highly-concentrated grapes. In addition to our own production, we also buy grapes from small producers to complement the high quality of the wine. This Cabernet Sauvignon was planted more than 30 years ago, and the yields are approximately 5000 kilograms per hectare.
CLIMATE:
The Maipo Valley, which is 940 meters above sea level, has a Mediterranean climate (mild temperatures) with two distanct seasons. The winter is cold and rainy and the long summer is dry, hot and sunny. This climate helps achieve a prominent Cabernet Sauvignon with intense color, good consistency and body, as well as delicate aromas and fruit expression.
VINIFICATION:
The grapes are harvested by hand in April when they have reached optimal maturity. The harvest is done very selectively in order to assure the best choice of grape clusters from specific areas of the vineyard that are over 30 years old. In order to extract color and aromas, the must undergoes a three-day pre-fermentation at low temperatures. Afterwards the must is fermented in stainless steels tanks for seven days with selected yeasts and temperatures ranging from 28° to 30° C (82° to 86° F). Malolactic fermentation is done in new, 100% French oak barrels which allows for better integration of the wood and tannins. The wine is aged for 12 months in the barrels and then kept in stainless steel tanks for five months. After, the wine is bottled and aged for 10 months before being released on the market.
