Tabali Vetas Blancas Reserva Especial Pinot Noir

Established in 2002, Tabali­ is a pioneer and iconic winery situated in Limari, on the edge of the Atacama Desert in one of the northernmost vineyard regions of Chile. They were one of the first wineries to settle in Limari and their wines faithfully reflect their place of origin in which climate and soils play a fundamental role, and bring out the potential of each of their vineyards.

After years of geological research, Tabali is the only winery that produces wines that cross Chile from east to west in the same valley (D.O.), from their incredibly high and remote site of Roca Madre (second highest vineyard in Chile) in the Andes Mountains' Rio Hurtado area down to their cool climate, 'Camanchaca' fog blanked vineyards by the Pacific Ocean. In their quest for the perfection, they now also have a site in the renowned Cabernet and Merlot region of Maipo Valley. The result is a range of truly distinctive wines with elegance, restraint and minerality which the dynamic team of Felipe Muller (winemaker) and Hector Rojas (viticulturalist) have attributed to their cabinet full of the wine world's most prestigious trophies.

In 2014, Felipe Muller was named 'Chilean Young Winemaker of the Year' and acclaimed for his ability to understand Tabali's distinctive terroir and use it to create remarkable wines, unique to Chile. Tabali also has the honour of stewardship of the Limari Valley's most significant archaeological sites, the mystical Valle del Encanto (Enchanted Valley) which borders their vineyards. A sacred site of the ancient Molle and Diaguita culture, the many rock drawings and carved Tacita stones depict an ancient way of life. The Tabali­ mask logo has been taken from one of these rock carvings, which can only be seen at certain times of day when the sun's alignment makes them magically appear.

Viña Tabalí are currently working towards Sustainable Wines of Chile. This certification is a transparent and independent process, which is based on biannual audits carried out by certifying companies registered in the "registry of certifiers of the Sustainability Code". The requirements of the Code are framed in a long-term vision, based on the combination of environmental principles, social equity and economic viability.

Pinot Noir,

30% of the grapes for this wine come from the Talinay vineyard and 70% from the Espinal vineyard. The Talinay vineyard is situated in a very special area, 12km from the Pacific Ocean, where there is a constant cool sea breeze. These extraordinary conditions mean that we experience much lower temperatures than the rest of the valley. The Espinal vineyard is located 24km from the coast. It is windy in the afternoons and is technically classed as a cool area for wine production. The Talinay vineyard is planted on calcareous soils where the rock is limestone. This is a place with a geological phenomenon that is unique in Chile. This has come about because it is an ancient marine terrace that is now on the surface. It has a very porous, fractured limestone soil, which enables the roots to easily explore the rock, which in turn acts as a hydric regulator and an extraordinary source of calcium carbonate. The Espinal vineyard is located on an alluvial terrace that reveals different levels of clay at the surface. This gives way to a matrix of alluvial soil (volcanic rock which was rounded by erosion as it was carried many kilometres from high up in the Andes mountains). This soil is very stony but has veins of limestone in the form of dust, mainly consisting of calcium carbonate.

The grapes were hand-harvested into 20kg-bins to avoid any damage to the fruit. The harvest began in the first week in April, when this variety had reached the optimum phenolic ripeness. The clusters were later very carefully selected, then destemmed and selected one last time. Then they were subject to a cold soak for 8 days at 8°C, before continuing on to the alcoholic fermentation in small stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Next came a second maceration, lasting 3 days. This wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

Excellent cool climate Pinot Noir from Limarí. This balances seductive fruit and minerality perfectly.

A delicious mouth watering and delicate Pinot Noir, entirely grown on chalky soil, this wine has a nose of all spice and dark chocolate. The palate has notes of fresh red fruit compote with a gamey BBQ quality with a touch of hickory smoke. All this generosity of flavour is underpinned by regional limestone structure.

The perfect partner with roast lamb, Autumnal stews or hearty risotto