Marichal Reserve Collection Pinot Noir Tannat 2011 (6 x 750mL), Canelones

Grape Variety: 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Tannat

Tasting Notes: This original red wine presents an attractive garnet red colour. The flavours are delicate with blackberries and plum jelly notes. Those elements are carried through to the creamy finish.

Vineyard: Etchevarría - Canelones, Uruguay.

Age of the Vineyard: Vines planted in 1999

Time of Harvest: Early March

Altitude: 30 metres above sea level

Harvest Method: Manually collected in 18 kg boxes.

Winemaking: This blend is rather unusual. Winemakers believe this is due to the fact that there are very few producers, if any, who dare mix two varieties with so different styles. Pinot Noir is an icon of the delicacy of tannins due to its softness and complexity, while Tannat is associated with the roughness of tannins and being full in the mouth. Succeeding in making these two varieties agree in one wine is nothing but a challenge. The percentages on the different vintages they produced has always been over 70% Pinot Noir and under 30% Tannat. A higher percentage of Tannat would completely overshadow the Pinot Noir. The vinification of both varieties is done under the very same procedure as the pure Tannat and Pinot Noir: the correct ripeness point of the grape, careful selection of bunches, fermentation at controlled temperature, and a careful determination of maceration times. In addition to this, they specifically select the vintages and barrels that will better complement each other when blended, having a better result as a blend than the two separate wines.

Winemakers: Juan Andrés & Alejandro Marichal

Alcohol: 13.0% vol.

Volume: 750 ml

Residual sugars: 1.8 gr/litre

Standard Drinks: 7.7

Peak drinking: 2012-2015

Best Served: 16°C - 18°C

Ageing: 60% of the wine was aged during 9 months in second and third use American and French oak barrels, the rest without oak in order to keep expression of variety.