Arboleda Merlot wine

85% Merlot
15% Carmenère
Apellation: Aconcagua Valley
Total Acidity: 3.65 g/l (tartaric)
Alcohol: 14.5% by vol.
Final pH: 3.56 g/l
Residual Sugar: 3.0 g/l (tartaric)

VINEYARD

The grapes for our Arboleda Merlot 2005 are sourced from our vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley. This region features an extended, dry season with moderately warm summer days cooled by soft afternoon breezes coming in from the Pacific Ocean.

The vineyards, located at 41 km from the Pacific Ocean, were planted in the first stage in the year 2000 with Merlot. The results obtained from various sectors like Rabuco 1, 2 and 3, which are called after the estuary here, were extraordinary. The vines selected for these vineyards are the French clone 181 grafted on SO4 rootstocks, which are well known to adapt itself excellently to the different sorts of soils and favours highly an excellent fruit set. The vineyards have in general a northeast sun exposure and are located at 290-320 meters (951-1050 feet) above sea level. The soils are of colluvial origin with a franc-clay texture. With a high percentage of stone compounds, between 50-80 % of the total volume, the soils are excellently drained and present medium vigour, ensuring a well-balanced canopy distribution.

The high diurnal temperature differences of 20°C/68°F on average in the weeks before harvest trigger a high concentration of antocyanins, creating wines with intensity of colour.

Altitude: 290-500 meters (951-1640 feet) above sea level

Climate: Mediterranean with rainy winters and an extended dry season.

VINTAGE NOTES

Picking Date: 4th until 14th of April (Merlot). 18th of May (Carmenère)

Historic Averages:

Heat Summation (Oct-Apr): 1712 degree days (19ºC/66.2ºF cut-off).

Mean Temperature (Oct-Apr): 19ºC (66ºF).

Temperature Oscillation (Oct-Apr): 19.5ºC (65.3ºF).

Rainfall (year round): 250 mm/9.8 inches

The extraordinary quality of the wines from the 2005 harvest is probable the best testimonial to date of the Aconcagua Valley's potential for producing high quality red wines. No significant rainfall occurred during fruit ripening and, despite some temperature peaks in February, March and April registered only moderate maximum temperatures.