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Harvest 2006: Chile Fares Well Across the Board

Moderate weather means that quality is high for many varieties and in many key regions

James Molesworth

Posted: Friday, June 09, 2006

Chile experienced a long, moderate growing season in 2006, with the harvest running several weeks later than normal. Overall, vintners are happy with the vintage throughout the major winegrowing valleys. In particular, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in Casablanca Valley and the late-ripening red varieties in the Maipo and Rapel valleys performed well.

Growers reported a cool start to the season in September and October, which delayed shoot growth and slightly lowered yields. The weather warmed up soon after and stayed that way, with little or no rain, through the May harvest. Irrigation, which is common in Chile, staved off any water stress from the drought. Previous drought-influenced vintages, 1997 and 1999, also produced excellent, concentrated reds.

The dry weather meant that the vine canopies were less vigorous, which allowed the berries to ripen more fully. (Vigorous leaf growth can lead to more vegetal notes in the wines.) And the grapes came into the wineries in healthy condition. "The quality of the press juice is fantastic because the skins are in very good shape," said Aurelio Montes, owner and winemaker of Viņa Montes.

Despite the warm days, nights were cool, which extended the season and allowed the grapes to maintain their freshness without developing overripe flavors. Growers picked the last of their Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenčre grapes in late May.

"The Cabernet Sauvignon has great natural acidity, giving the wines a lot of length and elegance," said Tod Mostero, winemaker at Viņa Almaviva.

The only hiccup of note was a frost in Casablanca early in the season that reduced the Chardonnay crop, though without affecting quality. "Luckily this frost was early, so growth was more homogeneous than we expected," said Marcelo Papa, one of the winemakers at Concha y Toro.

For the most part, growers think they have an outstanding vintage on their hands, even if it turns out not to be as strong as 2005.

Click here for the Chile Vintage Chart.

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