The grapes for this Carmen Gold Reserve were handpicked from a small block named Carneros 288, planted in 1957 on the world famous alluvial terraces of Alto Maipo, Chile. The alluvial terraces were formed from volcanic material carried down into the flat areas from the Andes Ranges by the Maipo River. This provides us with a unique terroir that adds concentration and elegance to our wines. The soils have good drainage and ideal water retention due to the concentration of clay in the soil profile ranging from 8-12%. The grapes were carefully selected before crushing, individual berry selection was a key part of our quality control process. The crushed grapes were cold macerated for 10 days at 5ºC; this ensures colour stability and retains primary fruit aromas. Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel tanks at temperatures ranging from 25 up to 28º C. A gentle extraction programme was essential to obtain structure, firm tannins and clean fruit. The wine was macerated after alcoholic fermentation for another 5 days. The wine was racked into brand new French oak barrels were, malolactic fermentation took place naturally in barrels. The wine was aged in barrels for a period of 18 months. This Carmen Gold Reserve was bottled unfiltered to preserve its character and volume. After bottled the wine was further aged for another 12 months in our cellar prior to its market release.