Sauzal Vineyard
Empedrado – Maule Valley
Carignan / Garnacha / Mataró
2014 – Lot #55
Carignan – 3 barrels
Garnacha – 2 barrels
Mataró – 1 barrel
1694 bottles filled
November of 2o15
“The nose is fresh and has tantalising aromas of blueberries, violets, orange peel, raspberry leaf and aniseed with a touch of aromatic herbs that provide freshness. The palate is electric, with citric acidity, ultra-fine tannins and very good length. This is both rustic and elegant, wild and subtle. This is a superb, fresh, Mediterranean blend that shows what the Maule is capable of.” — Luis Gutierrez
Acidity (g / l) 7,13
pH 3,05
Residual Sugar (g / l) 2,37
Alcohol (% vol) 13,5
In a nutshell:
- One of eleven wines from single parcels
- Grower / partner grown by Nivaldo Morales in Sauzal
- ancestral farming by hand and horse, with traditional methods of the Secano Costero
- naturally fermented with native yeasts in open-top fermenters using punch-down
- Sauzal sits on the Coastal Range of mountains (much older and slower to cool than the Andes the sub-soils have cracked granite beneath that allow roots to get deep into cracks
- Barrel-aged two winters in French Barrels (various cooperages, 2 + uses– no new wood)
This wine was grown by a small farmer in the Maule. It was farmed by hand and horse with traditional methods of dry-farming 70+ year old vines with vines.
This wine is a tribute to the resilience of the ploughmen farmers of the Maule who have been stewards of the vines since colonial times. The 55th wine we have produced since 2001 it is thus labelled Lot # 55
T a s t i n g N o t e s
“Fresh, broad shouldered and well-braced”
“Floral junipery nose— firm mouth like a stone fist in a velvet glove”
“Soft and velvety with hints of dark fruits and spices. Some walnut. Medium to full body, round tannins and a savoury finish. Funky old vine wine.” — James Suckling
Unfiltered #gwcoharvest #gwcosauzal
GWCo la semana con las bandas (UPA prepara para su set con GWCo) #gwcogente #gwcoharvest #gwcosauzal
Garnacha from Caliboro does put a smile on one's face. #gwcogente #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
#gwcogente #gwcoharvest #gwcosauzal
Pilo & Nivaldo #gwcosauzal
And the pick continues -- Sauzal #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal #gwcogente
#gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Made by hand -- capable hands, expert hands #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Almost finished #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
La Cuadrilla wrapping it up #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Garnacha #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
The rain did not cooperate today but the colours did #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
And we have brilliant sun for a picking day in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Carignan from Sauzal vineyard #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Personalities out picking with us today #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Personalities : "wanted in Texas" #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Picking Sauzal #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Robinson doing his exploding basket trick #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal #gwcogente
Black and white and red all over #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
And the picking went on .... #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Gratuitous logo shot for Matt #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcosauzal
Note burned hillside in background ;-(, #gwcosauzal
Some green harvesting of the pampanos -- small green bunches that won't ripen and we need this energy to help ripen the principal fruit! #gwcosauzal
Green is not the new blue. #gwcosauzal
Picking Sauzal Garnacha with Nivaldo #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcosauzal
A productive day in #gwcosauzal #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcogente
Early morning start - Carignan with Nivaldo hoy dia. #gwcosauzal #gwcsauzalvineyard
Great day for light hunting -- as well as the Carignan! #gwcosauzal #gwcsauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2017
Great morning light on fruit #gwcosauzal #gwcoharvest2017
Gorgeous fruit in Sazual cut yesterday. Niva is smiling ear to ear as we cut more kilos of better fruit than ever. #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcosauzal #gwcosauzalvineyard
Carignan #gwcosauzal #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolately
C r i t i c s N o t e s
Descorchados 2017 Patricio Tapia
Sauzal Vineyard Carignan/Garnacha/Mataró 2014 Lot #55 – 95 Pts
De aromas un tanto más maduros y algunos leves torrados. La boca es recia y jugosísima, ideal para esos cerdos cocidos a la llama por horas y horas.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 23o
Sauzal Vineyard Maule Valley Carignan, Garnacha & Mataró 2014 – Lot # 55 – 93 Pts
The 2014 Sauzal Vineyard is also a field blend of Carignan, Garnacha and Mataró (Monastrell) from the vineyard of Nivaldo Morales in Sauzal on degraded granite soils that allow roots to get deep into cracks. Tannins in 2015 were a little bit firmer than normal and the wines in general a little denser. Nivaldo cultivates his vineyards in an ancestral way, by hand and horse. A small portion of the grapes were kept with whole stems and stomped by feet and resulted in more tannic and slightly higher volatile acidity that complemented the rest of the barrels. It’s more powerful, with flowers, spices and something earthy, resinous even. The palate is medium to full-bodied with balance in a slightly XL way, lifted by great acidity. 1,694 bottles were produced from three barrels of Carignan, two of Garnacha and one of Mataró. It was bottled in November 2015. Drink 2017–2027 – Luis Gutierrez
James Suckling .com May 25th 2017
Sauzal Vineyard Maule Valley Carignan, Garnacha & Mataró Field-blend 2014 – Lot # 55 – 93 Pts
Soulful red with juicy and earth with meat and berry. Full body and beautiful. Long and flavorful. Juicy and intense.
Notes on Previous Vintages from this parcel
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #222 Dec 2015
Sauzal Vineyard Carignan/Garnacha/Mataró Field Blend 2013 Lot #45 – 94 Pts
I visited an amazing vineyard from a grower called Nivaldo Morales with Derek Mossman, an old vineyard planted mostly with País and some Carignan, and some País vines were regrafted to Garnacha, Mataró (Monastrell) and Garnacha (Grenache). The 2013 Lot #45 Carignan Garnacha Mataró Field Blend is sourced from that Sauzal vineyard in the Maule Valley. A very similar wine is also sold in the United Kingdom as The Ploughmen. The nose is fresh and has tantalizing aromas of blueberries, violets, orange peel, raspberry leaf and aniseed with a touch of aromatic herbs that provide freshness. The palate is electric, with citric acidity, ultra-fine tannins and very good length. This is both rustic and elegant, wild and subtle. None of these wines show any alcohol or wood. This is a superb, fresh, Mediterranean blend that shows what the Maule is capable of. Bravo! Around 2,500 bottles were produced. Drink 2015 – 2021 Luis Gutierrez
Descorchados 2016 Patricio Tapia
LOT # 45 SAUZAL VINEYARD
Carignan, Garnacha, Mataró 2013
Dominado por una acidez deliciosa, este tinto se mueve con nervio por la boca, como su tuviera su propia luz. Delicioso. 93 pts Patricio Tapia
Tim Atkin MW
Sauzal Vineyard Carignan/Garnacha/Mataró Field Blend 2014 Lot #55 – 91 Pts
Pictures of this vineyard taken over the past few years:
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gwcosauzalvineyard/
Cutting Garmacha old vines Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2021
Cariñena at its finest in little known nooks of the Secano Interior #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2021
Monastrell by any other name would be: Mataro, Mataró, Alcayata, Balzac Noir, Catalan, Espagnen, Espar, Garrut, Gayata, Mourvede, Mourvedon, Mourvedre, Negria or Ros… #gwcosauzalvineyard
Tripped on this little drama today shot with an old GoPro Hero 3 #gwcosauzalvineyard
Tool of the trade #gwcosauzalvineyard
Another classic of Nivaldo Morales by @matt.wilson.gc #gwcosauzalvineyard (we do not recommend speeding through a vineyard in car truck or horse, but a moment is moment and with hat captured in mid-air it is hard not to smile with the spirit...
Garnacha 2021 Sauzal #gwcosauzalvineyard
Filling in hillside Garnacha / rellenando con plantitas Garnacha #gwcosauzalvineyard
With Nivaldo Morales ten years ago (almost) after grafting Garnacha and Mataró next his Cariñena #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest
#gwcoharvest2020
#vinochileno
#chileanwine
#mauleadicto
#regiondelmaule
#movichile
Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard
#gwcoharvest2020
#gwcosauzalvineyard #weaponsgradegarnacha
.......el futuro de la agricultura es volver al origen y garagewineco lo tiene MÁS q claro 👏👏🙏 por acá #nivaldo en pleno “farming” 👌donde nacen las joyas de Sauzal 💅 salud !! #gwcosauzalvineyard #sommlife
Hangin with Don Niva this afternoon #gwcosauzalvineyard
Pais Sauzal - #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofam
Garnacha from Sauzal first pass picking -- note 5 plant rows left behind (too close to the fire) #gwcosauzalvineyard
Out early in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcofam
Picking in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard capturing #fieldworks with @matt.wilson_gc #drone #dji #video #aerial @bibendumwine
Picking in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard
Early pickings - #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofam #gwcosauzalvineyard
Picking in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard
Radel canastero (and scribner ) Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
Yours truly in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard capturing light and images of the early #fieldworks with @matt.wilson_gc #drone #dji #video #aerial @movichile @movilatienda @bibendumwine
Cariñena in Sauzal Vineyard Nivaldo & Otelia #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
José hard at work Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
Don Radel - canastero extraordinario Sauzal Vineyard Nivaldo & Otelia #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
Help from the next generation today #gwcoharvest17 #gwcosauzalvineyard
Two “canasteros” not to be confused with the pickers who fill the baskets these gents carry. #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofam
Self portrait on Cariñena - Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldcraft
Nivaldo Morales vigneron, farmer, steward of the land #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofam @bibendumwine
A productive day in #gwcosauzal #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcogente
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes Garnacha ticky-tacky
Little boxes on the hillside... #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolately
Youngest pictured here in #gwcosauzalvineyard last week offering to go picking with me this week -- anything to avoid going back to school tomorrow!
No filter required Sauzal Vineyard Nivaldo & Otelia #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
Gorgeous fruit in Sazual cut yesterday. Niva is smiling ear to ear as we cut more kilos of better fruit than ever. #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcosauzal #gwcosauzalvineyard
Rebirth #gwcosauzalvineyard
Yes I was ridiculed for playing with my silly camera by people doing the real work— karma got even when I pinched a tire with 15oo kgs on as I left Nivaldo’s farm. #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcofam
Rare shot of Nivaldo without his lid! Picking in Sauzal #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard #video @bibendumwine @goprocl @gopro #goprowine
Nivaldo salutes Sauzal Vineyard #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks
Poda hecha ha llegado el momento meter con arado #gwcosauzalvineyard #gwcotrabajosdecampo
Our work party take 5 #gwcofieldworks @bibendumwine #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcosauzalvineyard Photo by @matt.wilson_gc @bibendumwine @gwcofieldcraft