Las Higueras Vineyard
Maule Valley
Cabernet Franc
2015 – Lot 72

Dry-farmed

“Las Higueras is from a place close to Linares that GWCo now manage entirely all 8 hectares (and sell some fruit to others) and has some herbal aromas and a leafy, spicy personality. It has very fine tannins and good freshness. It’s elegant, with complexity.” -LG

13 Barrels Cab Franc
3764 bottles filled in Nov 2016

Alcohol: 14,1
pH  3,5
Acidez:  5,36
Azúcar residual: 2,19

In a Nutshell

“Fresh, very Franc, a little broader in the shoulders– well-braced”

 

The Vineyard :

  • Terrace of alluvial soils above the Archibueno River
  • Having to returned to cultivate the soils, and having pruned much of the dead-wood last year we are pleasantly surpised at how the vineyard is perking up again. It will be a few years of hard work before we can achieve everything we want, but so far: proper balanced pruning, ploughing, manure and very little irrigation are working wonders. In fact we should be able to dry-farm 100% this vintage.

the Making:

  • Naturally fermented with native yeasts
  • Conical oval shaped lagar type fermenter
  • Caps punched down by hand.
  • Lignified stems re-introduced after crush.
  • Yeasts native (we used wine from Cab Franc 2o14 vintage to a pie de cuba)
  • No temp control (besides opening closing windows) open tank, no nada
  • Pinch of sulfites after malolactic that did finish before winter began unlike the Carignans

Elevage:

  • Aged in barrels over two winters— barrels for this wine come from prestigious cellars after two uses: Sylvain, Berger & Fils & Nadalie

 

T a s t i n g   N o t e s

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 239
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2015  – Lot # 72 – 92 Pts
As with many of their bottlings, I was able to compare the 2015 Las Higueras Vineyard with the 2016, and this was darker, more concentrated and powerful. It feels quite ripe and not that varietal. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with abundant, slightly dusty tannins. 3,764 bottles were filled in December 2016.

  

Notes on Previous Vintages from this parcel

 

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 23o
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2014  – Lot # 62 – 93+ Pts
I also got to taste the 2014 Las Higueras Vineyard bottling (marked lot #62). This vineyard in the Caliboro zone of Maule has provided a very balanced and expressive Cabernet Franc, with complexity and nuances, fine tannins and good freshness. 3,642 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2015, having spent two winters in barrel.

 

James Suckling .com May 25th 2017
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2014  – Lot # 62 – 93 Pts
This is a solid cabernet franc with beautiful density and intense. Wonderfully structured with firm and velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs a year or two of bottle age.

 

Descorchados 2017 Patricio Tapia
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2014  – Lot # 62 – 91 Pts
Voluptuoso y con agarre, de los que piden esos gordos cortes de carne jugosa. También para la guarda.

Tim Atkin MW
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2013  – Lot # 52 – 93 Pts
New to Derek Mossman’s extensive range of goodies in 2013, this is a rather unusual bush vine Cabernet Franc, showing classic notes of graphite and cut grass backed up by sinewy, well integrated tannins and supporting acidity. An impressive début. Drink 2018-24

 

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 23o
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2013  – Lot # 52 – 92 Pts
Let’s see if I can find names that can be reused from vintage to vintage, using the vineyard designation, like the case of their Cabernet Franc 2013 Las Higueras Vineyard from Maule. This was sourced from dry-farmed, head-pruned old Cabernet Franc vines planted on a terrace of alluvial soils near the Perquilauquen river. It matured in barrel over two winters. The Pirque Cabernet Franc is their first wine to sell out year after year, so they had to find more Cabernet Franc, and they finally got this, from two vineyards. It shows the mixture of varietal and place characteristics, plus the freshness from the year. It has more developed, earthier aromas. 3,371 bottles were filled in November 2014 from 11 barrels. This is lot #52.

 

Vinous – Antonio Galloni, Feb 2017
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2013  – Lot # 52 – 91 Pts
Opaque ruby. Ripe cherry and dark berries on the deeply perfumed nose, complicated by hints of licorice, dark chocolate and pipe tobacco that build in the glass. Plush, expansive cherry and black currant flavors show very good depth and a refreshing touch of mint that emerges with air. Finishes smooth, sweet and impressively long, delivering solid thrust, a hint of bitter chocolate and velvety, even tannins that come in late. Drink 2018 – 2023 Josh Raynolds

 

Descorchados 2017 Patricio Tapia
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2013  – Lot # 52 – 91 Pts
Especias y algunos toques torrados en la nariz. La boca es amable, tensa, con una rica acidez que lo barre todo.

 

Pictures of this vineyard taken over the past few years:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gwcolashiguerasvineyard/