Las Higueras Vineyard
Maule Valley
Cabernet Franc
2017 – Lot 92
Wonderful herbal aromas and a leafy, spicy personality, very fine tannins and good freshness. Elegance with complexity.
5264 bottles filled in Dic 2018
15 barrels Cab Franc
Total Acid 5,6 g/l
pH: 3,49
Residual Sugar: 2,09 g/l
Alcohol: 12,8 % vol
The Vineyard:
– 116 yrs old
– 8 hectares ttl
– old-bush head vines (see story)
– Alluvial soils, round stones at 40-50 cm
– 3rd alluvial terrace of above the Achibueno River
– 1,2 kg per plant / < 3,5oo kgs per hectare
Elaboration:
– Naturally fermented with native yeasts
– Conical oval shaped lagar fermenters (open) 1,5oo kgs-3,ooo
– Caps punched down by hand
– Lignified stems re-introduced after crush aprox 20%
– No temp control (besides opening closing windows)
– Pinch of sulfites after malolactic that finishes before winter begins (normally)
Elevage:
- Aged in barrels over two winters— barrels for this wine come from Almaviva after two uses: Nadalie (Allier – Noisette toast), Sylvain, Berger & Fils, , Seguin Moreau.
The Vintage – 2017
- 2017 was a warm vintage but the proximity to the river (narrow lake/loch for much of the year) helped to keep things cool at this site.
- works on the farm with canopy management began to pay off in 2017 with lower alcohol and freshness.
¿How many lots of this wine?
Just one each year.
Previous Las Higueras Vineyard bottlings:
- Las Higueras Vineyard Lot 82 – 2016
- Las Higueras Vineyard Lot 72 – 2015
- Las Higueras Vineyard Lot 62 – 2014
- Las Higueras Vineyard Lot 52 – 2013
This is the 92nd Lot of wine we have bottled since 2001.
T a s t i n g N o t e s
House note:
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2017 – Lot # 92
Rare bush-head vine Cabernet Franc, shows classic notes of graphite, cut grass (tomato leaf) backed up by fine, well integrated tannins and proper supporting acidity. Lighter colour with surprising density and intensity. Atypical new-world Cab Franc: balanced and expressive with 12,8 % alc. (It´s the difference proper farming makes!)
Ageability
- 2017 vintage will age 10 years gracefully, but the wine is approachable today
- 2013 is drinking well and with a few more years before it will peak it could be cellared for 3-4 years more!
Best drinking 2020-2028
C r i t i c s´ N o t e s
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 247
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2017 – Lot # 92 – 94 Pts
The 2017 Las Higueras Vineyard is a Cabernet Franc from Maule and, therefore, is quite different in style from the one from Pirque in Maipo, with less herbal and mint notes and more of a fruit-forward, peachy personality, perhaps aided by the warmer year. In any case, they changed the farming of this vineyard as they took over, starting with the pruning and training of the vines, making them look more like the bush vines and letting them grow above the first wire, which lent more shade to the fruit and seemed to result in a slower maturation of the grapes and less alcohol (this is only 12.9%!). They also sold some fruit from this vineyard to other wineries, so in the future, we might get to taste different interpretations of this very same vineyard. They also started working with cover crops and removed the synthetic fertilizers and other stuff, even abandoning irrigation and going back to cultivating it the old way with the aid of vignerons from Sauzal and Puico. They say they really noticed a big difference now that have been working it for three years. The plants are now 116 years old. With time in the glass the wine develops a very specific note of merken, a Chilean paprika-like blend of spices. 5,264 bottles were filled in January 2019.
Vinous March 2020 Joaquin Hidalgo
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2017 – Lot # 92 – 91 Pts
Cabernet Franc from Las Higueras, Maule, aged for two years. The intense nose contains blackberry and maraschino cherries with bell pepper, herbs and a hint of tobacco. A rough texture combines with firm tannins that get very juicy when woken up by the moderate acidity and a long finish of woody notes. A serious wine.
More About Las Higueras
We have made Las Higueras Cab Franc since 2013. It was sourced from a corner of a larger 8 hectare vineyard of 115 year old Cab Franc in Maule. In this corner hectare most all of the cables and posts of the rows had mostly fallen down (the owners had used these bits and bobs to help better string up the rest of the vineyard) and, as we saw it, this little hectare had returned to its natural state in nature ie old bush head vines! Old bush-head vine Cab Franc.
Note : Two years ago we entered into an agreement to rent the whole enchilada in a long-term deal that has us managing all 8 hectares. We have brought in our dry-farming vignerons from Sauzal and Puico to help and have begun cultivating the vineyard the old way. The vineyard has responded well to what was a formidable pruning to recover and rebuild the old vines, but already we are seeing a re-birth.
What is to come?
The 2017 Vintage (a warm year) was harvested at 12,6 & 12,8 alc. We are looking forward to future years now we manage the whole vineyard!
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Notes on Previous Vintages from this parcel
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 2014 – Lot # 82 – 93 Pts
The 2016 Las Higueras Vineyard bottling (Lot #82) is from a place close to Linares that they now manage entirely (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 some complexity. Some 4,000 bottles produced from 13 barrels. It was bottled in December 2017.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 239
Las Higueras Vineyard Maule Valley Cabernet Franc 2014 – 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.
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/
Cab Franc - trained old bush-head no filter required #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #mauleadicto #maule #gwcofieldcraft ...
On this day of Cab Franc #cabernetfranc #cabernetfrancday Pilar walks Las Higueras V. Cab Franc in the Maule with Jorge George Jolo Cancino #gwcolashiguerasvineyard @singleferments ...
On this day of Cab Franc #cabernetfrancday #cabernetfranc a pic of @singleferments Pilar walking old vine Las Higueras Cab Franc with Jorge ‘Jolo’ Cancino #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Special shout out to the Indies in UK today like @vineyards_wine in Sherbourne perhaps one of the positives to come out of this whole mess is that we shall be stronger with Independents @walkerwodehouse #drinkindie #drinkindiedrinklocal #localisthenewblack #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Poop in the vineyard already! How many times do I have to keep saying it. Some animals never learn. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #regenerate #insoilwetrust ...
Flower Power en Las Higueras ! #gwcolashiguerasvineyard francly we have flowering power in Las Higueras Vineyard Cab Franc ! @gwco2021 ...
Y para empezar cuarentena un vertical de CF de Maipo con los vecinos: cuarto piso 2017, tercer piso 2016, segundo piso 2015 y @singleferments en primer piso con 2014 / to begin the new lockdown in Santiago we got the neighbours together for a socially distanced vertical of Cab Franc Maipo: fourth floor Jorge with 2017 Lot 9o, third floor Monica with Lot 8o 2016, second floor Alejandro y Alejandra 2015 Lot 70 and Pilar on the ground with Lot 60 from 2014. Pirque Vineyard lockdown vertical — a corona vertical
#gwcocabfranc
#gwcocabernetfranc
#gwcoharvest
#gwcoharvest2020
#vinochileno
#chileanwine
#movichile
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard
#gwcopirquevineyard
#garagewineco ...
I am only ever away for a few days at a time but each time back they all wave to me #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
It’s not a snake but a sincel broken when the boss was sarmentando— looks like the boss has to go to the Vulca and fix his own mess... ... oh the glamour. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
New reins on the mechanical horse - ready to go! #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
If I said “redefining take-away” would I have to explain? Comida “para llevar” redefinido #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
La otra Máquina en acción - Caballo mecanico extraordinario The Other Machine in action - tremendous mechanical horse #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Great shot of the family working harvest in @la.cav / buena foto familiar de cosecha en @la.cav #gwcoharvest2020 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Mr Flowers aka Flores #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2020 ...
Chilean post much quicker than Correos de Chile #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Mugroneando el Cab Franc de Las Higueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
@adamatlew a future for vineyard renewable energy? #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Waking and walking Las Higueras Cab Franc — #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Tie me up tiene down / Átame #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
After years tasting our wines to sell wine, this year for the first time we are doing tastings to sell fruit — a rather special old-vine Cab Franc fruit. Instead of buying a part of Las Higueras we have taken on all of it. Part of the job is to inspect the fruit row on row, and the other part is to taste a vertical of what we have done with the fruit : 2o17 & 2o16 barrel samples and 2o15 & 2o14 in bottle. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 ...
We had reinforcements come to help pick for our clients and one group were Haitian immigrants recently arrived in Chile. Dressed for Winter in the heat, and singing bluesy ballads they helped get the fruit in before a big rain— be sure to turn the volume up. Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Jolo (Jorge) podando en Las Higueras. Jolo pruning en Las Higueras Cab Franc 100+ yrs old #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Clucks ‘n squeaks #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
#showuswhatsbehindyourleaves #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
100+ yr old Cab Franc - the old bush-head block #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 ...
Don Cristian cutting a mean gamela#gwcoharvest2019 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Up early to pick in Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Cab Franc Las Higueras Vineyard harvest #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2020 #gwcofieldworks ...
Cutting Cab Franc today in the Maule #gwcocabfranc #gwcolately #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
In and out #gwcoharvest2019 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Sacando cierpes y desbrotando / cleaning up lower shoots #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #showuswhatsbehindyourleaves #gwcoatworkinthefieldslately ...
Back to work on the farm after 10 days convalescing #gwcolashigueras #gwcopoda2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Everyone wants to be a hand model. #gwcocabfranc #gwcolately #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
“It came with packages boxes or tags. It came just the same . . . “ Theodore Seuss inspired transport #gwcoharvest2019 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Tie me up / Amarame #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Muy boni #gwcocabfranc #gwcolately #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
CF Las Higueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2020 @singleferments ...
No matter how beautiful the vineyard, no matter how terrific the fruit, some dufus will always place a bag of azufre on the end. #gwcocabfranc #gwcolately #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Cutting Cab Franc today in the Maule #gwcocabfranc #gwcolately #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Cutting Cab Franc today in the Maule #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2017 ...
Early morning work with la Bestia — making the Cameon narrower. Score we begin to picar #gwcolashigueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Amarrado con tortora! #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
And that's a wrap -- #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2017 #gwcocabfranc ...
Moliendo CF #gwcoharvest2016 #gwcocabfranc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Something to be said for arriving to see your somewhat obscure flag flying ... (does this video run ? Does it repeat?) #gwcolashiguerasvineyard just kidding ...
Francly Maule #gwcopoda2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
#showuswhatsbehindyourleaves #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Time for pruning -- la poda comienza #gwcopoda2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Visita ilustre de Pic Saint Loup @kmullerb #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard #showuswhatsbehindyourleaves #showuswhoisbehindyourleaves : Monchi ...
Desbrote en Las Higueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #showuswhoisbehindyourleaves : Monchi ...
A little cleanup of sierpes (sierpentes) by Mr Lagos #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcopoda2018 ...
Haciendo el cameon más delgado para que sea menos pega picar. Arao vuelta-vuelta viene con efectos de sonido. Preta botón y suena como tractor con motor... Ploughing closer to the vines to make the cameon as narrow as posible and thus less work to break up with hoes. (Monche has tremendous sense for fashionable footwear or no?) #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcovintage2019 #gwcofieldcraft #gwcoatworkinthefieldslately #showuswhatsbehindyourleaves ...
Hard work breaking up the earth between the vines but someone has to do it. The band from Sauzal (where vineyards are still worked the old way) invited today to remind the locals living nearby Las Higueras how things used to be done. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcofieldworks ...
Old-vine Cab Franc #gwcopoda2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Back to work on the fields lately #gwcolashigueras #gwcopoda2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Lots of work ahead #gwcolashigueras #gwcopoda2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Hatchet job #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoatworkinthefieldslately #showuswhoisbehindyourleaves ...
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard #showuswhatsbehindyourleaves #showuswhoisbehindyourleaves ...
Franco hombre de puro ñeque Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
The boys are back in town #regiondelmaule #mauleadicto #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcopoda2018 ...
The field beneath the Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcopoda2018 has many round rocks ...
I’m a lumber jack and I’m ... — Antonio #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcopoda2018 ...
Up early (but no drive sequence as I sleep here) to pick in Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
A Franc participatory discussion (and lots of notes) #gwcopoda2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Este año tomamos control del viñedo entero -- no solo la parte en cabeza que hemos trabajado en el pasado. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks @bibendumwine ...
Jose - canastero extraordinario Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Long drive to pin today! #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Cold this morning pruning in #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcopoda2018 ...
Don Alvaro canastero extraordinario Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Early procession to pick @ Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Picking begins in the cuartel of old bush head vines — at the corner of Los Colonos and El Contador Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Picking old bit from the other side of canal — Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldcraft #gwcogente ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks @bibendumwines ...
Señora Eva no puede resistir saludar — Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
And let the poda begin! #gwcolashigueras #gwcopoda2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
A little vineyard trimming in these days — Canadians do love a chainsaw. #gwcolashigueras #gwcopoda2018 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Cleaning house Cab Franc -Maule #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Singular viticulture & @singleferments #gwcopoda2017 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcofriends ...
A number Haitians have found their way to Chile looking for a better life. I am Happy to report Rodney and Ruby currently living in Sauzal came with the picking posse today and both (whilst knackered) agreed to continue tomorrow. It was great hear the picking banter with a Pepe ring of French and English. By the by : Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks ...
Las Higueras Vineyard old-vine dry-farmed Cabernet Franc #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2018 #gwcofieldworks @juan.domingo.758 @bibendumwine ...
Cristian Cancino maestro de la vid patrimonial y parte del Complot Cancino de Sauzal #gwcolashiguerasvineyard ...
Ever serious and reverent @singleferments #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #showuswhatsbehindyourleaves ...