J Bouchon Pais Viejo 2022

Tart Red Cherries, Fresh Strawberry, Dried herbs, Black Pepper

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"The Pais grape can trace its lineage back to the Canary Islands, and is largely credited as the first grape cultivated by the Spanish conquistadors in what is now Chile. Originally used as a sacramental wine, Pais quickly grew in popularity, becoming the country’s most cultivated wine grape until Bordeaux-style wines emerged on the market in the 1970s. Recently, Pais has undergone a renaissance at the hands of natural winemakers, who value the age of the vines and the grape’s low alcohol levels and smoky characteristics. These wines, more than any others, harken back to the original techniques of this fascinating region.

When Emile Bouchon left his native country of France for Chile at the height of the phylloxera epidemic, he brought cuttings of several Bordeaux varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. However, he and his family became equally fascinated with the local winemaking traditions, and quickly decided that they would practice a combination of the two. Today, Julio Bouchon, his great-grandson, produces a number of Bordeaux-style wines for extended aging, as well as a line of natural wines centered around the Pais grape.

These grapes are harvested by hand from hundred-year-old Pais vines. Every step in the process is traditional, with minimal intervention. The grapes are hand-destemmed and fermented in concrete tanks using native yeasts. This process ensures that the wine expresses its varietal characteristics without any outside influence. After fermentation, the wine is bottled unfiltered just before release." - JP Donnelly-Davis