WEON Carignan 2022

Region: Maule Valley, Chile

Grape Variety: Carignan

pomegranate seed, dried raspberry, dried violet petal, and earth

Though modern Chilean wine is often associated with Bordeaux-style blends, the true asset of the country, in terms of wine, can be found in the remote Maule Valley and ungrafted vines of Carignan and Païs. These are the descendants of the vines brought by Spanish missionaries in the 1540’s that have been farmed in this region ever since. Today many winemakers are heading south and farming these old vines, which are often more than 200 years old! The wines they produce are unlike anything else in the world and are definitely worth a taste.

Our example is produced by David Marcel, a French transplant to the Maule valley. Having grown up and attended winemaking school in the Languedoc he is very familiar with Carignan and draws multiple comparisons between the wines of the Maule Valley and his homeland. For his “Weon” line of wines, David works with a 60 year old vineyard grown at high elevation and is completely dry farmed. While this wine is predominantly Carignan, it actually does contain some Païs as well for additional complexity; both varieties are co-planted and co-fermented. After a brief maturation in concrete vats, this wine is bottled ready to drink.

When you open this wine, you will want to serve it slightly chilled, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Once this wine has some time to reach optimal temperature, it is the perfect “summer red,” with notes of pomegranate seed, dried raspberry, dried violet petal, and earth. Drink now through 2025 with a turkey club sandwich, chicken empanadas, or grilled shrimp!