Santa Rita Pinot Noir 120 750ml

Santa Rita’s internationally popular, best-selling “120” Series of varietal wines recalls the heroes of a pivotal event in Chile’s successful 19th century struggle to overthrow Spanish rule. History relates that in the early 1800s Dona Paula Jaraquemada, then proprietor of the Santa Rita manor house and estate near the Chilean capital of Santiago, famously gave refuge in the cellars of her property to 120 Chilean patriots. When a brigade of Spanish soldiers arrived at the expansive one-story ranch house in search the band of rebels, the feisty matriarch stated she would rather see the Spanish burn the property to the ground, with her inside, then let them step foot within her family home. Thus it was that band of 120 men lived on to fight another day Wine maker notes The grapes were hand-picked in late March to ensure the optimal ripeness and varietal characteristics. They were immediately destemmed, partially crushed, and chilled for a 5-day cold maceration to encourage proper color extraction. Fermentation took place at 72ºF with a gentle extraction to achieve a soft palate while maintaining its fruity character. After a short post-fermentation maceration the wine undergoes brief contact with oak to increase complexity.
Technical notes Grape Varieties - 100% Pinot Noir Region: 60% Leyda Valley / 40% Chimbarongo (Rapel) Valley
Food pairing An ideal match for pastas, shellfish, tuna and pork.
Producer Heritage and enterprise are hallmarks of Santa Rita, one of Chile’s premier wine estates. Founded in 1880 in Chile’s Maipo Valley, this historic property was among the first to pioneer plantings of European grape varieties in Chile. In 1980, it was acquired by its present owner, Gruppo Claro, under whom Santa Rita has reaped the rewards of continuous investment, resulting in a period of impressive growth, during which the winery has consolidated its position in the vanguard of Chile’s most successful and innovative estates. Initiatives include the highly successful launch of Santa Rita’s 120 Series and Reserve wines and a range of ultra-premium wines, notably the highly acclaimed Casa Real, Triple C, the Floresta range and most recently, Pehuen. Wide-ranging enhancements include the purchase of choice new vineyards, plantings with top quality clones, improved trellising and irrigation, balanced viticulture, restricted yields, later harvesting, individual block farming, small-lot vinification, and an increased emphasis on sustainable agriculture. The Santa Rita property accounts for outstanding vineyards in Chile’s most important appellations -- the Maipo Valley; Apalta; Casablanca; Rapel; Leyda and Curico -- enabling access to diverse climates and terrain. Visitors to Santa Rita can look forward to accommodation at the estate’s luxury hotel, the Casa Real, with its breathtaking 100-acre gardens, its magnificent museum housing a breathtaking collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, or enjoy dinner at the property’s landmark restaurant, the Dona Paula.