Thank-you one and all to old friends and new, to everyone who helped raise money for Sauzal. The Carignan sold very quickly and the funds were dispatched last week. I shall be in the area and posting pictures here over the next few days.

If you wish to do donate funds directly be in touch on sauzal@garagewineco.cl

The original post :

I believe you all have enjoyed of our Carignan. Today we heard news from the growers and the neighbouring town of Sauzal– right there next Cauquenes very very close to the epicentre. This is precisely the zone where the dry-farmed old-vine Carignan grows. These vines are part of Chilean wine history and we want to lend our support. Today Renan Cancino viticulturalist, and son of Sauzal, asked for our help in the wake of the tragedy.

At garage Wine Co. we want to extend help but have very little means owing to the events of these days that have caused losses of our own wines at the winery in Maipo (including the Carignan 2009). Thus we have decided to donate the remaining stocks of Carignan 2008 that we had kept for counter samples and posterity and send these funds to the people who need them. Note some of these bottles have chipped wax capsules from the dear earthquake that started all of this mess.

What little stock of this wine today is for sale in Supermercado Diez for 11,ooo / bottle so we have fixed the price of 6o,ooo for a case of six bottles. In the event that we can sell more than the stocks of Carignan Garage will replace bottles with Cabernet Franc toward raising more funds.

Please help us to help he people of Suazal and you will be lending your support to piece of wine history– Maule Carignan.

Please do not send me mail to say “yes” nor “put me down for one”. Show me the money already and let’s get it to these folks. They are camped out in the plaza as we speak.

Again thank-you all for your help!

Derek

Gracias a todos, a los nuevos amigos y los amigos de siempre quienes nos ayudaron levantar fondos para Sauzal. El Carignan vendio todo en pocos días y los fondos fueron despachados la semana pasada. Voy estar viajando en el area en estos días y mandaré unas fotos.

Si quiere donar fondos directamente favor mandar mail a  sauzal@garagewineco.cl

El post original  :

Creo que todos conocen o han escuchado de nuestro Carignan. (90 puntos dio Ana Maria Barahona de la CAV si han tenido el gusto)

Ayer 3 de marzo escuchamos por primera vez noticias del productor y el pueblo vecino Sauzal allí justo en la  zona cerca de Cauquenes y el epicentro del terremoto. Esa zona es precisamente de donde viene los viejos viñedos secanos de Carignan (dry farmed old bush-head vines). Estos viñedos son parte de la historia vitivinicola de Chile y queremos dar nuestro apoyo a la zona. Hoy Renan Cancino viticultor, hijo de ese pueblo, nos pidio ayuda para su pueblo devastado por completo en la tragedia.

En Garage Wine Co. queremos ayudar. Nuestros recursos despues las perdidas de la misma tragedia son limitados así que hemos conversado entre nosotros  y decidido a vender todo lo que tenemos guardado para la posteridad de ese mismo Carignan 2008 y dar los fondos a la zona. Nota que algunas botellas tienen casula de cera ‘chipped’ por el mismo siesmo.

Actualmente tiene un precio de $11.990 (Supermercado Diez) el cual lo cambiaremos a $10.000 y asi fijar en $60.000 la caja de seis botellas.

Si tu quiere ayudarnos por favor comunicar con Derek por el e-mail derek@garagewineco.cl o celular 9750 0379.

De nuevo gracias a todos por la ayuda para Sauzal.

Derek

There is no precise way of knowing what the field blend contained exactly as the mix in the field and not made in the winery. We picked what was ripe and so “al ojo” this wine is Carignan 75%, + Cabernet 15%, Malbec 7%, and Petite Verdot 3%. Try this wine without any preconceptions — try and try it for the first time blind and you will be surprised indeed.

Every year we have tried to push the envelope of quality and new terroirs. We had an expert opinion form the south of France (the cradle of Carignan) and he is happy with the results, but make up your own mind– trust your own palate.

The base or core of the wine is Carignan from two different tanks one hotter (31) for the spice and better extraction and the second for fruit aromas. An official tasting note will follow soon but look out for different red fruits than you are used to even some blueberry and red currants.

The Carignan is fruit from Old-Bush Vines (aprox 80 years) whose age-old balance deep in the Maule lends complexity, spiceness, and a natural freshness and acidity that make this wine rock.

This is an easy quoffing wine today would be cellarable for a few years. We would like to thank a pair of French hands for guidance with the Carignan and a pair of organics hands for their opinions in the blending– both of them know who they are.

Final Note : Carignan is not very popular in Chile. There is relatively little and it makes a wine of European type acidity– higher than Chileans are accustomed. This is not very much like other Carignan we have tried. Perhaps over the next few years a clearer style will develop. Perhaps it will be a component in blends lending freshness, spiceness and finesse as it does in this wine.

The base or core of this wine is Cabernet from the Maipo made in classic style with both floral elegance, big shouldered firmness and that deep brooding fruit of our previous vintages working with this fruit.

Various lots go in to this meritage some fermented hotter (30C) for tannins and spiciness and others colder for finesse and persistence of fruit.

The Carignan is fruit from Old-bush vines (aprox 80 years) whose age-old balance deep in the Maule lends complexity, spiceness, and a natural freshness and acidity that make this wine groove.

Of all this years wines this for some will be the most approachable today. For others, this will be the most cellarable long-term. You decide both camps are right.

Again we would like to thank a pair of French hands for guidance with the Carignan and a pair of organic hands for their opinions in the blending– both of them know who they are.