Las Higueras Vineyard
Maule Valley
Cabernet Franc
2015 – Lot 72
Dry-farmed
“Las Higueras is from a place close to Linares that GWCo now manage entirely all 8 hectares (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 complexity.” -LG
13 Barrels Cab Franc
3764 bottles filled in Nov 2016
Alcohol: 14,1
pH 3,5
Acidez: 5,36
Azúcar residual: 2,19
In a Nutshell
“Fresh, very Franc, a little broader in the shoulders– well-braced”
The Vineyard :
- Terrace of alluvial soils above the Archibueno River
- Having to returned to cultivate the soils, and having pruned much of the dead-wood last year we are pleasantly surpised at how the vineyard is perking up again. It will be a few years of hard work before we can achieve everything we want, but so far: proper balanced pruning, ploughing, manure and very little irrigation are working wonders. In fact we should be able to dry-farm 100% this vintage.
the Making:
- Naturally fermented with native yeasts
- Conical oval shaped lagar type fermenter
- Caps punched down by hand.
- Lignified stems re-introduced after crush.
- Yeasts native (we used wine from Cab Franc 2o14 vintage to a pie de cuba)
- No temp control (besides opening closing windows) open tank, no nada
- Pinch of sulfites after malolactic that did finish before winter began unlike the Carignans
Elevage:
- Aged in barrels over two winters— barrels for this wine come from prestigious cellars after two uses: Sylvain, Berger & Fils & Nadalie
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 2015 – 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.
Notes on Previous Vintages from this parcel
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.
For pictures of this vineyard site taken over the past few years see the hashtag gallery on :
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gwcolashiguerasvineyard/
I am reminded of @rush Album 2112 “wires that vibrate and give music, what can this thing be . . . #gwcocabfranc
#gwcoharvest2022
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard
#mauleadicto
#mauleprofundo
#regiondelmaule
#drinkchile
#maulevalley
#valledelmaule
Last days cutting — Cab Franc for a client today. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #mauleadicto
Que maravilha!!! 🍇🍇🍇 #vindima a pleno vapor 🍇🍇🍇.#Repost garagewineco
...
The fruit is what centres everything but the hands that farm and bring in the fruit are the heroes — and there are never enough of them #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Cab Franc - trained old bush-head no filter required #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #mauleadicto #maule #gwcofieldcraft
La otra Máquina en acción - Caballo mecanico extraordinario The Other Machine in action - tremendous mechanical horse #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
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
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 #gwcocover
Cab Franc on approach #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Poop in the vineyard already! How many times do I have to keep saying it. Some animals never learn. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #regenerate #insoilwetrust
Anticipating the difference some new ideas of regenerative farming make on the fruit and in the wine this year. Perhaps it is unfair, bush-head vs wires and rows but I am interested in seeing what both can do in a glass when they are ready. (We shall only have to wait 3 yrs to see 😉 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoregenerative #gwcoharvest2022 #drinkchile
Daughter and father dupla Maria y Juan Arias cutting Cab Franc in #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2022 #mauleadicto #drinkchile #regenerativeagriculture #agriculturaregenerativa #agriculturaregenerativachile
Abstract sap #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
If I said “redefining take-away” would I have to explain? Comida “para llevar” redefinido #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Flower Power en Las Higueras ! #gwcolashiguerasvineyard francly we have flowering power in Las Higueras Vineyard Cab Franc ! @gwco2021
Mugroneando el Cab Franc de Las Higueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Le penseur Don Fermin del Carmen #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcocover
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Amarrando ! #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
Jolo (Jorge) podando en Las Higueras. Jolo pruning en Las Higueras Cab Franc 100+ yrs old #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
The fruit is what centres everything but the hands that farm and bring in the fruit are the protagonists — and there are never enough of them #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
The one and only Monchito / el único original Monchito #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Harvesting Cab Franc for a client today. A difficult year but the fruit is delish. Sad to lose these rows 😔 Cortando fruta para un client hoy- atómica la fruta Cab Franc 120 años - difícil la l añada pero sale algo rico de esto 😉 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Don Hugo bringing in the Franc Don Hugo gameleando el Franc de #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
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
Acacia is wonderful wood for posts which we like because we can use it untreated but sometimes when it is green and rain falls and well … … it puts up a wee fight before it is satisfied to settle in being but a post. #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Pruning 2021 Poda #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Thibault (harvest shadow) loves punching down Thibault (mi sombra durante esta vendimia) ama los pisoneos #gwcoharvest2021 #gwcowinery #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Great shot of the family working harvest in @la.cav / buena foto familiar de cosecha en @la.cav #gwcoharvest2020 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
New reins on the mechanical horse - ready to go! #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
On my own today but in good company #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Cabernet Franc Las Higueras 2022 - late bloomer like your’s truly #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Some of the last of Cab Franc from Las Higueras cut for client this week #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Let’s zoom in on harvest of Cab Franc in Las Higueras hagamos el otro zoom hacia una fruta Cab Franc de Las Higueras hoy #gwcocabfranc
#gwcoharvest2022
#gwcolashiguerasvineyard
#mauleadicto
#mauleprofundo
#regiondelmaule
#drinkchile
#maulevalley
#valledelmaule
Out early in Las Higueras cutting the first Cab Franc in Maule #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2022 #mauleadicto #maulecalley #mauleprofundo #regenerativeagriculture #agriculturaregenerativa #agriculturaregenerativachile
Cab Franc Las Higueras - pisoneo manual con la nariz bien cerca. #gwco lashigueras #gwcolashiguerasvineyard #gwcoharvest2021
I am only ever away for a few days at a time but each time back they all wave to me #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
The second cut if Cab Franc from Las Higueras is proving difficult to punch down so we have a tag team on the plank over the Barco (Ship of State) #gwcoharvest2021 #gwcolashiguerasvineyard
Tie me up tiene down / Átame #gwcolashiguerasvineyard