Traiguén
MONJE VINEYARD
D.O MALLECO
Being able to develop our Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Riesling vineyard in Malleco was the first decision that we took on having begun Clos de Fous in 2009. We did it in Malleco because we believe that this terroir has the perfect climate to produce wines with the balance and alcohol level we have expected for so many years in Chile. Also, the area presents a geologic complexity that is completely different from that of Central Chile, where granites, schistos and volcanisms join in a wonderful way. For us, the expression of minerality of a place is based on having soils in demineralization, but also, on having a climate where the excess of temperature and sun does not erase these qualities.
Our vineyard has got 9 hectares planted in 2010, out of which 7 are in Pinot noir (777. 828 clones and Davis 1), 1 hectare of Chardonnay and 1 hectare of Riesling. This vineyard is worked in a Biodynamic way from its plantation, with a high quality soil structure which is worked on horseback, to avoid the compression of the beautiful clays that enrich our vineyard.
The vineyard reached high density (7.000 pl/ha) and it has never been watered. In fact, Malleco climate allows developing wine-growing without irrigation, allowing the plant, and not men, to decide when it needs water.
Besides Clos de Fous has 1 hectare of Pinot noir in this vineyard, planted in experimental way by the Government of Chile in 1999. This vineyard has never been irrigated and from this terroir grapes grow for our Clos de Fous Latuffa Single Vineyard.
Malleco’s climate is cold, with 9 cloudy months, with rainfall that reaches 1,000 to 1,200 mm, well distributed during the whole year. The presence of strong winds diminish the fungi pressure and it allows healthy and clean wine-growing. In the summer months, the climate is warm, reaching peaks of 38 ºC per moments. The maturation of the grape is long and slow, being normally harvested by the last week of April with about 13 to 13,5 Alcoholic degrees.
The soils of our vineyard are complex, presenting a miscellany of 4 types of micro terroir: Volcanic alluvial gravels, Volcanic Tufa, Piiroclastic schistic deposits and granites in alteration. The local morphology presents rounded eroded hills like Toscano style.