Vintners

Palin (Chile)

There is little space between earth and heaven—or so it seems—in the Limarí Valley in northern Chile. With its endless blue skies and liquid sunlight, the region's organic vineyards appear like an oasis amid this semi-arid desert valley. But it's certainly no illusion, as Limarí is just one region of Chile that is perfectly suited to organic viticulture. Our partners at Palin are at the forefront of this exciting organic movement.

Palin's philosophy is “compromise and care for the environment,” a unique (and historically unusual) stance for Chilean viticulture. Turning away from long-standing traditions of mass and mechanical cultivation in the country, Palin seeks to encourage what Chile is already preternaturally capable of—the production of organic wines. To “compromise” suggests viticulture that is not forced or unnaturally manipulated, allowing the vine to reach its full potential in each region. To “care” is to strike a balance between the demands of agriculture and the stewardship of the soil—in using natural composts and beneficial crops, as just a few examples. Chile's temperate weather, suitable soils and generally healthy vineyards equal pure wines at their pinnacle of terroir expression.

Along with our partners at Palin, we select wines that tell a vivid story of their place they were raised, as well as express what we feel is the true character of an individual varietal. Our Syrah is sourced from the Limarí Valley near Ovalle, the region's capital. Here marine fog called “camanchaca” flows over the coastal hillside vineyards in the mornings; in the afternoons the region's fabled aquamarine skies pour down endless sunlight. Winemakers speak of the “slow cook” of the valley, as grapes can hang long and leisurely, pulling more complexity from the soils and in general maintaining a better acidic balance than other warmer regions.

We have also selected a 100% organic Carménère, an ancient Bordeaux varietal brought to Chile before the phylloxera blight and recently rediscovered, from the Rapel Valley—one of Chile's emerging areas for organic cultivation, and the home of Chile's largest organic estate, Emiliana Organico. And from the central Maipo Valley, surrounding the capital of Santiago and the historic heart of Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation in Chile, we've selected a 100% organic Cabernet Sauvignon. In each region, our grower partners adhere to the strict principles of organic cultivation, harvest all wines by hand, and vinify our selections as gently and as naturally as possible.

QUICK FACTS:

Regions where Palin (Chile) produces

• Chile: World-class vineyards and varietals perfectly suited to their terroirs.…
• Limarí Valley: For more than 4,000 years the Limarí Valley has…
• Maipo Valley: To the casual observer, Chilean wine is synonymous with…
• Rapel Valley: The larger Rapel Valley, south of Santiago, acts as…

Wines by Palin (Chile)

• 2007 Palin Carménère Rapel Valley (100% Organic): Carménère is Chile's signature grape and a unique sensory…
• 2007 Palin Cabernet Sauvignon Central Valley (100% Organic): Elegant and deeply concentrated, our selection of Cabernet Sauvignon…
• 2006 Palin Syrah Limarí Valley (100% Organic): Suggestions of warm earth and blackberries show on its…