Villalobos Carignan Reserve Limited Edition 2016

At Villalobos they really take organic, or biodynamic viticulture a step further. Their vineyard can only be described as wild and their winemaking techniques as natural as you can get. However, blessed as they are, with one of the best climates in which to practice this kind of approach and with the care and attention they take the wines they produce are invariably top notch.

The vineyard itself, which is located near the village of Ranguili in the Colchagua Valley wine region wasn't so much planted as discovered by artist and sculptor Enrique Villalobos. The vines, largely Carignan, he reckons date back to the 1940s and 50s and grow wild among the native flora. No systematic cultivation takes place and prior to the fruit being harvested by the Villalobos family it was just food for the local horses. The operation is very much a family affair with Enrique's children Martin, Alejandro and Rolando and their mother Rita Encina all being involved. The winery is at Enrique's workshop in the nearby Valle de los Artistas.

Their first wines were produced in 2009 and soon achieved acclaim in their home country. In the intervening years they've only tweaked things slightly to coax the best out of their unique terroir and continue to produce small quantities of delicious and authentic wines.