Perez Cruz COT Malbec 2020

Perez Cruz Cot Reserva 'Limited Edition' is a limited production, careful blend of Cot (Malbec) and Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak for 14 months. It is opulent, with a very perfumed nose of fresh cassis, raspberry, lemongrass and eucalyptus. The well-structured and creamy palate has an attractive, delicate freshness and red cherry flavours flowing through to a smooth, elegant finish.

Widely known as Malbec, Cot is a synonym, originally from south western France. In the Maipo Alto it produces very fresh and expressive wines. The Liguai Estate is located in the Maipo Andes subregion and is nestled against the mountain foothills at between 440 and 520 metres elevation. Trained on Double Guyot systems the vines are drip irrigated and are grown in rocky soils of both alluvial and colluvial origin. The cooling influences of the mountain air, along with the Pacific Ocean breezes ensure a long ripening season, resulting in concentrated flavours in the berries combined with a balancing acidity. Harvested by hand, the grapes are picked when they have reached the perfect maturity.

The grapes were cold-macerated at a temperature of 7°C for 48 hours and then fermented for seven days in stainless steel tanks between 20 and 24°C. Skin contact vinification lasted for 15 days, with daily pump overs extracting the desired level of tannins, colour and flavour. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was macerated for six days, then racked and settled for 48 hours before being transferred to 225 litre seasoned French oak barrels for 14 months' ageing.