Vina VIK
Viña VIK was established by Alex and Carrie Vik in 2004 with the vision of establishing world-class vineyards and producing exceptional wines. Following two years of meticulous scientific research, a 4,400-hectare expanse situated in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Millahue, within the Cachapoal Valley, was acquired. The name "Millahue," signifying "Place of Gold" in Chile's indigenous language, aptly encapsulates the essence of the chosen location. A team of dedicated winemakers, climatologists, geologists, vine growers, and agronomists was assembled to conscientiously develop an exceptional terroir, wherein 327 hectares of carefully selected grape varieties were meticulously planted.
Guided by winemaker Cristian Vallejo, a minimal intervention approach encompassing hand-harvesting and natural fermentations is adopted to ensure each wine distinctly embodies the outstanding terroir. The resultant wines are characterized as elegant, voluptuous, complex, and balanced. Notably, Viña VIK has garnered the illustrious ranking of third place among the World’s Best 10 Vineyards.
Viña VIK Millahue Valle de Cachapoal 2019
Country - Chile
Region - Valle de Cachapoal
Grape Varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon 77%, Cabernet Franc 23%
Alcohol by volume - 14.5%
Case 6/ 75cl
Producer - Vina Vik
Elegant, silky, and complex, it has captivating aromatic intensity and freshness. The ripe, expressive fruit flavours are layered with violet and spice, and the lasting finish is full of finesse.
Awards
98 Pts, James Suckling, 2024
94 Pts, Wine Spectator, 2024
95 Pts, Drinks Business, 2024
2019 was a relatively cool year: the cold spring and average summer temperatures
facilitated the rapid ripening of tannins that are crunchy and dynamic. Then autumn
was cool and so the ripe fruit was very expressive, dark-coloured, enigmatic and
profound.
Vineyard
Situated within the valley's interior, the vineyard benefits from a rich tapestry of diverse
terroirs and microclimates. Each parcel features unique exposures, tempered by
coastal breezes, which intricately craft complexity in the resulting wines. The vineyards
are planted across 12 small valleys, totalling 327 hectares. More than 6,000 soil
analyses were conducted to match the clonal selection of rootstock and varieties. The soil
types include colluvial, alluvial, sand, clay, and gravel stone, each imparting a
distinctive characteristic to the resulting blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet
Franc grapes for this wine come from the Los Lazos and Los Mieros plots where they are
planted at a density of 7,000 vines per hectare, with three bunches per vine. 50% of the
vineyards are massale selection and 50% are from carefully selected clones. The vines
are sustainably cultivated and hand-harvested at night to retain freshness.
Winemaking
The grapes were carefully sorted and vinified in the gravity-fed cellar. Fermentation took
place with wild yeasts in small, temperature controlled stainless steel tanks of 15,000
litres, followed by malolactic conversion. The wine was aged in French barriques for 26
months in a combination of used barrels, recycled barrels and ‘barroir’, barrels that
were made at the VIK winery.
Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon 77%, Cabernet Franc 23%
Winemaker: Cristian Vallejo
Region: Valle de Cachapoal
Subregion: Millahue
Country: Chile
Alcohol: 14.5%
Body Value: C (A is light, E is full-bodied)
Residual Sugar: 3.6
Contains Sulphites: Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes/Yes
Milk/Eggs: No/No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Case unit of measure: 6X75CL
Closure: Natural Cork