# Darling Carignan Red Blend (2023)

- **Producer:** Iconic Wines
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère
- **Region:** Maule Valley, Chile
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €11
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blueberry, violet, white pepper, blackcurrant, wild strawberry, blackberry, forest berries, raspberry, coffee, vanilla, mint

## About this wine

The Darling Carignan Red Blend 2023 by Iconic Wines is a product of collaboration with Cremaschi, a family-owned Chilean winery with over a century of history. The grapes are sourced from the Maule sub-region in Chile's Valle Central, grown on approximately 60-year-old, dry-farmed vines in stony, alluvial soils. The blend is composed of 40% Carignan, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Carmenère. Iconic Wines was founded with a mission to create wines they wish to drink, establishing a new benchmark for restrained wine styles.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes grown on vines averaging 60 years old.
- Vineyards are dry-farmed, relying solely on natural rainfall.
- Soils are stony and alluvial, remnants of an ancient seabed.
- Part of the wine is aged in oak for 18 months.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium body and soft but present tannins are well-suited to complement the protein in dishes like lamb, pork, and beef. The bright acidity helps to cut through richer sauces, such as creamy or butter-based preparations. Herbal notes in the wine can echo or contrast with herbs used in the food, creating harmonious pairings.

## Wine making process

The Darling Carignan Red Blend 2023 is vinified under the direction of winemaker Gonzalo Pérez Abarzúa. Fifty percent of the wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels. The grapes are sourced from the Maule sub-region of Valle Central, Chile, from vines that are approximately 60 years old and are dry-farmed. The vineyard soils are described as stony and alluvial. Cremaschi, the producing winery, is recognized as a Certified Sustainable wine of Chile.