# Finca Negra Special Selection (2018)

- **Producer:** Miguel Torres Chile
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
- **Region:** Rapel Valley, Chile
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €15
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, herbaceous, bell pepper, black pepper, vanilla, cedar, cloves, smoke, leather, tobacco, forest floor

## About this wine

Finca Negra Special Selection is crafted by Miguel Torres Chile, a pioneering estate established in 1979 by the historic Spanish winemaking family, Familia Torres. This wine showcases the exceptional terroir of the Colchagua Valley, a region highly celebrated for producing world-class, full-bodied red wines. A key highlight of this bottling is its origin from ungrafted old vines. Because Chile's natural geographic barriers protected it from the devastating phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century, these vines grow on their own original rootstocks, yielding fruit of remarkable concentration, balance, and historical authenticity.

## Interesting facts

- Chile is one of the very few wine-growing regions globally completely free of phylloxera, allowing these old vines to remain ungrafted.
- Miguel Torres was a true pioneer in Chile, introducing modern technologies like stainless steel tanks and temperature control in 1979.
- The Finca Negra range is specifically designed to pay tribute to the dark, volcanic soils and night-sky beauty of Chile's southern valleys.

## Food pairing

The robust structure, rich tannins, and moderate acidity of this Carmenère-dominant blend make it an exceptional partner for rich, fatty meats. The herbal and spicy notes of the wine complement grilled dishes and wood-fired meats, while the protein in the meat softens the wine's tannin structure.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested from selected old-vine parcels in the Colchagua Valley. Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit undergoes careful destemming and crushing. Fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve the vibrant primary fruit characteristics of the Carmenère, Cabernet, and Syrah. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately 12 months in French oak barrels to soften the tannins, integrate the structure, and impart subtle sweet spice and toasted complexities before final blending and bottling.