Polkura Syrah
VITICULTURE
Varietal Composition: 96% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 1% Grenache noir, 1% Tempranillo Appellation of
Appellation of Origin: Marchigue Area, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Trellising system: Vertical shoot positioning
Pruning: Cordon
Irrigation: Drip
Soil type: Decomposed granite, lime and clay
VINIFICATION
Harvest date: End of March through beginning of May Harvest method: Hand harvested
Transport: 13 kg boxes
Fruit selection: Bunches on elevator, berries after destemming
Crushing: Rollers
Cold soaking (8-11°C): 4 days
Yeast: BO213 y F33
Yeast nutrients: Go Ferm, Superfood y DAP
Fermentation temperature: Days 1-3: 27-29oC
Day 3-end of fermentation: 26-28oC
Alcoholic fermentation: 7-10 days
Pump-overs: Days 1-3: 2 or 3 times per day with lots of movement Day 3-end of fermentation: 2 per day
No pump-overs during post-fermentation maceration
Total skin contact: On average 40 days
Malolactic fermentation: Spontaneous, 100% in barrels until January 2015.
AGING
Blend in oak barrels: Yes
Coopers: Sylvain, Demptos, Nadalié, Saury, Radoux
Grain and toasting: Fine grain, medium and M+ toasting
Time in barrels: 100% French oak
Type of barrels: 15 months
Age of barrels: 20% new barrels, 20% second use, 60% third and fourth use Rackings: 1
BOTTLING
Stabilisation : No
Fining: No
Filtration: No
Bottling date: January 2017
Stoppers: Amorim Natural Extra
Bottling machine: 45/25 Amorim Natural Súper
Total production: 3300 cases
ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.1 g/L
Total acidity: 4.88 g/L
pH: 3.48
POLKURA is a wine growing project, started in 2002 by the Muñoz and Bruchfeld families, with the purpose of making an exceptional wine, based on the exciting Syrah grape variety. Marchigüe, at the western end of the Colchagua Valley in Chile was chosen as the ideal
site, for it has shown enormous potential to produce this varietal. POLKURA is the name of a little hill, located inside the vineyard. On its slopes grow the grapes that make this wine. POLKURA means “Yellow stone” in the native Chilean Mapuche language, referring to large amounts of yellow granite spread along the clay soils of the area.
Decomposed granite imparts the wine with minerality and elegance, whereas clay gives it body and structure. The moderate coastal climate adds spice and fruitiness, resulting in a fine, yet complex and full-bodied wine with very good balance.
POLKURA SYRAH WAS THE FIRST WINE WE MADE IN 2004 AND IT IS STILL OUR MAIN ONE. THE POLKURA HILL LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL AMPHITHEATRE WITH 360o SUN EXPOSURE. EACH BLOCK HAS DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY. THIS SYRAH IS A BLEND OF ALL PARCELS OF THE VINEYARD INCLUDING THOSE WE PARTIALLY KEEP SEPARATE TO MAKE ALL THE OTHER WINES TODAY.
WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
2014 was a little bit warmer than what we had been seeing in the previous years. This produced wines with fruitier aromatic profiles, and rounded tannins from the beginning. I describe 2014 as a “normal” vintage. That word, in reality, doesn’t describe anything normal, but in this wine, it is actually an excellent descriptor.
TASTING NOTES
Deep red-violet in color. On the nose, there is lots of fruit. Red principally, with blackberry and plum. In the mouth, it is silky despite its youth. It is well-balanced between its acidity and the sweetness of the tannins. It is an intense wine with good persistency and complexity. Sven Bruchfeld, September 2017.