2021 A Los Vinateros Bravos, ‘Volcanico Pais’, Itata, Chile

What a discovery that was! Leonardo Erazo who is behind this label, works with historic vineyards in Itata in Southern Chile, a nearly forgotten viticultural valley some 400km south of Santiago. Los Vinateros Bravos refers to the traditional vine farming families who represent a history century old that are on the verge of disappearing. These vineyards are dry-grown and have never seen commercial farming. For the Bravos wines, Leo buys grapes from farmers with minimal direction in the vineyard, they come as they come but most are organic and very healthy fruits. All wines are made in Leo’s winery with a focus on old school, concrete fermentation vessels. Leo also collects old amphora (dating back to 1788) and traditional large format oak vessels.Why do we like it?