Inacayal, La Cueva, Valle del Maule, Chile

Who - Luca Hodgkinson, Inacayal
Where - San Javier, Valle del Maule, Chile
What - Red Wine - Pais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan
When - 2024
How  - Organic, destemmed, natural fermentation with wild yeasts, matured in french oak, Vegan

Luca Hodgkinson hails from Priorat, Spain. With an English father and French mother, he seemed destined to travel. A long time consultant in Chile and with his own business sourcing grapes from sustainable, often organic vineyards for other producers, it only seems natural he would want to do the whole process himself.

Luca created this wine and its white partner, La Patagua, with the aim of being excellent value, made as naturally as possible, to faithfully reflect the place they come from and rediscover the tradition of winemaking in Chile.

The big, safe, MOTR Merlots and Cabs of Chile are deeply familiar but sadly often just a bit boring. This wine hails back to a pre-industrial style of winemaking and the original varieties including Pais. The grapes are grown in old, dry  farmed vineyards in an area known as ' La Cueva del Leon' - legend has it once the hiding place of a lion.

Light bodied, juicily fruity and soft. A lovely wine for Pinot Noir lovers and ideal a bit cool.