Louis Latour Agencies

Viu Manent 80th Anniversary Vertical Tasting

16 March 2015

On the 10th March Viu Manent’s Managing Director Jose Miguel Viu Bottini came to London to present a series of vertical tastings and to celebrate Viu Manent’s 80th year in business.

The wines were selected from Viu Manent’s cellar by leading Chilean sommelier Héctor Riquelme and chosen to demonstrate not only the evolution in bottle, but also different vintage characteristics. On tasting were 1996, 2002, 2006 and 2010 Gran Reserva Cabernet and 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2009 La Capilla Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

It was a real treat to try these wines with José Miguel and learn more about the history of his family and their winemaking and vineyards. The whole experience was fascinating, however for me, the real surprise was the 1996 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon which despite be close to twenty years old, it was alive, with a vibrancy and delicacy.

Viu Manent was founded by José Miguel’s grandfather, father and uncle in 1935 after they had recently immigrated to Chile from Cataluña in Northern Spain. Initially the family were negociants, however in the 1960s they had the opportunity to buy an historic estate in the heart of the Colchagua Valley and decided refocused their attentions there. Today Viu Manent make all their own wines from their Colchagua vineyards. They are focused on exploring the potential of the valley, which runs from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean and has a wide variety of climates and terroirs.

To allow more people the opportunity to taste and learn about these wines we will be re-running a version of this tasting at the London Wine Fair in May. We will have a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon’s along with a line up of Malbec. Viu Manent’s flagship grape variety. Look at for more information about the timings of this tasting.