Description

PRODUCER:
Viña VIK was established by Alex and Carrie Vik in 2004, with a vision to create world-class vineyards that produce exceptional wines. After two years of scientific research, they acquired 4,400 hectares in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Millahue, in the Cachapoal Valley. The name Millahue, translating to “Place of Gold” in Chile’s indigenous language, aptly captures the essence of their chosen location. With a dedicated team of winemakers, climatologists, geologists, vine growers, and agronomists, they meticulously developed an exceptional terroir and planted 327 hectares of carefully selected varieties. Winemaker Cristian Vallejo follows a minimal intervention approach, with hand-harvesting and natural fermentations to ensure each wine showcases this outstanding terroir and his wines are elegant, voluptuous, complex and balanced. Viña VIK took the top spot as the Continent Winner: The Best Vineyard in South America 2025, in the Top 100 of the World’s Best Vineyards Awards.

VINEYARD:
Situated within the valley’s interior, the vineyard benefits from a rich tapestry of diverse terroirs and microclimates. Each parcel features unique exposures, tempered by coastal breezes, which intricately craft complexity in the resulting wines. The vineyards are planted across 12 small valleys, totalling 327 hectares. More than 6,000 soil analyses were conducted to match the clonal selection of rootstock and varieties. The soil types include colluvial, alluvial, sand, clay, and gravel stone, each imparting a distinctive characteristic to the resulting blend. Milla Calla incorporates all the varieties on the estate. The vines are planted in the Colchaguilla, La Feria, and Boqueron plots at high density, of 10,000 vines per hectare, with six bunches per vine. 50% of the vineyards are massale selection, and 50% are from carefully selected clones. The vines are sustainably cultivated and hand-harvested at optimum maturity.

WINEMAKING:
The grapes were carefully sorted and vinified in the gravity-fed cellar. Fermentation took place with wild yeasts in small, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks of 18,000 litres, followed by malolactic conversion. The wine was aged in French barriques for 20 months in a combination of new barrels, recycled barrels and ‘barriques’, barrels that were made at the VIK winery.

VINTAGE:
A cool spring led into a summer where the temperatures were average, which, combined with windy conditions, enabled the tannins to ripen without losing the fruitiness. These conditions lent acidity and vibrancy to the 2021 wines.

TASTING NOTE:
A signature blend of all the varieties on the VIK estate, the red fruit notes from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot intermingle perfectly with the black fruit and spice of the Carmenère, all underpinned by a mineral hint of Cabernet Franc and the violet nuances of Syrah.

GRAPES:
Cabernet Franc 4%, Cabernet Sauvignon 68%, Carmenère 16%, Merlot 5%, Syrah 7%.

AWARDS:
• Highly Commended, Wine Merchant, 2025
• Top 100, Wine Merchant, 2025
• 93 Points, Wine Spectator, 2024