Pías, Pedro Parra 'Soulpit'

The País grape has a dark past in Chilean wine’s history. Miseducated for years, history made us think that it produces uncolored, diluted, simple and rustic wines. Despite being the variety that opened the doors of viticulture for Chile, more than 500 years ago, it has never been properly appreciated. País grapes are difficult. They need a particular terroir, almost like a perfect mathematical formula, but they also need a special interpretation, far from modern extractive oenology, in addition to a bit of magic and energy. When all of the above is given, País can be the Chilean wine with the greatest character and typicity.

Soulpit is a new wine from Pedro Parra's expanding operation, with the 2021 being only the 2nd vintage made from old-vine País planted in 1895 on black basalt soils in  Ñepas close to the winery. Volcanic and intense, it's a subtle, perfumed, whole bunch-fermented red with floral top notes, raspberry and pomegranate fruit & stemmy freshness.

The wine was fermented with 60% stems for 18 days, macerated for 30 days in cement, followed by 11 months in oak vats. The fairly ripe, bold nose features sour cherry jam, hints of earth and refined fruit flavors, and cherry red in the glass. In the mouth, it’s compact with fine, active tannins [not as tight as those in granite], hints of ash, a little chalk and precise freshness before the fruity finish.

The País grape has a dark past in Chilean wine’s history. Miseducated for years, history made us think that it produces uncolored, diluted, simple and rustic wines. Despite being the variety that opened the doors of viticulture for Chile, more than 500 years ago, it has never been properly appreciated. País grapes are difficult. They need a particular terroir, almost like a perfect mathematical formula, but they also need a special interpretation, far from modern extractive oenology, in addition to a bit of magic and energy. When all of the above is given, País can be the Chilean wine with the greatest character and typicity.

Soulpit is a new wine from Pedro Parra's expanding operation, with the 2021 being only the 2nd vintage made from old-vine País planted in 1895 on black basalt soils in  Ñepas close to the winery. Volcanic and intense, it's a subtle, perfumed, whole bunch-fermented red with floral top notes, raspberry and pomegranate fruit & stemmy freshness.

The wine was fermented with 60% stems for 18 days, macerated for 30 days in cement, followed by 11 months in oak vats. The fairly ripe, bold nose features sour cherry jam, hints of earth and refined fruit flavors, and cherry red in the glass. In the mouth, it’s compact with fine, active tannins [not as tight as those in granite], hints of ash, a little chalk and precise freshness before the fruity finish.

94pts from Wine Advocate / 93pts from James Suckling