eClos des Fous 'Cauquenina', Itata Valley, Chile

In Chile’s remote Maule Valley, where wild herbs scent the wind and granite soils shimmer under Andean light, the 2018 Clos des Fous team tends their old vines with quiet precision. “Cauquenina” meaning “the woman from Cauquenes” is born from a rugged landscape of dry-farmed vineyards and the belief that finesse can thrive where others see only hardship. This wine is a testament to patience, place, and the beauty of the unconventional.

Product Details:

• Region: Cauquenes, Maule Valley, Chile
• Grape Varieties: 30% Carignan, 25% País, 20% Syrah, 15% Carmenère, 10% Malbec
• ABV: 14%
• Farming Practices: Dry-farmed, organic principles (non-certified)
• Soil Type: Granite and decomposed schist
• Elevation: 200–300 meters above sea level
• Fermentation: Native yeasts in small concrete tanks
• Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels (20% new)
• pH: 3.55
• Total Acidity: 5.3 g/L

Sensory Description:

The nose reveals layers of red currant, wild strawberry, and crushed herbs, intertwined with notes of cedar, graphite, and damp earth. On the palate, it unfolds with tension and grace a vivid interplay of red fruit, spice, and savory minerality. Medium-bodied yet structured, the texture is finely grained, finishing with a whisper of smoke and salt. “Cauquenina” speaks with clarity and soul, embodying the raw beauty of Chile’s southern terroirs.

Winemaker’s Background:

Clos des Fous was founded by four friends: winemaker Pedro Parra, agronomist François Massoc, and partners Albert Cussen and Paco Leyton, united by a shared vision of redefining Chilean wine. Rejecting industrial norms, they sought cooler climates, old vines, and extreme terroirs long overlooked by conventional producers. Guided by Parra’s pioneering work in terroir mapping, Clos des Fous expresses purity, texture, and precision in wines that speak softly yet leave a lasting impression.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F). This wine shines alongside grilled lamb with rosemary, roasted duck breast, or earthy dishes such as lentils with smoked paprika and mushrooms. Its structure and freshness also make it an inspired match for aged Manchego or charred vegetable ragù.

Vivid, soulful, and beautifully untamed, Clos des Fous ‘Cauquenina’ captures the paradox at the heart of Chile’s new wave wild nature refined through human care. Each glass offers a glimpse of the country’s future, rooted deeply in its ancestral soil.