Huasa, Clos Ouvert, Maule, Chile.

This wine is DIVINE. Louis-Antoine moved from Burgundy to Maule a few years ago with dreams of being a “chook farmer” in Australia. You see... he lost his way to Australia and saw some vines in Maule and inspiration took hold. What luck for the rest of us! Louis-Antoine has a passion for the indigenous grapes of the area and this Pais is my favourite example of that. Completely amazing. At the risk of throwing a cliché out there: this could well be “the wine for the summer”.

The story of Clos Ouvert started in 2006 when two young French men, Louis-Antoine Luyt and Matthieu Monden de Genevraye, bought some vineyards in Chile. Their very first project was to create real terroir wines in a country that is more famous for its standard globalized wines.

The vineyards they bought are in a valley located a few meters from the Rio Loncomilla and Rio Maule.  The total area of the estate is 150 ha of which only about one third is currently in production.  All four of the Clos Ouvert cuvees demonstrate a stunning freshness and balance.  See what Chile is really capable of...

This wine was one of Tim Atkin MW's top natural wine picks in The Times Newspaper.  Click here to see what other wines were Tim's favourites at his artisan & vine tasting.

Following it's recommendation in The Times on 13 May 2010, Huasa, which like many natural wines is produced in small quantities, is now sold out.  It's sister wine, Huaso 2008, which is also 100% Pais, is available.  Click here for further details of Huaso.

100% Pais grape.