Ritual by Veramonte Pinot Noir 2017

James Suckling 91
A pinot noir with sweet tobacco and strawberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, tight tannins and a fresh finish. Linear and fine.-JS

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 90
Obviously, the 2017 Ritual Pinot Noir feels ripe, the product of a warm and dry year. It is quite expressive and open, quite varietal and clean, with red fruit and floral aromas and a serious mouthfeel with very fine and chalky tannins. The oak is very integrated, and the wine feels harmonious and has good freshness.-RP

"The grapes are hand-picked in small batches at first light in the cool morning and carefully double-sorted. A portion of the fruit is whole-cluster fermented to obtain structure and complexity. Ritual Pinot Noir is fermented with wild yeasts to increase depth, intensity and complexity."-Winemaker Notes

"Ritual is a labor of love. It connects us to the land we farm, to healthy living soil, and to the daily rituals of artisanal winemaking. The estate is situated in the extreme eastern end of Chiles Casablanca Valley, set against the dramatic sweeping beauty of the coastal range and heavily influenced by the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean and Humboldt Current ideal growing conditions for cool climate wines. Following organic practices, the winemaking team uses compost to feed the soils to promote a balanced and self-regulated ecosystem, cover cropping and seeding for revitalizing the soils and sheep to help mow the grass and act as a natural fertilizer. The vineyards are surrounded by 6000 acres of native forest, creating a balanced, biodiverse landscape for healthy vines to thrive alongside natural wildlife corridors and native vegetation. Winemaker Sofia Araya produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and the wines are aged in combinations of neutral oak, concrete eggs, and stainless-steel tanks."-Winery Notes

Veramonte came to life in the late 1990s in Casablanca, a valley unheard of at that time within the wine industry. Led by grand visionary and pioneer of Chilean wine, Agustín Huneeus was the first to invest in the area and introduce the world to Veramonte and Casablanca. Today, Veramonte is a part of González Byass, a family company founded in 1835 that has maintained their values for five generations.