Tabali Roca Madre Malbec 2018

Region and Vineyards

Roca Madre originates from the Río Hurtado vineyard, perched at 1,600 metres above sea level in the Andes Mountains of the Limarí Valley, just 45 km from the Argentinian border. This is one of the three highest vineyards in Chile, situated in a dramatic landscape marked by its proximity to snow-capped peaks and its extreme climatic conditions. The vineyard faces east, ensuring it receives morning sunlight and is shielded from intense afternoon heat. This diurnal temperature shift, with hot days and cold nights, preserves acidity and aromatic complexity.

The vineyard's soil is a rare and defining feature: it lies on a thin layer of decomposed volcanic andesite, where the mother rock lies just a meter below the surface. This fractured rock allows deep root penetration and excellent drainage, acting as a natural stress factor that contributes to the wine's intensity, finesse, and unmistakable mountain character. Snowfall in winter and extremely limited yields reinforce the site's unique viticultural profile.

Winemaking

This wine is made from 100% Malbec, harvested by hand on March 2nd, once phenolic maturity was achieved. The grapes were picked into 20-kg bins to protect the fruit, followed by two stages of manual sorting to ensure only pristine berries proceeded to fermentation.

Fermentation took place in small stainless-steel tanks at temperatures ranging from 22°C to 27°C. Extraction was managed with precision to preserve the aromatic integrity of the fruit. The wine then underwent aging in French oak barrels for 18 months, adding subtle layers of texture and complexity while respecting the varietal purity and terroir signature.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep, vivid purple with youthful intensity and vibrancy.
• Aroma: A floral explosion, violet and wild herbs meet delicate peach, with underlying notes of mountain air and crushed rock.
• Palate: Exceptionally fresh and refined, with silky tannins, elegant structure, and a layered mouthfeel. The finish is long and mineral-driven, capturing the high-altitude origin with clarity and finesse.

Did you know?

"Roca Madre" means "mother rock", referencing the shallow layer of decomposed volcanic andesite that defines this vineyard. Its proximity to the surface forces vines to struggle and reach deep into the fractured stone, producing wines of rare energy, typicity, and textural precision. This is especially remarkable considering the vineyard was only five years old when this vintage was produced.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Lamb tagine with Moroccan spices , the floral and herbal elements of the wine elevate the dish's aromatics.
• Venison loin with blackberry reduction , a natural match for the wine's fresh dark fruit and elegant structure.
• Charcoal-grilled eggplant with tahini and mint , highlights the wine's mineral and herbal nuances.
• Beef short ribs with wild herbs , complements the wine's mountain character and supple tannins.

History of Tabalí

Founded in 2002 by Guillermo Luksic, Tabalí was born from a bold vision: to reveal the fine wine potential of Chile's remote Limarí Valley, a region largely unexplored at the time. While much of Chile's viticulture was focused in the central valleys, Luksic looked northward, toward austere landscapes, cool maritime influences, and rare geological formations.

A turning point came with the discovery of the Talinay vineyard, located on ancient uplifted limestone just 12 km from the Pacific. Planted in 2004, it became the first commercial vineyard in Chile to fully exploit limestone terroir, and it remains one of the only sites in the country where calcareous soils dominate entirely.

Winemaker Felipe Müller joined Tabalí early on and remains the guiding force behind its distinct identity. Recognised for his precision and deep respect for site expression, Müller has crafted a portfolio that speaks more of place than technique, using native yeasts, gentle extractions, and restrained oak to allow the soils and climate to tell their story.

Region and Vineyards

Tabalí's vineyards are concentrated in the Limarí Valley, within Chile's Coquimbo region. This area stands apart for its extreme aridity, cool climate, and diverse geological origins. Tabalí works with three principal vineyard sites:

The Talinay vineyard, nestled within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is one of the estate's crown jewels. Just 12 km from the sea, it is blanketed with coastal fogs and cooled by persistent ocean breezes. Its defining feature is its pure fractured limestone, a soil type more often associated with Burgundy or Champagne than South America. The resulting wines-especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-are marked by saline tension, fine structure, and unmistakable mineral lift.

The Dom vineyard lies further inland and features colluvial and alluvial soils. Warmer and more sheltered, it is suited to producing fuller-bodied reds such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenère, bringing flesh and density to the range.

The Río Hurtado vineyard, located at an altitude of 1,600 metres in the Andes, is one of the highest vineyards in Chile. Its volcanic andesite soils are thin and fractured, challenging the vines and concentrating the fruit. This site produces Syrah and Malbec of remarkable freshness, floral lift, and refined tannins.

Wine Range of Tabalí

Tabalí's portfolio is built to showcase its terroirs through a range of focused expressions:

• Talinay Series: This flagship line is sourced exclusively from the limestone soils of the Talinay vineyard. These wines are mineral, tense, and age-worthy: Talinay Chardonnay - Linear and saline, with citrus peel, chalk, and vibrant acidity, Talinay Pinot Noir - Earthy, precise, with red berry fruit, crushed stone, and refined tannins, Talinay Sauvignon Blanc - Aromatic and sharp, with sea spray, lime, and flint.
• Talinay Caliza Chardonnay: From a distinct limestone plot, "Caliza" (Spanish for limestone) is more textural, with depth and savoury minerality. A wine of clarity and power, it showcases Talinay's most expressive Chardonnay parcel.
• Talinay Pai Pinot Noir: A micro-parcel selection from the estate's finest massal clone Pinot vines. "Pai" means father in Mapudungun, evoking the wine's role as the most profound expression of Pinot Noir at Tabalí. It is ethereal, age-worthy, and limited in production-complex and fine-boned with underlying power.
• Roca Madre: A high-altitude Malbec from Río Hurtado, grown on volcanic andesite soils. The wine is floral and structured, with notes of violets, herbs, and volcanic minerality, matured in French oak for 18 months.
• Payen: The estate's icon wine, made from Syrah grown in Dom. Named after the Incan word for "sacred," Payen is a brooding, elegant red, with black olive, cassis, smoked meat, and exceptional ageing capacity.
• Vetas Blancas: This line highlights varietal precision across the estate's vineyards, offering excellent value without sacrificing quality. Grapes include: Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
• Pedregoso Gran Reserva: A more accessible, fruit-driven range for early enjoyment. These wines are clean, fresh, and varietally faithful-ideal as an introduction to Tabalí's philosophy.

Did you know?

The Talinay vineyard lies on an ancient seabed that was pushed to the surface by tectonic activity. It is Chile's only vineyard planted entirely on limestone, and its wines often show a distinctive salty finish-an echo of their marine past.