Region and Vineyards
Viñedos de Alcohuaz is located in the Alto Elqui sector of the Elqui Valley, northern Chile, at a staggering 1,788 metres above sea level. This site is one of the highest viticultural zones in South America. Here, the intense solar radiation of the high Andes is tempered by cold summer nights, yielding grapes of natural acidity, deep pigmentation, and aromatic precision.
The soils are composed of sand and decomposed granite, lending the wine a marked mineral spine and fine-grained tannins. Farming is sustainable, with no chemical inputs and a minimal intervention approach throughout. The Tococo vineyard, dedicated solely to Syrah, sits in a singular micro-terroir where the extreme climate and unique geology sculpt a Syrah of rare finesse and freshness.
Winemaking
All grapes are hand-harvested and crushed by foot in traditional stone lagars—a nod to historical methods. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeasts, ensuring true expression of the terroir. The must undergoes a gentle, extended maceration, extracting nuanced aromatics and layered textures without overextraction.
After pressing, the wine is gravity-fed into large Stockinger foudres for a slow, oxidative élevage of 23 months, undisturbed and without racking. No additives or filtration are used. The result is a Syrah of intense purity, structure, and tension—a wine guided not by formula, but by intuition and the land itself.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Opaque purple-ruby with vibrant clarity at the rim.
- Aroma: Wild herbs, violets, black olive tapenade, cracked black pepper, smoked meat, and graphite.
- Palate: Fresh and structured with taut acidity, firm yet fine tannins, and a long finish echoing granite and spice. Elegant, vertical, and vividly expressive.
Did you know?
Tococo takes its name from a local ground-nesting bird, native to the Elqui Valley. Elusive and deeply tied to the Andean ecosystem, the bird mirrors the wine's character—earthbound, vibrant, and rooted in place. This cuvée is produced only in small quantities and is among the highest-altitude Syrahs commercially made in Chile.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Roasted duck breast with blackberries - The wine's acidity and dark fruit complement the richness of the meat and sauce.
- Grilled lamb with rosemary and garlic - Herbaceous and smoky elements in the wine mirror the seasoning and grilled char.
- Mushroom risotto with truffle oil - Earthiness in the dish plays beautifully with the Syrah's mineral core and savory depth.
- Aged Manchego or Comté - Hard cheeses bring out the structure and spice of the wine, softening the tannic edge.
