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The Land

Sourced from the coastal edge of Chile’s Maule Valley, this Cabernet Franc comes from dry-farmed vines rooted in decomposed granite with patches of clay. The vineyards sit at moderate elevation, where ocean-influenced nights preserve acidity and extend the growing season. The region’s Mediterranean climate—sunlit days, cool evenings, and minimal rainfall—produces structured, vibrant reds with restrained alcohol and firm natural balance. Maule’s old-vine, unirrigated sites continue to be a wellspring for fresh, terroir-driven wines with minimal intervention.

The Wine

A powerful blend of 96% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, this 2022 vintage was fermented with native yeasts and aged in neutral barrels to preserve varietal purity. Fully destemmed, with a short cold soak and gentle extraction during fermentation, it offers a lean, focused profile: red currant, dried herbs, graphite, and a touch of green spice. Alcohol sits at 13.5%, with fine tannins and a linear acidity that carries through the finish. No new oak, no filtration—just a clean, transparent take on the variety. This is Cabernet Franc in a fresh, Loire-inspired mold, with Chilean intensity and lift.

The People

Cuchillo de Palo is the personal project of Rodrigo Romero, a winemaker focused on low-intervention wines that reflect site over style. Working with small growers in Maule, Romero sources from heritage vineyards often overlooked by larger producers. His hands-off approach—native ferments, neutral aging, no fining or filtering—prioritizes clarity of place. The label “Casa de Herrero” nods to the Spanish proverb about the blacksmith’s house lacking a proper knife—a quiet acknowledgment of craft over show.

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