De Martino Alto de Piedras Carmenere 2013
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Robert
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James
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the first varietal Careeners, sourced from an alluvial terrace of the Maipo River, the 2013 Single Vineyard Alto de Piedras manages to show the grape and avoid the overripe and alcoholic, low acidity often associated with the grape -- while not showing herbal characteristics. 2013 was a cool vintage in Maipo, and Marcelo Retamal, De Martino's winemaker, considers that the green harvest they performed was key to obtain a typical Carménère harvested in the same dates of yesteryear. It has 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.52 (a pH close to four is not unusual for the variety) without any oenological corrections or tricks. The vines were planted ungrafted in 1992 and in the last few years they have conducted soil studies to separate micro-plots. The vineyard is organically farmed and was harvested quite early by plot to contain alcohol, while the green aromas are avoided with a level of hydric stress that allows the grapes to ripen earlier. As the whole single-vineyard range, it matured in oak foudres for two years before bottling. The nose is balsamic with some notes of camphor and a stony minerality reminiscent of a Graves (in fact the whole nose is quite Graves-like), aromas of black raspberry and blackberry, graphite, something earthy and a little minty. The palate is medium-bodied with great tension, ultra-fine tannins and good freshness. This 2013 plays with the herbal side of the grape in a way that adds freshness. A different interpretation to most of what you find in the market. You'll love it or leave it. I loved it. A different dimension of Carmenere.
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James Suckling
A light and easy carmenere with iron, light berry and lemon rind aromas. Medium body, light tannins and a juicy finish. Friendly interpretation of carmenere. Drink now.
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Wine Spectator
Robustly spiced, with concentrated notes of dried green herbs and green olives to the dark plum, roasted cherry and mocha flavors. Firm tannins show on the finish, backed by smoky and meaty details. Drink now through 2020.
Other Vintages
2018-
Wine &
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James
Suckling - Vinous
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker - Decanter
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
Founded in Isla de Maipo (Chile), since 1934 the De Martino family has specialised in producing wines that reflect their origin and the character of each vineyard, based on solid principles of sustainable farming and traditional winemaking techniques. Today, the winery brings together the experience of the third generation of the family - represented by Pietro, Marco and Remo De Martino- with the dynamism and vision of Marco Antonio and Sebastián De Martino, the fourth generation. De Martino labelled and exported Chile’s first Carmenere in 1996 and was a pioneer winery working century-old vineyards in the Itata Valley, incorporating old winemaking techniques that set a precedent in South America.
On De Martino's tours, you can taste wines from Chile’s very diverse regions, try one of the world's best Carmenere wines and see the exciting process of wine creation. Just one hour from Santiago, a bilingual guide will explain the whole process of making our wines in a tour that starts with the work in the vineyards and goes through to bottling and ageing. You will also be able to find out about our innovative winemaking techniques in amphorae and foudres, methods that are unrivalled in Chile’s wine industry. This is the ideal opportunity to discover the best and most varied range produced in Chile.
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-19th century. However, the variety went a bit undercover until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Somm Secret— Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
The Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous wine region. Set in the country’s Central Valley, it is warm and quite dry, often necessitating the use of irrigation. Alluvial soils predominate but are supplemented with loam and clay.
The climate in Maipo is best-suited for ripe, full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon (the region’s most widely planted grape), Merlot, Syrah and Carmenère, a Bordeaux variety that has found a successful home in Chile.
White wines are also produced with great prosperity, especially near the cooler coast, include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.