Winemaker Notes
It is made from Cabernet Franc, a noble variety highly recognized throughout the world, added to the elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most emblematic strains of Chile, from the renowned Alto Maipo. It also has a local touch by adding a percentage of Carménère to the mix, which gives freshness and spice to a powerful and structured wine.
Blend: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 15% Carmenere
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A harmonious array of both red and black fruit with dark olives, cocoa and a hint of black beans and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with lots of fine-grained, supportive tannins. A blend of 85% of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc from Alto Jahuel and 15% carmenere from Apalta. 50% new oak and 50% second-use oak. Excellent effort from the hot and dry 2020. Still vibrant and juicy. Drink or hold.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.