Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries, wild mushrooms and tobacco. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. A red with finesse and length. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Better in 2017.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The finely-crafted 2011 Cousiño Macul Finis Terrae gracefully balances its style between the new and old worlds. Showing shades of Bordeaux—dried leaves, sweet earth, and savory herbs, as well as nuances of the Americas— juicy ripe fruit, soft palate textures, and black fruits—this wine is perfect with meats from the rotisserie. Drinks well now. (Tasted: September 7, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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.