Winemaker Notes
Domus Aurea is the the result of skillful winemakers and the best possible natural conditions. Neither its texture nor its flavor, round and pleasant tannins, will ever be forgotten. So much, so that the happy drinkers of this piece of art do feel they know the secrets of the Maipo Valley.
Among the promises of Domus Aurea are its eucalyptus notes, the balance and freshness of its cherries and its delicate orange zest wrapped in subtle chocolate. Nevertheless, the fact that the whole process is oriented by the same respect for tradition and the terroir, makes every vintage a unique wine.
This wine is unfiltered to preserve the original flavor and integrity, which will be much appreciated if you guard it for a long time.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2020 was an even drier (and warmer) vintage, but surprisingly enough, the 2020 Domus Aurea shows less alcohol and more moderate ripeness than the 2019 vintage of this same wine. This is the archetype of a powerful, balsamic and minty Cabernet-based blend from Maipo, a wine for the long haul. It has more tannin than the 2019 I tasted next to it.
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Wine Enthusiast
Round and smooth, this is a delicious Cabernet from Penalolen in the Maipo Valley and starts with a nose of herbs followed by a dash of paprika. The earthy palate shows the region’s classic eucalyptus and mint, which in this case are subtle and lend freshness to vanilla bean, coriander and red-plum flavors.
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Wine Spectator
A distinctive, deeply savory bottling, with brambly berry and cassis flavors playing a secondary role to singed bay leaf, grilled rosemary and olive notes. Reveals chalky mineral accents, which lend a slight drying quality but don't impede the finish. Best after 2025. 600 cases made.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
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.