Winemaker Notes
The 2016 vintage of our Max Reserva Carmenere displays a beautiful ruby red color. On the nose, aromas of red roasted pepper, tobacco, dill, and mushrooms are complimented by a subtle note of blackberries and cherries. On the palate, the wine shows fresh and delicate flavors of cherry and plum complimented by a touch of spice, chocolate and roasted coffee beans. The wine is well balanced with mouthwatering acidity and round, soft tannins.
Blend: 85% Carmenere, 11%Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Let yourself be seduced by the delicate spice and forest berry fruits of this wine. Very good concentration and some real finesse in this medium-to-full carmenere. The finish is long and lively. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Ripe black fruit aromas offer a balsamic side note, while an intense palate is hardwired and firm, with spiced plum, cherry and peppery flavors. Heat and plenty of spice are in prime time on an untamed finish.
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 Aconcagua River runs east from the charming costal town of Valparaiso and bisects the land creating the valley after which it was named. While alluvial soils predominate the Aconcagua Valey along its river throughout, its east-west flow creates drastically different conditions on each of its ends. Its western, seaside vineyards, with clay and stony soils upon gently rolling hills, produce cool-climate varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its inner region is one of Chile’s hottest and produces some of its best red wines. Panquehue in the inner Aconcagua is the site of Chile’s first Syrah vines, planted in 1993.