Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Typical dried dark fruits with hints of fresh herbs and flower petals. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fruity finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Could very well be one of the best Carmenere values in the marketplace, the 2012 Maquis simply delivers as few others in this price range do. Medium ruby, light purple in the color; ripe red and blue fruit in the nose, quite appealing, fine depth; medium bodied, firm and well built on the palate, almost round in its textures; dry, medium acidity, good balance; ripe fruit, nice berries, red and blue; medium finish. (Tasted: November 23, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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.
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.