Winemaker Notes
The muscular “Monk” Cinsault pays homage to jazz musician Thelonius Monk by displaying a direct, strong, and complex wine in full force.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The single-vineyard Cinsault 2021 Monk comes from a rented vineyard in Guarilihue-Tiajacura on silt and iron soils and was named after jazz musician Thelonius Monk, who Pedro Parra describes as "complex and innovative." It fermented with 100% full clusters and matured in and oak vat for 11 months. The wine comes from red, tight soils, with lots of iron and small particles of quartz. It always has a deeper voice, and it's subtle and keeping the style of the Imaginador, quite Comando G (Las Umbrías, mentioned Parra), fine-boned with grainy tannins and good grip. It's floral and elegant, with some ethereal fragility.
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James Suckling
Beautiful reduction here with a hint of white sesame on top of the brambly fruit, full of raspberries and wild strawberries. Some bergamot and grapefruit citrus, too. Tangy and firm on the medium-bodied palate. Juicy and pristine, full of verve. The nervy, peppery, fruity finish is quite inviting. Chalky tannins in the forefront of the palate. An excellent, drinkable wine I’d return to for a second glass, and a third...
A charmer in the Southern Rhône Valley, Cinsault thrives in any hot and windy climate, and finds success in many other countries. It is a parent grape alongside Pinot Noir, of South Africa’s acclaimed red grape, Pinotage. Somm Secret—Given its relatively long history in California, Cinsualt is often “hidden” in the Zinfandel blends of Sonoma and Contra Costa Counties. Historically planted alongside Zinfandel (with Petite Sirah and Mourvedre) in the same vineyard, Cinsault is now an essential part of many “field blends.”
Dramatic geographic and climatic changes from west to east make Chile an exciting frontier for wines of all styles. Chile’s entire western border is Pacific coastline, its center is composed of warm valleys and on its eastern border, are the soaring Andes Mountains.
Chile’s central valleys, sheltered by the costal ranges, and in some parts climbing the eastern slopes of the Andes, remain relatively warm and dry. The conditions are ideal for producing concentrated, full-bodied, aromatic reds rich in black and red fruits. The eponymous Aconcagua Valley—hot and dry—is home to intense red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
The Maipo, Rapel, Curicó and Maule Valleys specialize in Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends as well as Carmenère, Chile’s unofficial signature grape.
Chilly breezes from the Antarctic Humboldt Current allow the coastal regions of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley to focus on the cool climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s Coquimbo region in the far north, containing the Elqui and Limari Valleys, historically focused solely on Pisco production. But here the minimal rainfall, intense sunlight and chilly ocean breezes allow success with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The up-and-coming southern regions of Bio Bio and Itata in the south make excellent Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Spanish settlers, Juan Jufre and Diego Garcia de Cáceres, most likely brought Vitis vinifera (Europe’s wine producing vine species) to the Central Valley of Chile sometime in the 1550s. One fun fact about Chile is that its natural geographical borders have allowed it to avoid phylloxera and as a result, vines are often planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted.