Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Subtle aromas of black currants, flowers and minerals. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Not the most structured cab, but delicious already. Better in 2016.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Estate, from their vineyards in Huelquén in the Maipo Andes zone, is complemented by 5% Carménère and 2% Syrah; these grapes and percentages change with the vintage, but the 'varietal' wines are never pure. It fermented in stainless steel with remontage, and aged in used French and American oak barrels for one year. 2013 was much cooler than 2012, producing higher yields and the wine is fresher, and dare I say it, more fluid and mineral, very balanced. The palate is very tasty, with some herbal notes and very good acidity, very savory and supple. Very good value and readily available, as 825,000 bottles were produced.
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.