Winemaker Notes
The 2017 vintage is a deep ruby-red in color. The delicate nose has intense aromas of black cherries and dark chocolate with cedar and tobacco notes, and the tannins are firm and tense. This is is a concentrated, elegant, complex, and well-balanced wine with good structure and enough depth to age well over the years to come.
Blend: 70% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Carménère
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A full-bodied red with aromas of currants, blackberries, chocolate, thyme and lemon zest. Firm, fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and a rich, plush feel. 70% cabernet franc, 23% cabernet sauvignon and 7% carmenere. Drink now or hold.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.