Winemaker Notes
CA1 is a Carmenere of great character and power. The round tannins and intense aromas of ripe red fruit reveal the best expression of Carmenere grown at the foot of the Andes Mountains.
CA1 is made with grapes from Los Lingues vineyard at the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Colchagua Valley. Where the Andes meet with the Coastal Range, they create a corridor of wind that maintains a constant temperature ideal for slow ripening.
Enjoy CA1 with pulled pork, lentil dahl, or roasted eggplant.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Spiced black fruit with dark olives, tobacco and grilled red bell pepper. Just a hint of vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with fine, dusty tannins and a long, juicy finish. Vegan. Sustainable. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2021 Carménère Andes CA1 originates from Los Lingues in the Colchagua Andes area. Aged for 16 months in foudres and barrels, this garnet-red wine offers aromas of ash and black fruit, complemented by minty and balsamic layers. On the palate, it is dry, rich and plush, with soft, polished tannins leading to a bold and well-structured mouthfeel.
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Wine Enthusiast
Ripe cherries, dried bay leaves and a hint of bell pepper make up the aromatic bouquet of this Carmenère. It offers a rich concentration of red berries over a soft mouthfeel and moderate acidity. The finish is marked by subtle leafy notes and paprika. This is an enjoyable pour that will match a wide array of Spanish tapas.
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.