Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A gently flinty nose with rich, blackcurrant aromas and gently leafy notes, as well as a floral and spicy edge. The tannins are dense, soft and plush. The clay soils of these parcels deliver some good body and carry plenty of sweet dark-fruit and chocolate flavors to close. Drinking well now, but will age, too.
-
Wine Spectator
Rich and spicy, with concentrated dark fruit and Asian spice flavors, supported by fleshy tannins and firm acidity. Viscous dried mint and green herbal accents emerge midpalate, leading to a finish that lingers with bittersweet chocolate notes.
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.
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.