Delivers classic Carmenère flavours of crème de cassis, plum, bell pepper/mint, spice and violets. Full-bodied, there is a plush texture as well as elevated tannins. Excellent length. Drink over the next five years.
The last time I tasted a Cono Sur Bío-Bío Rosé it was under the Bicicleta label, and was vintage dated 2014. Light and fizzy, with raspberry, youthful cherry and easy breezy freshness, kissed with sweetness and finishing with a tart, snappy finish. Easy and youthful, for drinking now, well chilled.
Made from old-vine Mission grapes brought by the Spanish, between 75 and 150 years old, including Muscat from Maule plus Torontel, Cristalina and others from Maule and Itata. Unquestionably one of the most unique Chilean whites, with leesy notes up front plus some chalky notes. Distinctive tannins, creamy textured, juicy and layered.
Louis-Antoine Luyt went to Chile at 22 years old, fell in love with the country and especially her native grape Pais, which was entirely unappreciated back in 1988. After a return to France, wine studies in Beaune and harvests in Beaujolais (where he became great mates with natural winemaking legend Marcel Lapierre), Luyt returned to Chile to make wine. He sources high altitude, dry farmed vineyards in the south of Chile, where he found ancestral vines up to 200 years old. Pipeño, a term used to denote peasant wines, are his 'entry level' tier, smashable and approachable. He vinifies using the traditional Chilean methods dating back to the 16th century: pressing the grapes on a zaranda sieve made of sticks, with free run juice falling into lagares. The wine is kept in pipas, casks made of redwood. Blanco, a blend of Muscat of Alexandria, Torontés, Corinta and Cristalina from Maule and Itata, spends three weeks on the skins and is lightly filtered before bottling. You can feel the grippy/gritty skin contact housing elderflower, Oolong tea, jasmine, crystalline lemon and fine white pepper and star anise spicing on a light palate. Very herbal, earthy and fine, this is a distinct, remarkable wine and amazing value. Fortunately this comes in a 1 litre bottle.
Partially fermented on wild yeasts and aged 8 months in French and American oak, this wine opens with fine citrus, floral and dry savoury notes on the nose. Classic varietal lemon citrus and subtle buttery character with deftly balanced acidity in the mouth shows Burgundian-like restraint, finishing clean and very dry.
From Elqui (the Valley of the Stars) comes this super crisp Chardonnay which is grown on chalky soils. Stone fruit, tree fruit and judicious oak create an elegant and food-friendly wine. Lobster or sea bass in a beurre blanc sauce would be divine.
A blend of Chardonnay and Viognier. Palest lime in colour, it has a toasty nose of apple with a floral grace note; full-bodied and dry, it’s rich and full on the palate with a spicy lemony finish. Highly recommended.