Impressively well-knit and balanced for such a young Tannat. Anise, tobacco, dusky blueberry fill this firm form, one lined with river stones, textured with graphite and perfumed with peonies. Love the freshness and bright acidity here. This interesting, accessible Tannat welcomes another glass, especially with grilled pork.
Green apple, citrus and floral scents yield to prominent clean green apple backed by stony mineral and saliva-inducing acidity on the palate. Finishing bone-dry, this continues to be my go-to pairing with oysters on the half-shell.
A light and elegant Chianti made from 100% Sangiovese. Cherry, dried leaves, tobacco and spice play nicely together. Lengthy with 5 years of life ahead.
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.
Deep ruby in colour, aromas of red berries and cherries rise from the glass with notes of vanilla-oak and the forest floor. On the palate, medium-bodied and dry, with lively acidity and ripe, fine-grained tannins. Flavours of cherry melded with the spicy vanilla-oak fill the palate.
Purplish. The black-fruits-dominated nose has purity, richness and depth. Oak is already integrated. Noticeable acidity, but there is plenty of fruity extract and supple tannins to keep the wine perfectly balanced. Will improve further.
Straw yellow. Wet wool and white fruits in a subtly oaky style. Good acidity; a lot of roundness in the middle palate. Slightly tart finish. At 5 years of age, the wine is mature; its components have melted.