Our accolades
Explore reviews and accolades for our portfolio of award-winning wines.
James Suckling, 100 points #1 - Top 100 Wines of Chile 2020
This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. Full-bodied, yet ever so refined and polished with impeccable texture and beauty. The length is marvelous. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red. Drink after 2023.
James Suckling, 99 points #23, Top 100 Wines of the World 2019
Fantastic aromas of blackcurrants and other dark fruit with crushed stone, iron and oysters, following through to a full body that shows incredible energy and depth, offering ripe yet fresh fruit, together with bright herbs and earth. Precision and balance of the intensity of the vintage. Layered. Perhaps the greatest Don Melchor ever made. Try after 2022.
James Suckling, 98 points
Very perfumed and aromatic with blackcurrant, sweet-tobacco and Spanish-cedar character. Full-bodied with ultra fine tannins that build on the palate and take the fruit and other flavors to an endless finish. More refined than the perfect 2018 and almost as compelling. Drink in 2023 or after.
James Suckling, 98 points ranked #83
The aromas of lead pencil, blackcurrant and tar are impressive with just a hint of fresh herb. Sweet tobacco. Iodine. Full body, very tight and polished with ultra-fine tannins and a refined, textured finish. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot. Drink in 2022.
James Suckling, 98 points
Wonderful aromas of stones, mint and blackcurrants. Sweet tobacco. Tile and rust. So aromatic. This is the best Don Melchor I have ever tasted. Full body, very soft yet firm and silky. It has tension, intensity and balance. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 98 points
Wonderful aromas of black olives, meat and currants. Hints of fresh mint. Full to medium body, with sublime tannin texture that feels like the finest silk. A finish that lasts for minutes. Palate has amazing energy, richness and freshness. A great wine. So layered and balanced. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate, 97 points
The Carmin de Peumo is the winery flagship and a candidate for Chile’s finest wine. The 2005 Carmin de Peumo Carmenere (I reviewed the 2003 in Issue 171, there was no 2004 produced) is a blend of the best parcels in the Peumo Vineyard. It spent 20 months in French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple/black in color, this profound effort gives up an amazing aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, leather, espresso, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to an opulent, extraordinarily rich, nearly over the top, sumptuous wine with deeply hidden structure, exceptional balance, and which manages to remain light on its feet despite its immense power. It can be enjoyed now but will be so much better in 5-7 years. It is a tour de force!
Wine Advocate, 97 points
The 2003 Carmenere “Carmin de Peumo”, the flagship Carmenere, is a blend of the best parcels in the Peumo Vineyard. It spent 20 months in new French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Black/purple colored, it offers a mammoth perfume of toasty oak, vanilla, scorched earth, leather, espresso roast, and blueberry jam. This is followed by an extravagantly rich, nearly over-ripe, slightly over-the-top, layered wine that goes on and on to its pure finish. Can there be too much of a good thing? It’s a gamble but with a big up-side.
James Suckling, 97 points
A very focused and stylish nose that shows newly picked blackcurrants, oyster shell, crushed stones and pressed violets. Full-bodied with very polished tannins, a tightly woven wall of tannins and a long, velvety finish. 85 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 10 per cent cabernet franc, three per cent petit verdot and two per cent merlot. Drink in 2024.
Wine & Spirits, 96 points
The 2010 growing season in Peumo never reached extreme temperatures, ending in a breezy fall with barely any rain. Block 32 is a sweet spot in this vineyard on a series of alluvial terraces above the Cachapoal River, the vines planted in the early 1980s. The soil here is rich in clay, a heavier, cooler soil than other areas of the Peumo vineyard. The freshness of the vintage produced what may be the best Carmín to date. The ripe red fruit, the delicacy of the green peppercorn flavors, the smooth texture gliding through the mouth, the polished tannins all come together in a carmenère that leads the variety to a higher level.
Wine Advocate, 96 points
The 2007 Terrunyo Carmin de Peumo Carmenere contains 6.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3.5% Cabernet Franc in its blend and spent 18 months in 100% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it surrenders a brooding personality marked by notions of sandalwood, smoke, earthy minerals, dried herbs, black plum, and blackberry. Sweetly-fruit, dense, and opulent, this full-bodied, pleasure-bent offering deftly conceals enough fine grained tannin to evolve for 5-6 years and should easily see its 20th birthday in fine form. Both wines are benchmarks for what can be achieved with the Carmenere grape.
Wine & Spirits, 96 points
The second release of this great carmenère is less voluptuous than the first (2003), but that shyness hides a wine that will only improve with time. It’s tense and firm, with a structure based on powerfully concentrated ripe red fruit and spice. Acidity frames the muscular structure. Ignacio Recabarren produces Carmín from a selection of vines planted in the early 1980s on alluvial soils in Peumo, one of Chile’s best carmenère terroirs.
James Suckling, 96 points
The purity and reserve to this is wonderful with blackcurrants and crushed stone. Some redcurrants, as well. Full body. Polished and refined tannins give this a pleasant, caressing texture. Tight and focused. Elegance with structure. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.
Wine Spectator, 96 points
An elegant and rich-tasting red, full of concentrated red plum, cherry and currant flavors, backed by suave, medium-grained tannins. The finish offers a caressing palate of lush spice, cocoa powder and cream nuances. Drink now through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 8,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 96 points
A ripe, rich and full-bodied red, with powerful flavors of dark cherry, plum pudding and currant that feature a lush creaminess. Firm and savory midpalate, ending with a long and refined finish that shows mineral and cocoa butter accents, supported by dusty tannins. Drink now through 2024. 7,850 cases made.
James Suckling, 96 points
This is from one of the coolest vintages in memory but delivers fresh tobacco and currant aromas and flavors. Full body, chewy tannins and plenty of currant leaf and stone character. A structured and very solid Don Melchor. 91% cabernet sauvignon and 9% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 96 points
One of the classic cabernets of Chile, this vintage shows pretty character of blueberry with hints of sandalwood and cedar, a full body, very integrated tannins, and a wonderfully polished texture. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 96 points
Pretty aromas of blueberries with hints of sandalwood and cedar. Full body, with very integrated tannins and a wonderfully polished texture. The finish is extremely long and intense. Serious density and class to this. A blend of 97% cabernet sauvignon and 3% cabernet frac. A beauty already but better in 2016.
Wine Spectator, 96 points Top 100 #12
Still very tight, but the tannins that lead the way now are sleek and refined, and should easily meld into the huge core of roasted chestnut, black currant paste, warm fig and tar. Has a long, coffee- and loam-tinged finish. Best from 2009 through 2019. 18,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 96 points Top 100 #4
With a great nose of currant confiture and cocoa powder, this full-scale Cabernet sports dark fig, currant and blackberry fruit layered with loam, cedar, tobacco, mineral and coffee. Long and authoritative finish just sails on thanks to rather regal tannins. Best from 2007 through 2016. 10,500 cases made.
James Suckling, 96 points
This is a red that shows melted tannins and beautiful fruit, which is stunningly dense and refined at the same time. Full-bodied and very polished with seamless tannins. The old-vine character is so impressive here. Drinkable right now, but will be even better in 2021.
James Suckling, 96 points
A very intense nose of cassis, dark plums, mulberries, baking spices, dried blackberries, dark cherries, dark chocolate and vanilla. Generous yet suave on the palate, the structured tannins providing form to the overt fruit, which the acidity cuts through and refreshens. Long and chewy on the finish. Syrah blend. Drink in 2021.
Wine & Spirits, 96 points
Long produced from its own 314-acre vineyard, a prime site on the third alluvial terrace above the north bank of the Maipo River, Don Melchor is now established in its own estate winery. Enrique Tirado, who started making Don Melchor in 1997, considers the 2018 season one of the most vine-friendly he has worked, with plenty of rain in winter, optimal weather during flowering, no heat spikes in summer and cool nights through harvest. The fruit of the vines shows the freshness of the season, as well as the ripeness, allowing Tirado and consultant Eric Boissenot to include both early ripening merlot and late-ripening petit verdot in this 2018 (in most years, they limit the blend to cabernets sauvignon and franc). The purity of that fruit is completely Andean—neither green nor dimpled, but precisely tuned in both the flavor and texture of its tannins. The wine has a quiet, gracious power, reflecting its Chilean character (there’s nothing either bold or austere about it; this is a wine of a place, without cabernet preconceptions). Its black currant and tart red cherry flavors have the crunch of walking through Andean snow, even as the sunniness of the fruit is cool, not at all cold, leaving a gracious impression. Great Andean cabernet has the capacity to age and develop for decades. If you’ve never invested in Chilean wine, this is the place to start.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
The 2018 Amelia Chardonnay is the second vintage in which they have used grapes from Limarí (grapes used to be grapes from Casablanca), and this wine was one of the revelations of my tasting with Concha y Toro’s winemakers Marcelo Papa and Marcio Ramírez. It mixes grapes from two soils: one with more limestone than the other (Quebrada Seca) and a stonier one called Santa Cristina. They seem to have hit the nail on the head with this blend in the very good 2018 vintage. The wine comes through as serious and restrained and has a different grip on the palate. It has the sharpness of the limestone, with a little more volume, and it comes through as very complete, harmonious, long and wide, with a tasty, salty finish and great persistence. There is more complexity here than in the bottling from Maycas del Limarí. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.
James Suckling, 95 points
A rich, round pinot noir with full body, lots of density and layers of ripe tannins that finish bright and vivid. Love the flavors at the finish. Tension and precision. Watch out Burgundy. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
There is a big jump in freshness in the 2013 Carmín de Peumo, from a much cooler year; this is a wine always produced from the plot number 32 in their vineyard in Peumo. They have continuously reduced the time in oak and the percentage of new barrels used, while at the same time they have increased the quality of the wood, trying to unload the wine from the excesses of the past. This is still a full-bodied, powerful red blend where the oak is nicely integrated and the nose is fresh and clean, with a mixture of red berries and spices; this is presented in a slightly Bordeaux style combining warm and cool sensations, and very good balance. This wine always has a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. I might not have tasted all of the vintages, but this is possibly the best — or one of the best — vintages of Carmín; drink now or in the following ten or more years. Well done! 6,600 bottles produced.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
Ignacio Recabarren developed two carmenère selections from Concha y Toro’s Peumo estate, on south-facing terraces above the Rapel River planted in the late 1970s. Carmín grows at a block he determined to have a distinct soil profile, a mix of sand, stone and clay as opposed to the sector he selected for Terrunyo, where there is more clay. In a chilly season like 2011, Carmín sets aside its typically voluptuous character and takes on a surprising drinkability, something that’s unusual in ambitious Chilean reds. This is rich in crunchy red fruit and generous in its spice, needing at least five years in bottle to show its complexity.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
The 2008 Terrunyo Carmin de Peumo Carmenere contains 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.5% Cabernet Franc in its blend while receiving the same elevage as the 2007 cuvee. As deeply colored as the 2007 with a similar density and richness, it does not quite possess that wine’s body and power but that is a minor quibble. It too will evolve for 5-6 years and will offer prime drinking from 2017 to 2028. Both wines are benchmarks for what can be achieved with the Carmenere grape.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
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Wine & Spirits, 95 points
Winemaker Ignacio Recabarren crafted this age-worthy red from block 32 at Concha y Toro’s Peumo Vineyard. A traditional source of the country’s best carmenère, this block was planted in 1983 on a terrace along what was once the course of the Cachapoal River. This first release of Carmín delivers luscious red fruit and soft tannins, packed with scents of tobacco and herbs, refreshed by gentle acidity. Round and approachable as a young wine, it can be served now with veal stew, but you’ll get more out of aging it five to ten years. The power of the fruit behind that velvety texture will continue to evolve into something more complex and intriguing.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
Complex sweet-tobacco and iodine character to the blackberry aromas. Roses with stems. Full-bodied, extremely silky and polished with a tight, focused palate. Extremely long and beautiful. Very refined. Some black pepper at the end. Drink now or hold.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
I found the wine as extraordinary as the 2013, at a similar quality level, with elegance, depth and complexity, perfect ripeness and integrated oak. It’s subtle and fresh, with a mixture of sour cherries, blood oranges and oriental spices. It has a perfectly harmonious palate with a velvety texture, but as the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, it’s more powerful than you might think. This is a superb Pinot Noir, among the best from Chile.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
A profound, sharp Pinot with very good tension, very good acidity and length. Super! It felt very Burgundian and I wondered how it would do in a blind tasting against some top Burgundies. So I took a spare bottle and served it double blind against a Grand Cru from Gevrey; to our surprise, nobody identified is as Chile, and in fact more people preferred it to the Burgundy. A revelation. Grand Cru quality at a very reasonable price.
Wine Advocate, 95+ points
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
This is the first release of this cuvée, Cono Sur’s most ambitious cabernet to date. Based on a selection of fruit from Puente Alto, aged two years in barrels, the wine captures the characteristics of the best Andean cabernets: It’s smoky and earthy, minty and rich, the fruit vibrant in its red-berried flavor. The texture is delicate yet firm, the wine supported by an acidity sustained by mountain breezes, the tannins keeping the wine fresh. Pure Alto Maipo wine, impossible to replicate anywhere else in the world.
Wine Spectator, 95 points
Powerful and well-structured, with vibrant acidity backing a lively blend of dark fruit and fresh-crushed cooking spice flavors. Cedary and savory notes in the midpalate, with a long finish filled with underbrush accents. Drink now through 2027. 14,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points Cellar Selection/Top 100 Cellar Selection 2020, #6
A full, spicy nose is packed to the brim with smoky, toasty oak and earthy black-fruit aromas. A ripe, full and chewy palate is smooth in feel, while this classic Cabernet from Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley tastes of coffee, rich chocolate, toasty spices and blackberry. A lush, bold finish runs long, indicating that this will age well. Hold through 2040. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 95 points
Suave, complex and elegant, with fine-grained tannins supporting the dried cherry, red plum and currant flavors. Cedar and forest floor notes show midpalate, leading to a long finish of cocoa powder and baker’s chocolate details, accented by hints of apple wood smoke and white pepper. Drink now through 2032. 13,000 cases made, 2,600 cases imported. — KM
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
Now in its thirtieth vin-tage, Don Melchor grew out of research by Pablo Morande, the chief winemaker at Concha y Toro when Chile was just beginning to open up to the world. He began separating blocks at the Tocornal Vineyard, on a terrace above the north side of the Maipo River, work that continued under Enrique Tirado, who took on Don Melchor in 1997 and continues to focus on it today. The wine has come from the same 324-acre vineyard since the beginning. This 2016 is among the best vintages I have tasted from those 30 years, a great Maipo cabernet with the lean structure of a marathon runner, dynamic and graceful in its structural intensity and black-currant freshness. The tannins have the clarity of cabernet rooted in river stones—but rather than the coastal gravel washes at Latour, Pichon and Las Cases in the Gironde, it’s a collection of rocks carried down the mountains by the Maipo. That terrace, tucked into the western shadow of the cold Andes, yields a delicate cabernet, even as its underlying richness of tannins builds dimension into a chord of lasting flavor. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
Wine Spectator, 95 points Top Wine - Collectible
Suave and refined, with rich, dense flavors of dried berry, dark plum, rose petal and bramble. Offers fine-grained tannins and accents of green olive. Finishes with hints of hot stone, dried beef and white pepper. Complex. Drink now through 2022. 7,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 95 points
Refined and elegant, with silky tannins behind the mineral, macerated cherry and damson plum flavors. Quite creamy, revealing hints of paprika and hoisin sauce. The long, lush finish is filled with notes of cocoa powder and dust. Drink now through 2020.
Wine Spectator, 95 points
Refined and elegant, with silky tannins behind the mineral, macerated cherry and damson plum flavors. Quite creamy, revealing hints of paprika and hoisin sauce. The long, lush finish is filled with notes of cocoa powder and dust. Drink now through 2020. 10,100 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
The 2006 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is a glass-coating opaque purple with an alluring bouquet of toast, tobacco, cedar, leather, mocha, and blackcurrant. Sweet, voluptuous (but not in a fruit bomb kind of way), layered, and complex already, its superb balance will ensure at least a decade of evolution and it should drink well through 2036.
Wine Spectator, 95 points Top 100 #4
Gorgeous nose of black currant preserves and freshly roasted coffee, with a powerful yet very silky palate of cassis, plum, blackberry, loam, mineral and dark chocolate flavors that glide through a superlong finish. Don’t be deceived by its seeming accessibility though–there’s some iron-clad structure underneath for the long haul as well. Drink now through 2012. 13,500 cases made.
James Suckling, 95 points
Attractive aromas of currants, sweet herbs, such as fresh basil, and blueberries. Medium-to full-bodied with berry and light vanilla flavors and medium round tannins that give nice character and texture to the finish. Better in 2022.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points Year's Best Maipo Reds/Top 100 Wines of 2020 (#27)
Isabel Mitarakis makes this wine from blocks at Puente Alto planted from 1985 to 1992, at a time when Pablo Morandé, then chief winemaker for Concha y Toro, was exploring the soils of this vineyard on terraces above the north bank of the Maipo. The vineyard has since been parceled out for Almaviva and Don Melchor, both of which have their own sectors of the original Puente Alto. Based on this latest vintage of Gravas, there is still some great land left for the Concha y Toro team. This seems like the optimal Maipo cabernet, silken in texture, Andean in its refreshing mint and rosemary notes, layering cool fruit flavors of strawberries and plums in a nuanced and quietly gracious wine. It feels dynamic, and seemingly effortless, with an energy that makes it lovely to drink now, and will extend its life for a decade
Wine Spectator, 95 points
Precise and powerful, with fleshy richness to the dark currant, cassis and black olive flavors, matched to dried savory accents. Mocha and dark chocolate details show on the long, richly spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 1,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 95 points
Blue fruit with slate and black tea on the nose, as well as violets and black licorice. Full-bodied with very intense flavors of blueberries and cloves and hints of black pepper. Spicy finish with just a hint of fresh thyme. A stylish, well thought-out wine from gravely soils in the Maipo. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 95 points
A thoroughly beautiful syrah with flower, slate, sweet tobacco leaf, stone and cedar. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a polished and refined finish. Beautiful. Sophisticated. Drink now or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
The 2010 vintage will be remembered in Chile for the earthquake that struck near Concepcion; the year also happened to deliver one of the best harvests in recent memory. A cool, dry season ripened the grapes at a leisurely pace, sustaining the tense acidity in this cabernet, grown at Las Terrazas, an alluvial terrace above the Maipo River in Pirque. The aromas are layered with herbs, red fruit, spice and a hint of menthol. The wine is substantial, at first dominated by nearly electric tannins, but in the end, the fruit comes back, the tannins suddenly transformed to juicy black cherries.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
Ignacio Recabarren selects Terrunyo from a terrace on the north bank of the Rapel River, blending it with 14 percent cabernet sauvignon from old vines on a high terrace above the Maipo River in Pirque. His 2011 is filled with flavors of blueberries and red plums, integrating the spice and herb notes of the variety into delicate details over the fruit. Firm and muscular, the wine is shaped by the unusually cold vintage in Peumo, which provides an acidity that practically vibrates over the tongue. Cellar it to eventually decant for braised lamb.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
If Carmín seduces with its buxom generosity, the 2007 Terrunyo feels more like a quiet beauty. This is Recabarren’s deuxième vin, a selection from the Peumo Vineyard planted in the mid-1970s on the northern bank of the Cachapoal River. A sophisticated carmenère, as if tailored in black tie and tails, this has a structure based on a fine mesh of tannin that supports tart black fruit flavors. It hints at herbal notes and whispers of sweeter fruit aromas. Decant this if you open it now for game dishes like braised partridge; it will benefit from six to eight years’ aging.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points
The Peumo Vineyard extends along the north bank of the Cachapoal River, on the hillsides of the Coastal Range. This carmenère is selected from vines planted in the 1970s, with a little cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc added to enhance the wine’s tannic structure. Taste it and you might immediately think of ordering duck breast for dinner. It has flavors of blue fruit as well as carmenère’s typical herbal notes, while the sanguine character adds complexity. The tannins are soft yet firm, backed by tense acidity.
Wine & Spirits, 95 points Wines of the Month-May
UC Davis Clone 1 was the first clone of sauvignon blanc that came to Chile in the early 1990s. Widely planted in Casablanca, it typically offers wines with great body and tense acidity, especially when coming from the cooler areas of the valley. Planted close to the Pacific at Las Dichas, it allows winemaker Ignacio Recabarren to craft a white defined by electric tension, along with mineral and citrus notes. In a cool harvest like 2016, this offers tart white fruit and a deliciously spicy note towards the end. A classic.
Wine Advocate, 95+ points
The latest vintage of the top-of-the-range Malbec has the benefit of a much cooler vintage, which helped the 2016 Eolo to show more freshness and better integrated oak, with a more fluid palate and fine tannins. The élevage was shortened to 15 months, which also helped the oak to become better integrated. This has to be the finest vintage of Eolo to date. I’m looking forward to finding out what the future will bring… 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
The top of the range is the 2014 Eolo, a pure Malbec from a special vineyard planted in 1912 and produced by Enrique Tirado, Concha y Toro’s winemaker for top wines like Don Melchor. It fermented with selected yeasts and matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% of them new. What they changed in this wine is the date of the harvest, which has been earlier and earlier, but it still remains quite oaky, in a classical Bordeaux style. It’s classical Luján Malbec, representing the volume and the voluptuous texture, the power and concentration while keeping good freshness. It is textured and juicy, with dense tannins but a lot of elegance. It has all that it takes for a long and positive development in bottle, and hopefully the oak will get better integrated with more time in bottle. This is a notch above the 2013, but I’d like to see more subtle oak here. Remarkable. 7,886 bottles were filled in November 2015.
Wine Advocate, 95 points
The 2008 Eolo Malbec is blended with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot and sees 18 months in French new oak. It is utterly refined on the nose with dark cherries, rose petals, Asian spices and a hint of bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, filigree tannins. It is a feminine Malbec with a satin-like texture and a caressing finish of blood orange and creme de cassis. This is a hideously expensive, but undeniably beautiful, succinctly crafted Malbec. Wonderful. Drink 2014-2025+.
James Suckling, 94 points
This is a dense, layered chardonnay with cooked apples, white peaches and flowers. Full-bodied, yet tight with intense acidity. Punchy at the end. Mineral and stone undertones. Very complex. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
The second vintage of the 2018 Amelia Pinot Noir is a step up over the initial 2017. The two years were very different, of course, and this 2018 feels a lot more complete, dry and serious; it’s tasty and has a salty twist on the finish, with very attractive fruit and some sharp tannins. Coming from two different soils from Quebrada Seca in Limarí, the grapes fermented with some full clusters in open-top vats and matured in Burgundy oak barrels for one year. This feels very harmonious, layered and textured, with good complexity and balance. It should develop nicely in bottle. This is a breakthrough vintage, with great precision. 6,00 bottles were filled in April 2019.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Fetzer established Beckon with the 2012 vintage, focusing on Central Coast pinot noir and chardonnay, and winemaker Robert Blue hit it out of the park with this Bien Nacido bottling. The wine feels seamless and gauzy, its high-toned floral scent carried in a gentle and satisfying texture that coalesces around a mushroomy, umami-laden depth of flavor: perfect for a simple roast chicken. Fleurie lovers, take note. (487 cases)
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points
Elegant and lush aromas of black plum and boysenberry mesh with violets and lavender on the nose of this wine. Earthy tones of mace, cinnamon and crushed gravel enhance the bouquet, while wild berries pop on the palate. Flavors of bay leaf, coffee bean and more lavender ride atop the soft and polished tannins.
James Suckling, 94 points
Very aromatic with purple fruit, dried flowers and lots of fresh herbs, such as parsley and sage. Sweet tobacco, too. Full-bodied with round, juicy tannins that are buttressed with loads of fresh fruit. Flavorful finish. Real Carmenere. Drink now or hold.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
I think the 2018 Carmín de Peumo shows the new style of this bottling, with less alcohol—now around 14%—and with about 5% Cabernet Franc and only a pinch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Carmín has always been produced with grapes from the same plot with a specific soil—three hectares where there is more soil that produces a characterful wine of a particular color. This is still matured in 90% new barrels for 15 months, but the oak feels better integrated and the wine is fresher and longer. It flows in the mouth and finishes with a spicy note of paprika with very good persistence. 8,400 bottles were filled in December 2019, a couple of weeks before I tasted it, yet the wine felt harmonious and relaxed.
James Suckling, 94 points #54 - Top 100 Wines of Chile 2020
A spicy and juicy red with plenty of dried fruit and cream character on the nose but transforms on the palate. Full body, round tannins and turns dry and fruity with air. Lots of blueberry and blackberry. Fascinating. Needs decanting. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
This voluptuous and powerful red is filled with rich, well-modulated flavors of dark currant and plum tart that feature engaging slate and savory herbal notes. Dark chocolate and spice accents linger on the creamy and spice-filled finish. Drink now through 2020. 1,100 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
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Wine & Spirits, 94 points
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Wine Spectator, 94 points
Driven and pure, with remarkably supple tannins guiding the black currant, plum, graphite and melted dark licorice notes. Picks up additional loam and coffee notes on the finish, but stays fine-grained and stylish despite its weight. Also contains Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2009 through 2015. 1,000 cases made
Wine Advocate, 94 points +
The top-of-the-range Pinot Noir 2015 Ocio was produced with some of the oldest vines from the variety in Casablanca, planted approximately in 1985. It was first produced in 2003, when they designed a small winery to produce this wine and the 20 Barrels. 2015 was a dry year and the grapes were healthy; they also got a good crop, some 6,000 kilos per hectare. It was pretty obvious the difference of 2015, as I tasted it next to the other Pinots from 2016, and this is riper but nicely balanced. The parameters of the wine are very healthy—14% alcohol and a pH of 3.3 with 6.7 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric). Most (85%) of the grapes come from Casablanca, but there are also some 15% of grapes from San Antonio. The grapes were hand harvested between March 18th and April 3rd. The bunches were destemmed, but the grapes were not crushed; they were put through a cold soak in open vats, then foot trodden and fermented with neutral yeasts for four to six days at 23 degrees Celsius. Eighty percent of the volume matured in new French oak barrels and the rest in 5,000-liter oak foudres, where the wine was for some 14 months, then it was blended together and put back in stainless steel for a couple more months. It’s a powerful and elegant Pinot Noir, serious, generously oaked with the fine-grained but dry and somewhat austere tannins from the granite soils that provide that mineral tactile sensation. This is plain great Pinot Noir. 8,500 bottles were filled in July 2016.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
Wine Advocate, 94 points
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Don Melchor, named for the founder of Concha y Toro, is based on a single parcel on a terrace above the north bank of the Maipo River. With this 2017, it’s now a stand-alone brand, led by winemaker Enrique Tirado and his team. The wine is a cool, black currant–scented classic from the Andean highlands, a powerful cabernet with quiet, Chilean restraint. The care of its farming shows in the detailed earthy tannins, which time in oak transformed into textural finesse. Top vintages from Puente Alto develop over the course of two decades or more, and this one should age beautifully. —
Wine Advocate, 94+ points
Marking its 30th anniversary, the 2017 Don Melchor was produced 30 years after the initial 1987. This is a wine that transcends vintages and shows great regularity, always combining elegance and power, with subtle mintiness and superb elegance. It’s juicy, textured and velvety. This is a superb showing in 2017, a warm year and a fresh wine. Bravo! And the volume is not small—156,000 bottles were produced. It was bottled in December 2018.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
Even though it’s still very young and it’s not going to be released for some months, the 2016 Don Melchor shows great elegance and poise. This might be a lighter year for Don Melchor, but it has more finesse, lower alcohol (the label says 14%, when it was traditionally 14.5%) and great balance. This has a velvety texture, with very fine and round tannins and very good freshness. There are some balsamic notes, and the wine feels undeveloped, but it has the balance and stuffing to develop nicely in bottle and for a long time.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
Big, rich and filled with luscious raspberry, currant and plum flavors that are pure and focused. Minerally midpalate, with a finish that powers through to notes of dried meat and spice, showing floral hints. Drink now through 2024. 7,635 cases made. -KM
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points Editors' Choice
It’s been a long time since Concha y Toro has put out a Don Melchor Cabernet with this much concentration and overall quality. An earthy nose with foresty berry aromas and generous but controlled oak sets up a fully stacked palate that’s chewy but not fiercely tannic. Dark toasty chocolaty black-fruit flavors finish with a note of cherry cough drop and moderate acidity that says this is more or less ready now. Drink through 2025.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
I tasted three bottled vintages of the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from the Puente Alto appellation in the Maipo Valley, the classical zone for the Bordeaux grape in Chile, starting with the 2011 Don Melchor; this wine had plenty of aromas of graphite, iron, cold ashes, blood and fresh meat — denoting freshness and seriousness. This year only has 1% Cabernet Franc blended in — one of the lower, if not the lowest years ever. With time, the more balsamic aromas emerge, which also gives some brightness and light to the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with some sweet fruit and the core of fine-grained, classical Cabernet tannins. This is a fresh, elegant vintage of Don Melchor, a prototype Cabernet from Alto Maipo. 125,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
Rich and powerful, with balanced and elegant flavors of dried raspberry, mocha, mineral and dark chocolate. Creamy midpalate, presenting a broad and lush finish, revealing slate and white pepper notes. Drink now through 2022. 10,200 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
This classic Alto Maipo cabernet grows at Tocornal, on vines planted in the 1970s. It builds from scents of herbs and menthol toward a strong presence of red fruit and spice. The texture is soft and gentle while acidity marks the contours of the mouth with freshness. Drinking well now, this will improve with four to five years in bottle.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
I had the chance to revisit some older vintages of the top Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from Puente Alto, including the 2010 Don Melchor from a cooler and drier than average year that resulted in a later harvest. It contains 3% Cabernet Franc and aged in 76% new French barriques for 15 months. 110,000 bottles were produced in 2010. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Don Melchor. It has absorbed the light lactic touch from its youth and is developing at what seems to be the pace of this bottling, extremely slowly. There is great balance and a combination of power and elegance that is unusual. This has to be one of the best zones in Chile for Cabernet Sauvignon, and this is a great example of it. It was bottled in November 2011.
James Suckling, 94 points
Complex aromas in this with mint, eucalyptus and currants. Full body, with round and velvety tannins yet reserved and refined. It’s nutty and juicy too. Savory finish. Drink or hold. A long life ahead of it. A blend of 96% cabernet sauvignon and 4% cabernet franc. Made in the hottest harvest ever.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
This muscular red packs a mélange of roasted plum, cassis and macerated wild berry on a full-bodied frame. There’s plenty of fresh acidity and tannic structure, as the long finish unwinds with layers of maduro tobacco and humus, with a grace note of wild flowers. Best from 2014 through 2020. 10,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 94 points +
The 2007 Don Melchor is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in French oak (78% new) and one-year old oak. It has a rounded, smooth tobacco and cedar scented bouquet with plush red fruit. The palate is full-bodied with chalky tannins, smoky black tarry fruit and a reserved, slightly austere finish with dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. It has Old World sensibility and is well crafted. Drink now-2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points
A dark, muscular style, with black currant, braised fig, maduro tobacco, bittersweet cocoa and loam notes that all roll together through the dense but polished finish. There’s impressive power for the vintage, along with precision and balance. Drink now through 2018. 20,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
The 2005 Don Melchor was cropped from an almost perfect year, when the grapes were picked between April 11 and May 19 in a slightly warmer year that provided powerful wines. The bottled wine was Cabernet Sauvignon with some 3% Cabernet Franc and had been matured in French oak barrels for 15 months, with 70% new barrels and the rest second use. Somehow this vintage had never been rated before, and I’m glad I did because it’s a very good year, with average rain and not so high temperature, with a combination of power and finesse, notes of ash, earth, red and black fruit and a powerful palate. You see more the hand of a good winemaker here; there is very good balance, quality of tannins and freshness. This has balance, finesse and energy. It’s evolving at a very slow pace, and it should continue aging forever in bottle. 228,000 bottles produced.
Wine Advocate, 94 points +
No tasting note given.
Wine Spectator, 94 points Top 100 #26
Terrific personality, with prune, cocoa, loam, mineral, dark currant, blackberry, tar and sanguine flavors that don’t quit. Well-structured, with fine balance and harmony already and a very long finish. Best from 2005 through 2010. 15,200 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
No tasting note given.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
This ripe, dense red delivers base notes of humus, mocha and toasty oak supporting the rich cassis, black cherry and dark plum fruit character. There’s fine tannins for support, but this is all rich fruit on the spicy finish. Drink now through 2018. 13,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points
Bold aromas of cherry, smoked wood and dried sage make for a fully fleshed-out nose. The palate shows a great array of flavors, from dark strawberry and boysenberry to sage-brush, bay leaf and peppercorns. —M.K.
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points Editors' Choice
vory aromas of olive, forest floor and oak spice blend seamlessly into black fruit scents, while this Cabernet from Puente Alto’s alluvial soils feels full, rich and slightly creamy. Fully ripe blackberry flavors include welcome herbal undertones, and on the finish this is chewy, meaty and slightly jammy. Drink through 2028. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 94 points
Elegant and well-structured, with concentrated dark fruit and Asian spice flavors that are filled with creamy richness. The rich finish lingers with hints of chocolate truffle and dried meat that are tightly wound. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made, 250 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 94 points
This is a fine-grained red with dark-berry, dried-meat and currant character. Medium to full body. Fresh, linear finish. Shows tension and finesse. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
A blue-fruited syrah that shows brambleberries, blueberries and violets, in addition to baking spices, vanilla, earth and dried herbs. Full body, an impressive, steely tannin backbone and a chewy, structured finish. Drink in 2022.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points Best Buy
The cool 2013 season produced some great carmenère, like this tense red from Peumo. It feels electric, the flavors red, fresh and herbal, the tannins spicy and sharply defined. It shows an agile and cheerful side of the variety, as the team at Concha y Toro explores a refreshing style of carmenère.
James Suckling, 94 points
This is a beautiful chardonnay with sliced dried apples, peaches, pears and hot stones. Full-bodied, flavorful and extremely long. Shows brightness and intensity. Punchy and exciting. Drink now. Only 150 cases made.
James Suckling, 94 points
This is an extreme chardonnay with edgy acidity and a dense palate of opulent fruit, such as pears and green apples. Tropical fruit, too, such as green mangoes. Full bodied, very salty and rich. Layered. A wine of contrasts. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
The balance and focus to this is just right with blackcurrants, graphite, plums and hints of spice. Medium body with firm tannins and a racy finish. Dry and focused. Attractive frame to this. Drinkable now, but better after 2021.
Wine Spectator, 94 points
Precise and powerful, with fleshy richness to the dark currant, cassis and black olive flavors, matched to dried savory accents. Mocha and dark chocolate details show on the long, richly spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 1,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 94 points
A pinot noir with real mineral, salt, cherry and light smoke character. Medium body and super refined tannins. Complex and layered. Tangy and juicy at the end. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
This is a wonderful pinot with red cherries and some dried-strawberry undertones. Medium to full body and super integrated tannins. Sweet and ripe berries, yet fresh and vivid. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points Year's Best Maipo Reds
When Ignacio Recabarren devel-ped the Terrunyo wines for Concha y Toro in the late 1990s, he selected the old vines at Pirque for his cabernet sauvignon. Those vines, replanted in 2003 on their own roots, grow on a terrace along the south bank of the Maipo River, the wine now made by Lorena Mora. It’s a silky, gentle cabernet with cool, spicy flavors of red and black currants lasting on a quiet riff of mineral tannins. This is not trying to achieve the power of cabernet grown in Napa Valley, nor the grandeur of the Médoc. Its pleasures are more subtle, a response, perhaps, to the grandeur and power of the Andes. Reviewed by Joshua Greene
James Suckling, 94 points
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Wine & Spirits, 94 points Wines of the Month
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Wine & Spirits, 94 points
The cool 2011 harvest was ideal for creating cabernets of great elegance. Terrunyo, from 20-year-old vines on a terrace over the south bank of the Maipo River, is among the best of the vintage. The aroma is spicy and intense, with sweet scents of cinnamon and cumin rising off a foundation of fine tannins. The flavors are reminiscent of cassis and blackberries, outlined by a fine, persistent acidity that accompanies the wine into the finish, leaving a smooth and fresh impression.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points Years Best
The warm 2014 season shows in this opulent and grand vintage of Terrunyo, with chocolate-rich tannins supporting herb and sweet cherry notes. But if you’re patient, you’ll find that the wine starts to show a more complex face with time in the glass. With air, it unveils crunchy red fruit flavors, the tannins firm and spicy. This is a classic example of the variety, selected by winemaker Ignacio Recabarren from vines planted in the late 1980s in gravely clay soils on the northern bank of the Cachapoal River.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Hoping to show the carmenère fruit from a cool vintage with precision, Ignacio Recabarren aged Lot No. 1 for six months in oak, rather than the 13 months for the regular Terrunyo Block 27 (recommended below). It’s filled with spicy red fruit, without any of the overt vegetal notes that carmenère can give; the tannins create plenty of grip without being aggressive. This is harmoniously balanced, great for meat empanadas.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Sandier than Block 32, Block 27 is also warmer, a factor that Ignacio Recabarren finds lends sweet warmth to this carmenère. Yet it also has the delicacy and fresh fruit of the 2010 vintage. Recabarren included cabernet sauvignon from Pirque as ten percent of this blend, building a foundation of unexpected brightness and vitality.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
The vines for Terrunyo were planted in the early 1980s on the alluvial terraces of the Cachapoal river, in Peumo, which has proven to be one of the finest terroirs for carmenère in Chile. This 2005 is built on bright flavors of sweet strawberry and herbs. Firm acidity lifts the wine in the finish, where carmenère’s distinctive tannins combine generous notes of chocolate with a muscular feel. Decant it for game or save this for at least five years.
James Suckling, 94 points
This shows superb aromas of blackberries, violets and spice with hints of rose petals. Cloves, too. Such purity. Full-bodied, tight and refined with fantastic texture and polish. Extremely long and caressing. Such a beauty. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Peumo is one of the prime areas for carmenère in Chile. The vines grow on alluvial terraces above the Cachapoal River, where the generous sun ripens the grapes without issues, and the breezes that run along the river sustain the freshness of the fruit. 2014 was a good vintage for carmenère, providing this vibrant, refreshing Terrunyo, its herbal scents of red fruit gracing a medium-bodied wine with soft tannins. Decant it now for venison stew or cellar it; Block 27 develops well over the course of ten years.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points
Hoping to show the carmenère fruit from a cool vintage with precision, Ignacio Recabarren aged Lot No. 1 for six months in oak, rather than the 13 months for the regular Terrunyo Block 27 (recommended below). It’s filled with spicy red fruit, without any of the overt vegetal notes that carmenère can give; the tannins create plenty of grip without being aggressive. This is harmoniously balanced, great for meat empanadas.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
I tasted two vintages of the top Malbec from a very old vineyard from Vistalba in Luján de Cuyo. The oldest of the two wines is the 2015 Eolo, and it’s very different from the 2016 I tasted next to it. They lowered the amount of new oak used to 60%, and they also harvested early and bottled the wine with 14.5% alcohol. There is still plenty of sweet spice and there are glossy tannins. It’s an old-style Malbec, with power, concentration and ripeness in a powerful vintage, with balsamic notes reminiscent of incense and cigar ash, black fruit and dark spices. It has very fine tannins, but they are a little distorted by the new oak. 8,000 bottles.
James Suckling, 94 points
I also met with Enrique Tirado, Concha y Toro’s winemaker for top wines like Don Melchor, and also Eolo from Trivento at a wine tasting in Hong Kong. We took the opportunity to taste the 2013 Eolo together, a powerful pure Malbec from four hectares, a vineyard planted in Luján de Cuyo in 1912. The vineyard is planted right next to the Mendoza river and has always been worked by the same family. There are meaty and smoky notes intermixed with fragrant aromas reminiscent of violets and even roses and lilies, quite subtle and with nicely integrated spicy oak hints. They have looked for purity and the way to remove excess. They did seven different harvests, having divided the vineyard into different plots according to soil, and the bottled wine tends to be a blend of around five of those different lots, always searching for balance. The palate manages to combine power with elegance; it’s full-bodied with polished, sleek, slightly dusty tannins. It’s still obviously young, but the balance between acidity, tannin and fruit should provide for a long aging in bottle. It has the freshness of 2013, with fruit and concentration, it fills your mouth but with that note of freshness, not sweet at all, that really makes a difference. This is a special vintage of Eolo, reminiscent of, perhaps, the 2008. There are some 8,000 bottles of this.
James Suckling, 94 points
Dark purple color with powerful aromas of blackberry, black licorice, mineral and violet. It’s full-bodied, soft and velvety textured plus rich and flavorful. So much fruit yet it shows some reserve and backbone. Classy red. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
The pure fruit shows here with blackcurrants, iodine, oyster shell and iodine. Medium to full body with very polished tannins, driven acidity and a finely cut yet long finish. Drink now or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
A very fresh yet smoky syrah with lots of red meat, blackberry crumble, crushed violets and lemons. A vibrant, bright palate that remains dense and very well-integrated with soft tannins. So much citrus fruit runs through this right towards the tight yet chewy and long finish. Insane value! Drink now or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
This offers classically ripe blackberry, cassis and plum aromas with purple-flower notes, too. The palate is beautifully even and measured with smoothly honed tannins, delivering a plush, sweeping build to the balanced, fresh finish. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
The 2008 Golden Reserve Malbec is intense on the nose, with roiling blackberry, raspberry leaf, Provencal herbs joined by a tang of marmalade that all blossom with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with succulent red cherries, strawberry and blood orange. The definition is outstanding from start to finish, culminating in a refined but intense, opulent finish. Magnificent! Drink 2013-2020+
James Suckling, 94 points
This is focused and very linear with bright dark berries and walnut shells as well as stone aromas that follow through to a full body and a tight and juicy finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 94 points
Complex aromas of peach, mango, spiced apple, lemon zest, flint and toasted brioche. It’s full-bodied and concentrated, yet elegant, with intense, firm layers. Very focused with a long, balanced finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 94 points
Cherries, redcurrants, smoke and dried flowers on the nose. Medium body with fine tannins. Juicy with a velvety texture and persistent acidity. Layered and balanced with a supple finish. Energetic at the end. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate, 94 points
The current vintage is the 2014 Don Melchor, one of the icons of Maipo. The wine has been produced since 1987 from the best lots from their 127 hectares of vineyards in the Puente Alto appellation on alluvial terraces of the Maipo River at 650 meters altitude. In 2014 the bottled wine comes from 20 lots of free-run wine and 35 lots of press wine and contains some 8% Cabernet Franc. It matured in French oak barrels, 65% of them new, for some 15 months. The oak is perfectly integrated, and seeing how the wines from this terroir age, I wouldn’t worry at all. This was a low yielding year, a balanced vintage not a lot warmer than 2013, which has resulted in a classical Don Melchor combining power with elegance, with those refined tannins and superb balance. There is a mixture of red and black fruit and even some fresh orange peel notes. Seeing how the older vintages age in bottle, it would be a shame to drink this now; and even if it’s drinkable, I prefer them some ten years after the vintage. This is produced from virtually the same vineyards as Almaviva, yet the wines are so different. 90,000 bottles produced.
James Suckling, 94 points
Blueberries, blackberries, mulberries, black pepper and cloves. Full body with chewy tannins. Juicy and smoky with a fleshy texture and racy character. Balanced and flavorful through the long, savory finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
Bright and vivid with sliced lemon and lime character. Oyster shell, as well. Extremely tangy, giving a balance of energetic fruit and crisp acidity. Flavorful at the end. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The best of the Concha y Toro Chardonnays is the 2006 Chardonnay Amelia. Medium straw-colored, it has a floral, mineral, stony bouquet with notes of white peach, pear, and tropical fruits in the background. Already complex with all elements in harmony, this lengthy effort could easily pass for a Grand Cru white Burgundy (but at a fraction of the price).
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Years' Best US Pinot Noirs
This is Fetzer’s project in the Central Coast, and the second vintage in a row in which Robert Blue turned out an exceptional pinot from Bien Nacido. It’s an immediate hit of bright red fruit and stemmy peppercorn spice, then it lasts with quiet persistence, lively and substantial in its blood-orange acidity and roseate tannins. Those tannins have a sandy feel, coastal and fresh.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Made by Winemaker Jeff Cichocki from biodynamic grapes grown in the Butler Ranch Vineyard, this opens with concentrated aromas of ripe blueberry and spice that move the full-bodied palate with equally focused fruit flavors. A velvety, lightly gripping texture and good fruit concentration help bring on a lingering finish.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Top 100 Wines of 2018
This vineyard, west of Highway 101 near Ukiah, rises from 1,700 to 2,200 feet with east- and north-facing exposures. It produced a floral syrah in 2013, which Bob Blue blended with 20 percent of other varieties, including mourvedre, grenache and zinfandel. It has the fresh scent of roses and the deep purple tones of salted plums. Tense and spicy, with a clean line in the end, this is a delicious match for salumi. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
James Suckling, 93 points
Fresh and earthy nose of prune, cocoa butter and walnut. It’s medium-bodied with silky tannins. Ripe and dried-fruit flavors, yet fresh and juicy, with chocolate on the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Why wait? Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 93 points Top Wine
Elegant and powerful, with loads of dark berry, cherry and currant flavors, featuring notes of dark olive and allspice. The leafy finish is long and rich, showing some creamy hints to the dark chocolate accents. Drink now through 2020. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
Peumo is a well known place for Carménère, a grape that needs to ripen properly to avoid the excess of vegetal aromas, and Peumo is one of those places where this is achieved. The village names Concha y Toro’s top Carménère, which in its 2012 Carmín de Peumo incarnation was blended with some 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Pirque in Maipo. The wine had a shorter élevage in oak and the amount of new barrels accounted for 60% of the total. There is a mixture of black fruit and spices with a faint herbal undertone that makes it very attractive. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very good balance and refined tannins. This is a powerful, yet elegant, and warm but fresh red blend that shows that Carménère doesn’t have to be green or alcoholic. 6,600 bottles produced.
James Suckling, 93 points
An intense red with blueberry, fresh flowers and violet. Full body, with a very tight structure of ultra-fine tannins and wonderful fruit. Blackberries and licorice too. Juicy acidity. 87% carmenere, 4% cabernet franc, 9% cabernet sauvignon with some fruit from Alma Viva.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
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Wine Spectator, 93 points
This has a minty aroma, with rich, powerful flavors of dark plum, dried raspberry and blackberry, complemented by notes of cream and chocolate mousse. Iron, smoke and paprika details fill the juicy finish. Drink now through 2019. 970 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
I tasted the 2008 Carmín de Peumo, which has been in bottle since December 2009, to follow its evolution in bottle. The Carmenere was blended with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc and was aged in 90% new French oak for 17 months. They brought me this wine because they didn’t produce it in 2015 or 2016, and the 2017 was not ready and not bottled, but they think 2018 is a very similar vintage to 2008. It has a developed and classical nose with those notes of tobacco and something earthy, with a distinct note of tar. But the palate is fresh, and it has 14% alcohol. It’s elegant, fresh and what Carmenere should be. It’s still young and lively, with years ahead in bottle. 19,200 bottles were produced. The classical triangle for growing Carmenere is Peumo, Apalta and Pichidegua. Other than that, it’s too difficult…
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Ignacio Recabarren originally created Carmín as an homage to the patrimony of carmenère in Chile. It’s a selection from Concha y Toro’s best site for the variety, a vineyard on the north bank of the Cachapoal River. Planted in 1987 with cuttings from pre-phylloxera vines, carmenère thrives in the terraces of clay above the river. Marcio Ramírez makes the wines today; his 2017 is structured and silken, with cool jasmine scents deepening to rose as the flavors dive into brisk and lovely juice. It’s tightly knit without any overt grip of tannins, as if the wine were focused by the flavors themselves, yielding scents of fresh tobacco and aniseed as those flavors open in the finish. Elegant now, this is built to cellar; Carmín has a track record for aging a decade or more.
James Suckling, 93 points
Aromas of walnuts, dried fruit and blackberry follow through to a full body, spicy and juicy fruit and a rose petal and dark fruit aftertaste. Drink now
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
There is a density and intoxicating depth to this wine’s ripe red fruit. Carmenère tannins are rarely aggressive, and here, they feel particularly sleek and smooth. The flavors are long and intense, full of delicate herbal and spicy details. Ignacio Recabarren included small amounts of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc in the blend for extra structure in the voluptuous 2014 vintage.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 2014 Carmín de Peumo, always produced with the fruit from plot number 32 in their vineyard in Peumo, is a Carmenere-based blend with some small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. They are careful not to pick the grape perfectly ripe but not over-ripe and not to overextract. It matured in 225- and 500-liter (20% of the volume) French oak barrels for 11 months. It’s a serious, ripe and concentrated Carmenere, with great structure, ripeness and balance. The palate is silky, with fine, polished tannins and moderate acidity. They like to describe this wine as having “Bordeaux structure and new world fruit.” Amen. 4,800 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Unctuously ripe, rich and full of concentrated dark cherry, plum and spice flavors that are supported by medium-grained tannis. Creamy midpalate, with a long, plush finish that features notes of dark chocolate and dried mint. Drink now through 2022.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The oldest wine I tasted was the 2013 Silencio, their top Cabernet Sauvignon first produced in 2010 from Puente Alto in Alto Maipo, the classical zone for the grape. 2013 was a coolish year, and the harvest was later than average and produced juicy grapes that resulted in a ripe and powerful red. The wine matured in brand new French oak barrels for 22 months, and they also kept it in bottle for two years before it was released. It’s fresh and spicy, with notes of paprika and merken spices, looking for juiciness and delicate aromas and flavors. There is red fruit and some notes of cassis, usually associated with freshness. They also tried to balance the vines, avoiding stress, which in turn resulted in more balanced wines. 4,000 bottles were filled in January 2015.
Wine Advocate, 93 points +
Surprisingly enough, the wine is only 13.5% alcohol, from vines planted in 1960-1961 with some 2,600 plants per hectare, and the vines are nicely balanced. But, the style of Cono Sur is more for elegance than power. The wines are always subtler, harmonious, with good ripeness, no green notes, no harsh tannins…everything is in harmony here. There is typicity, very good freshness for the vintage (most of the Cabernets from the zone and vintage are 15% alcohol).
Wine Advocate, 93 points
Exotic, showy, aromatic and hedonistic, with ripe cherries and notes of tobacco and graphite. Stylistically, this is different from the other wines from Cono Sur, with more tannins and extraction — so more for the fans of the style. An XL Maipo Cabernet.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
A serious, ripe and concentrated effort maintaining balance, freshness and elegance. It has a showy nose of blackberries and licorice, but also violets, a floral character developing with time in the glass. The palate is full-bodied, with abundant, fine-grained tannins ending with classical cedar wood and graphite notes. This is a superb Cabernet, quite Bordeaux-styled that should age very well.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Well-concentrated berry aromas include rich notes of chocolate, tobacco and earth on this plush yet restrained Cabernet. Spicy berry and cocoa flavors finish dry, long and with a hint of clove. Given the documented difficulties of 2016 in Chile, this can hold its head up. Drink through 2026.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
2015 was a warm and dry vintage, and the 2015 Don Melchor shows notes of ripe plums and is subtly balsamic. The palate is round and powerful, with good balance and nice integration of the oak. With time in the glass, more spicy aromas of paprika and merken emerge, but there is a notable absence of green notes. It’s a ripe and round vintage of Don Melchor, faithful to the conditions of the year.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Years Best
From vines planted in the early 1970s on an alluvial terrace above the north bank of the Maipo River, Don Melchor is a classic among Chilean wines. Enrique Tirado has made this wine from the same vineyard at Puente Alto since 1997. This latest release comes from a cool year, and you might notice that in the herbal notes and the vibrant acidity, underlining the generous core of sweet red fruit. The wine’s restrained ripeness will allow it to mature unencumbered by any excess weight. In fact, it needs ten years of age to show its best.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
2012 is a short vintage, so the 2013 will be released towards the end of 2016. I tasted the 2013 Don Melchor, which contained 9% of Cabernet Franc to complement the Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley; the final blend was created from 23 lots of free-run juice wine and 39 lots of press wine. The blend is done with the help of Eric Boissenot (previously with his father Jacques). The wine matured in 66% new French oak barrels for some 15 months. I see this 2013 more in the line of the 2010 (and 2011). In fact, 2013 was a very cold year. The nose combines aromas of tobacco, iron and blood, dark cherries and some herbs. The palate shows something in between 2011 and 2012, medium to full-bodied with fruit, tannins and a slightly bitter finish. It should get polished with a little bit more time in bottle. 109,200 bottles produced. I also had the chance to preview the 2014 and 2015 vintages that were aging in barrel, still very young and primary.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
An elegant and refined red, featuring concentrated dark plum and cherry flavors full of subtle savory notes. Offers mouthwatering acidity, with a rich finish delivering forest floor and mineral accents. Drink now through 2022. 7,400 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
As per usual, Don Melchor is singing a pretty tune. Deep, dense aromas of floral berry fruits and tarry darkness are solid and complete. Pure, elegant and confident across the palate, this delivers firm cassis, plum and cherry flavors backed by a toasty finish accented by licorice. This is rich and brawny but not heavy; drink through 2023.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 2010 Don Melchor (a homage to Don Melchor Concha y Toro who created Concha y Toro in 1883) is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc from Alto Maipo, the best terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. 2010 was a cool vintage, balanced and fresh. It has aromas of blood and fresh meat, it feels subtle, with signs of youth in the shape of some lactic hints with good freshness, notes of black and red berries, developing some aromas of graphite and cold bonfire with time in the glass. The wine fills your mouth with its sophisticated, fine-grained tannins and has good freshness and length. The wine is quite drinkable now, but if you wait a little, the lactic touch should get more integrated and will age for a long time. I tasted 1993 and 1996 and both are drinking perfectly now: this wine has a track record. The 2010 vintage was launched in March-April 2014. Drink 2015-2025.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
It offers a briary blend of aromas familiar to Chilean Cab: dry black fruits, olive, tobacco and oaky grit control the bouquet. In the mouth, this is ripe, tannic and lively. Flavors of raspberry, cassis, herbs, chocolate and baking spices finish firm and long. This is everything you’d want from Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink through 2024.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Opens with crusty, rock-solid aromas of mineral, shoe polish, herb and dense black fruit. This is a thick but smooth-bodied Cabernet with richness and sweet flavors of blackberry, cassis, fine herbes and brown sugar. Mild tannins, excellent structure and length define the finish. Drink now through 2016.
James Suckling, 93 points
Aromas of fresh flowers and dark fruits with hints of mint. Subtle aromas. Full body, with round and soft tannins and hints of sandalwood character. Firm and silky. The 20th anniversary bottling. A blend of 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Deep, a bit reduced on the nose, and full as can be, with blackberry, cassis and prune aromas. The palate is super rich and concentrated, and frankly a bit heady. Flavors of burnt brown sugar, toast, tobacco, pepper and baked berry fruits are delicious, and the finish is dense and long. Drinkable now but best in another two to four years. This marks the 20th anniversary of Concha y Toro’s Don Melchor Cabernet.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Still a touch tight, but dense, focused and layered, with well-integrated structure underneath loam, blackberry, espresso, tobacco and sage notes. The long finish has nice drive, with the loam edge stretching out. This has the poise and balance for cellaring. Drink now through 2017. 8,900 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
This comes across as the best Don Melchor that Concha y Toro has produced, and at $69 it should be. It’s very ripe, with oak sitting atop pure cassis and plum aromas. The palate is sweet, juicy and packed with dynamite blackberry and black plum flavors. Dark, chocolaty and long on the finish, with ripe tannins. Drink now or hold for five years.
Wine Spectator, 93 points Highly Recommended
Shows alluring coffee bean, currant paste and fig aromas and flavors, with ample loamy tannins and a ripe, muscular finish where cocoa and tar notes hang on for added effect. Accessible now, but will improve with cellaring. Drink now through 2013. 17,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
No tasting note given.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Winemaker Enrique Tirado has been studying the Don Melchor vineyard in the Alto Maipo since 1997, dividing its 281 acres into plots according to fertility. He started with four; now there are more than a hundred, from which he blended this sophisticated and luscious red. When first poured, it’s fresh and full of blackberry and raspberry aromas, then the spice and mineral tones get deeper as the wine gains texture and brightness. Sweet and juicy with crisp acidity, this is a brilliant Don Melchor, and one of the best Chilean wines from 2002.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
No tasting note given.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 1999 Don Melchor is medium to dark ruby-colored and has a gorgeous nose of dark cherries and mocha. Its tangy, intense, and dense personality is highly concentrated and inky. This superb Cabernet coats the palate with wave after wave of blackberry and cassis fruit as well as loads of prodigiously ripened tannin. It is a youthful, extremely well-structured wine that should be consumed between 2008 and 2020.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Information unavailable
James Suckling, 93 points
This has wonderful acidity tension with sliced lemons, green apples, stones and minerals. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. So much energy. Tangy, fresh finish. Large, used oak here for aging. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
A steely sauvignon that shows freshly squeezed lemons, Chinese plums and sea salt. Very good mouthfeel on the palate, which is medium in body with edgy acidity and a textured finish. Very cool-fruited and zesty. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is really top class with blackberry, blueberry and a hint of meat. Lovely depth and balance. Medium body, silky tannins. Real Chilean wine here emphasizing fruit but bright and harmonized.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points Editors' Choice
Cool, earthy aromas of forest floor and black plum include a sweeter note of oaky maple. This is a thick, chewy style of Syrah with full extraction. Flavors of wild berry fruits, dark spices, plum and toast finish oaky, rich, slightly salty and toasty. Drink this well-oaked wine through 2023.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Ripe, rich and powerful, with concentrated flavors of dark plum and dried raspberry that feature notes of licorice and mocha. Meaty accents and dark chocolate notes fill the creamy finish. Drink now through 2022. 800 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Planted on gravelly soils adjacent to the Maipo River, this syrah developed intense ripeness, played out in rich aromas of spice and nuances of sweet fruit flavors. But that’s just decoration. Hidden under those flavors there’s a powerful red, its dense network of tannins handling all the ripeness and projecting a sense of depth. This syrah needs at least three years to reach its full complexity. Gravas is made by Enrique Tirado, who also makes Don Melchor.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Dark and concentrated, with juicy acidity supporting a floral-tinged core of macerated plum skin and blackberry coulis notes finely woven with layers of baking spice, game, graphite and grilled herb. Complex and long. Drink now through 2018. 880 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
This full-bodied red coats the palate with cream-tinged kirsch, blackberry sauce and grilled fig notes. Those give way to game, spice and dark cured olive hints, which add a lovely savory edge to the long finish. Drink now through 2017. 1,000 cases made.
James Suckling, 93 points
This has terracotta, burnt citrus, blackberries and blueberries on the nose. Full body, round texture, fruity and juicy. Open. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Winemaker Enrique Tirado selects the fruit for this cabernet from the younger vines at the Tocornal vineyard, planted around 2004. According to Tirado, these grapes give a lighter, fruitier wine than Don Melchor, which grows at the same site. In a fresh vintage like 2016, Gravas Rojas feels perfectly delineated by tense tannins, the red fruits in a state of juicy ripeness, leaving room for spice and menthol notes that increase the complexity. It’s a mid-weight red, with an herbal finish that’s an invitation to continue drinking.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Winemaker Enrique Tirado selects the fruit for this cabernet from the younger vines at the Tocornal vineyard, planted around 2004. According to Tirado, these grapes give a lighter, fruitier wine than Don Melchor, which grows at the same site. In a fresh vintage like 2016, Gravas Rojas feels perfectly delineated by tense tannins, the red fruits in a state of juicy ripeness, leaving room for spice and menthol notes that increase the complexity. It’s a mid-weight red, with an herbal finish that’s an invitation to continue drinking.
James Suckling, 93 points
Lots of decadent and ripe fruit with currants and wet earth. Full body, chewy and rich tannins and a round, fresh finish. This structured wine needs some age. Try in 2021.
James Suckling, 93 points
Freshly-picked blackcurrants, tile, clay, citrus rind, nutmeg and rosemary. Full body, very refined yet also very generous in terms of grainy tannins and darker fruit. Long and chewy on the finish. One of the great values in cabernet. Drink now or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
A gorgeous cabernet sauvignon with currants and hints of tobacco. Aromatic. Stone and dust too. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. One selected 50-hectoliter cask. Released January 2016. Give it three or four years of bottle age.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Dense, rich and full of dark fruit and spice flavors, supported by muscular tannins and acidity. The dried blackberry, black fig and smoke-infused cocoa powder notes feature some accents of dried meat. Best from 2015 through 2022. 77,220 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Concha y Toro offers three Upper Maipo cabernets, including this latest release from the warm and dry 2008 vintage. Marcelo Papa oversees the viticulture and winemaking for Marqués, grown at a vineyard on alluvial soils just east of Don Melchor’s vines. The wine is both tense and intense, the ripe flavors concentrated, almost explosive with blueberry and black cherry notes set off by a hint of menthol. It’s a big wine, even bigger than its neighbor Melchor, but with a more refined structure, built on a foundation of fine tannins that sustains the tension between fruit and texture. A wine to cellar for at least five years.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Winemaker Marcelo Papa has crafted the best Marqués Cabernet to date. Almost austere at first, it slowly opens to reveal opulent, juicy, savory fruit, its berry and mint flavors supported by a mineral acidity. Decant it for roast sweetbreads.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
What, at first, seems to be a superripe, concentrated carmenère slowly reveals itself as something different. After a few hours in the glass, the black-cherry flavors mix with herbal notes, gaining in freshness and vivacity. Give this young carmenère two or three years in the bottle.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is a fantastic chardonnay with impressive complexity. Dried apple, hints of lemons and lightly creamy oak. Stones and minerals, too. Full yet so vibrant and intense. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
There is more length and freshness in the 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Etiqueta Negra, a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, with finer tannins, more minerality and less fat, especially when tasted next to the 2017. This feels very harmonious and integrated, in the style of a classical Bordeaux, with juicy black fruit. 72,000 bottles. It was bottled in November 2019.
James Suckling, 93 points
An opulent blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petit verdot that delivers richness and softness. Full body and dark-berry and plum flavors. Very round tannins. Juicy fruit. Extremely long and flavorful. Very attractive. Napa-like. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Year's Best Maipo Reds
Marcelo Papa blended this wine from Puente Alto, once the name of Concha y Toro’s Tocornal Vineyard, where cabernet sauvignon, franc and petit verdot grow on a terrace above the Maipo River. Now Puente Alto is a DO, and the Marqués sector has been named El Mariscal; other sectors are home to Don Melchor and to Almaviva, the joint venture between Concha y Toro and Mouton-Rothschild. This blend spends 16 months in French oak barrels (60 percent of them new), and the length of fruit flavor shows little of that oak. It’s a wine of ripe amplitude and gentle Chilean quietude, the aroma nuanced and layered, the musky black-cherry flavors unfolding over the course of several hours and seeming to last for minutes after each sip. It’s rare to find a $40 wine of this quality and complexity from anywhere.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Best Buy
Marcelo Papa blended this wine from Puente Alto, once the name of Concha y Toro’s Tocornal Vineyard, where cabernet sauvignon, franc and petit verdot grow on a terrace above the Maipo River. Now Puente Alto is a DO, and the Marqués sector has been named El Mariscal; other sectors are home to Don Melchor and to Almaviva, the joint venture between Concha y Toro and Mouton-Rothschild. This blend spends 16 months in French oak barrels (60 percent of them new), and the length of fruit flavor shows little of that oak. It’s a wine of ripe amplitude and gentle Chilean quietude, the aroma nuanced and layered, the musky black-cherry flavors unfolding over the course of several hours and seeming to last for minutes after each sip. It’s rare to find a $40 wine of this quality and complexity from any-where. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Savory berry aromas come with a mineral note and the aromatic sensation of hot stones. This Cab blend feels fresh due to high acidity, which also lends a sense of choppiness to the palate. Spicy red-fruit flavors are enriched by beefy notes, while this tastes savory more than outright fruity on the finish. Drink through 2026. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is a dense and racy red with dark berry and hints of walnuts and currants. Black chocolate, too. Full body, tight and focused with an excellent energy. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petit verdot. New wine with excellent structure. Try in 2020.
James Suckling, 93 points
A solid malbec with crushed berries and firm, chewy tannins. It shows integrity and power. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Intense and structured. Give it some time. Better in a year or two, but already delicious.
James Suckling, 93 points #31 - Top 100 Wines of Chile 2020
Dark berries, dried strawberries and flowers on the nose, following through to a full body with firm and silky tannins and a long, juicy finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is a fantastic value pinot with spice, lightly grilled meat and almond. Medium body and firm and silky tannins. Austere finish. Light toffee undertone. 5,000 cases made. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
A syrah that shows a lot of smoked meat with juicy fruit and hints of spices. Full-bodied, chewy and flavorful. The firm tannins are polished and refined. Length and focus at the end. Racy. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
The blue-fruit and crushed-stone aromas really come out. Full-bodied, layered and beautiful with punchy tannins and lots of crushed black-pepper and mescal undertones. Extremely long and lightly chewy. Needs one or two years to come around. Try after 2021.
James Suckling, 93 points
A spicy syrah with lots of licorice, bark, earth, moss, forest floor and a hint of herbs. Firm yet very juicy with lovely acidity, lots of crunchy dark fruit and a mineral yet generous finish. Drink in 2020.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Toasted sandalwood, hints of sagebrush, crushed pencils, tart cranberry and vanilla brioche show on the nose of this bottling. The tannic structure is light but shows structure and tension, with rich flavors of cherry, cola, vanilla and clove.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Winemaker Dennis Martin puts grape grower Stephen Miller’s signature on this wine, a nod to the importance of this historic vineyard. The wine shows bright strawberry and raspberry with touch of savory wood smoke as well as hibiscus-laced pastry and a pinch of thyme. Earthy sagebrush and wild herb flavors frame the palate, where cooked cherries and cranberries are spiced by cardamom and dried ginger spice.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The Cabernet from Pirque, the 2017 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the cooler site in Maipo even in a warmer year like 2017. This has only a pinch of Cabernet Franc and comes through as very harmonious and varietal, with good ripeness and freshness, transcending the character of the year. It aged in 55% new French oak barrels for 17 months, a classical élevage, and despite the significant percentage of new oak, the oak feels quite integrated. 66,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2018.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is really well done with currants, blackberries and flowers. Very perfumed. Hints of asphalt. Full body, firm and silky tannins with lovely, berry character around it all. Just a hint of new wood with cedar. Drink or hold
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Year's Best Maipo Reds
Pirque Viejo is one of Concha y Toro’s oldest vineyard sites, at the base of the Andes and directly on the south bank of the Maipo River. The vines there are no longer as viejo as they were when Terrunyo was first created in the late 1990s; they have since been replanted (from 2003 to 2008) and yet those relatively young vines are performing beautifully in the rocky, alluvial soils. Their fruit tastes clean and pure in this 2017, the flavors lasting with stamina as they rise from low, earthy bass notes to smoky tenors and strawberry sopranos. It’s bold without being aggressive, a bright red jazzed with cool spice.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points Editors' Choice
Dark berry, rubber and brambly notes of wild brush open this well-built, saturated Cabernet. Spicy blackberry and herbal flavors are pure Maipo-Pirque, while this shows integrated oak, chocolate and a mix of ripeness of fruit and freshness on the finish. Drink through 2028. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Powerful, with savory richness to the dried berry, cherry and red currant flavors that are backed by firm tannins and acidity. Forest floor components extend on the crisp, pure-tasting finish, showing hints of mint. Drink now through 2028. 5,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 93 points
This is very intense and flavorful with tobacco, walnut, currant and spice. Medium to full body, chewy yet polished finish. Beautiful.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
An unctuous red, dripping with molten chocolate notes that wrap around concentrated dark and red fruit flavors. Very creamy, with a plush finish that offers a rich array of spice and mocha details. Drink now through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 5,893 cases made.
James Suckling, 93 points
Information unavailable
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
While many carmenères from the warm 2012 vintage are filled with liqueur-like scents, Ignacio Recabarren harvested this wine a few weeks earlier than usual, avoiding some of the heat stress that came later in the season. He captured a carmenère that’s vibrant yet voluptuous, one that needs three to four years to open completely.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is very luxurious in style with graphite, lead pencil and violet character. Full body, with silky tannins that show wonderful texture and length. It’s closed now but will give so much more in two or three years.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 2008 Terrunyo Carmenere contains 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in its blend. It was sourced from the same site as the 2007 and received the identical elevage. It displays a very similar aromatic and flavor profile as well as a voluptuous body. Like the 2007, it will evolve for several years and offers a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2023. Both vintages are approachable now which is a good thing because readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off these two beauties.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The fruit for the purple-colored 2007 Terrunyo Carmenere (which contains 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc) was sourced from Block 27 of the Peumo Vineyard in Rapel planted in 1987. The wine was aged for 19 months in 70% new French oak. It offers up a captivating bouquet of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, floral notes, black plum, and blackberry. This sets the stage for a full-bodied, dense, plush, full-flavored, incipiently complex Carmenere that has the balance and structure to evolve for several more years. It will provide optimum drinking from 2015 to 2022. Both vintages are approachable now which is a good thing because readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off these two beauties.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Ignacio Recabarren crafts Terrunyo from the fruit of vines planted in the early ’80s at Peumo, making one of the most impressive carmenères from Chile. This vintage shows a dense core of red fruit that seems to pulse with intense cherry and ripe raspberry flavors. It’s juicy and fleshy, with a chocolate-like texture that hides strong tannins. Save it for 3 to 4 years or serve it now with venison.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
According to winemaker Ignacio Recabarren, 2002 in Cachapoal didn’t have the structure and the power of the previous and acclaimed 2001 vintage. That’s why he focused his efforts on a careful selection of grapes and included more cabernet sauvignon from Maipo Valley in this blend. The result is a dramatic red, full of black cherry and strawberry flavor. Muscular and firm, its solid tannins support the voluptuous fruit that saturates the palate, its fresh and sharp acidity feeling like a cold wind at sunset in Peumo. Carmenère at its best.
James Suckling, 93 points
A pretty nose, yet one with concentration. It shows dark plums, cranberry sauce, peppercorns and dark stones. Medium body, ripe and structured tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2022.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is a very focused and precise carmenere with blueberry and fresh herb aromas and flavors. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Stone and tar character. Citrus undertones. Only 2,400 bottles made. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
A fresh and clean sauvignon with sliced apple and lime undertones. Some lilac. Full body, lovely fruit and then takes off towards the close. Wonderful finish. Long and subtle. Drink now. Screw cap.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Best Sauv Blanc of the New World
A taut white full of citrus flavors, this sauvignon is structurally strong, with lively acidity from start to finish—the kind of wine that immediately invites a second glass. Since his first release with the 1999 vintage, Ignacio Recabarren has made Terrunyo the reference for coastal Chilean sauvignon blanc.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
Information unavailable
Wine & Spirits, 93 points
The 2008 Terrunyo Syrah is blended with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and matured for 2 years in 60% new French oak. It offers an attractive nose of Moroccan spice and leather, while the palate is medium-bodied with crisp, furry tannins and a composed, ferrous finish with touches of spice and balsamic. Drink now-2017.
James Suckling, 93 points
Ripe-plum, blueberry, lavender and cocoa aromas. It’s full-bodied with ripe, rounded tannins. Smooth and seamless, almost buttery, with layers of dark fruit and sweet spice. Fresh mid-palate, but leads to a long, evolving finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
Fantastic aromas of blueberries and violets follow through to a full body, very fine tannins and a focused finish. Shows finesse and beauty. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
Toasty, slightly gritty aromas of blackberry mixed with peppercorn, coffee and woodspice are appealing. This Malbec is lively and juicy, with elegance and depth to the palate. Chocolaty, spicy oak sits on top of blackberry and cassis flavors. It’s woody, spicy and dry on a firm finish. Drink through 2026.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
According to a metal label attached to the bottle, the 2012 vintage of Eolo marks the 100th anniversary of the vineyard planted on the banks of the Mendoza River. Dark-colored and dense, it looks ripe and concentrated only swirling the glass. The nose has some oak and lactic aromas, graphite and toasted bread intermixed with ripe black fruit, plums and dark cherries. There are also more delicate, floral aromas underneath. Full-bodied, ripe and powerful, this is not a shy wine. It is well-oaked, it has big bones and is nicely crafted with a slight international flair to the style defined by ripe fruit and generous, creamy oak. This big style wine has nice balance and very fine tannins. It’s a powerful Malbec that feels very young and has the stuffing to develop nicely in bottle. 5,000 bottles.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 2011 Amado Sur Malbec label says that this is 78% Malbec, 12% Bonarda and 10% Syrah sourced from different zones of Mendoza, Lujan De Cuyo, Tupungato and Maipu. Only 40% of the wine matured in oak barrels for one year. It has a nose of ripe black fruit, dark spices and a hint of leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied with both ripe tannins and balancing acidity, clean flavors and good length. Drink now-2015.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Toasty, displaying mesquite, baking spice and licorice notes to the racy plum sauce and creamy wild berry compote flavors, remaining fresh as the finish reverberates with fruit character. Drink now through 2017.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Very rich but refined, with alluring spice and violet notes up front, followed by layers of raspberry ganache, black licorice, boysenberry and blueberry compote notes. The long, polished, pure fruit-driven finish sails on. Drink now through 2012.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Really loaded, with a huge core of raspberry ganache, currant paste, warm fig and melted black licorice flavors that all glide over rich, creamy tannins. Muscular but accessible, with a superlong finish. Malbec, with 10 percent Syrah. Debut release. Drink now through 2014. 208 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points Editors' Choice
This Syrah-based blend is ripe, flush and sets a new high-water mark for Viña Maipo, part of the Concha y Toro group. On the palate, this is jammy, deep and complete, with layering. Flavors of toasty oak, graphite, wood spice and blackberry end with oak-aided coffee, mocha and chocolate notes. Drink this concentrated Syrah-Cabernet blend through 2022.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is a bold and impressive syrah that shows tons of dark fruit, such as morello cherries and dark plums with vanilla and clove undertones. Full-bodied and packed with layers of intense fruit, but with some good structure is carved out by the juicy tannins and finely presented acidity. Drink in 2023.
James Suckling, 93 points
A very enticing cabernet that shows burnt blackberries and tangerines, in addition to five-spice, mocha and clove character. Medium body, integrated tannins and a grainy, vibrant finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
The blue fruit and dried herbs are very pretty with hints of thyme and rosemary. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of Japanese bell peppers to the fruit on the finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 93 points
This is very intense with loads of toasted oak, lemon rind and vanilla. Full-bodied and round textured. Oily texture but remains energetic. Contrasty white. 20% concrete eggs with the rest full-Burgundy treatment.
James Suckling, 93 points
A blue-fruited malbec that shows pressed violets, tar, iodine and dark plums. There’s a great sense of purity to the fruit on the palate, which is supported by grainy and attractive tannins. Tightly cut finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
Blackberries, dried herbs, cedar, wet earth, tobacco and vanilla. Full body, round yet structured tannins and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.
James Suckling, 93 points
Ripe cherries, lavender, shea butter and milk chocolate. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a creamy texture. Seamless and caressing with a long, polished finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 93 points
Aromas and flavors of tar, blackberries and raspberries. Full body, soft and round tannins and a flavorful finish. Rich, punchy wine, but not overdone. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Best Buy
This is a modern malbec from old vines in Vistalba, one of the highest sites in Luján de Cuyo. Its flavors feel muscular and deep, blending ripe cherry-and-raspberry-scented fruit with violet notes. Toasted wood aromas are present, but act only to support the fruit, which is juicy and seductive from the first sip.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
The 2010 Golden Reserve Syrah also spent 12 months in a combination of both new and used barrels. It has a ravishing bouquet of blackberry, creme de cassis, lavender and minerals that is compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannins that caress the mouth, and they build to a luscious blueberry, cassis and black olive finish that could have been over-powering or ostentatious, but instead is refined and elegant. This is a superb Argentinean Syrah. Drink now-2020+
James Suckling, 93 points
A juicy and rich red with dark berry, chocolate and almond aromas and flavors. Full body, chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Very salty on the finish. Impressive. A blend of 79% malbec, 11% bonarda and 10% syrah. Better in 2018.
Wine & Spirits, 93 points Top 100 (2018)
Matt Toloni is the organic farmer behind Bonterra’s biodynamic program, having earned Demeter certification for the Butler Ranch in 2004. This vineyard, west of Highway 101 near Ukiah, rises from 1,700 to 2,200 feet with east- and north-facing exposures. It produced a floral syrah in 2013, which Bob Blue blended with 20 percent of other varieties, including mourvedre, grenache and zinfandel. It has the fresh scent of roses and the deep purple tones of salted plums. Tense and spicy, with a clean line in the end, this is a delicious match for salumi. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
Wine Spectator, 93 points
Elegant and powerful, with loads of dark berry, cherry and currant flavors, featuring notes of dark olive and allspice. The leafy finish is long and rich, showing some creamy hints to the dark chocolate accents. Drink now through 2020. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 93 points
I tasted the 2008 Carmín de Peumo, which has been in bottle since December 2009, to follow its evolution in bottle. The Carmenere was blended with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc and was aged in 90% new French oak for 17 months. They brought me this wine because they didn’t produce it in 2015 or 2016, and the 2017 was not ready and not bottled, but they think 2018 is a very similar vintage to 2008. It has a developed and classical nose with those notes of tobacco and something earthy, with a distinct note of tar. But the palate is fresh, and it has 14% alcohol. It’s elegant, fresh and what Carmenere should be. It’s still young and lively, with years ahead in bottle. 19,200 bottles were produced. The classical triangle for growing Carmenere is Peumo, Apalta and Pichidegua. Other than that, it’s too difficult…
James Suckling, 93 points
The blue fruit and dried herbs are very pretty with hints of thyme and rosemary. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of Japanese bell peppers to the fruit on the finish. Drink or hold.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Creamy oak and vanilla aromas are up front and dominate the nose on this high-end Chardonnay from Limarí. Acid-driven freshness defines the palate feel, not resiny oak or sticky fruit, although this is definitely ripe throughout. Flavors of spiced apple and honeydew melon finish with lasting barrel notes. Drink now; this is in peak condition. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2017 Amelia Chardonnay was produced with grapes from Limarí, from the Quebrada Seca vineyard in a slightly warmer year that achieved 14.2% alcohol while keeping good acidity. It fermented in French oak barrels, 18% of them new, where the wine aged for 12 months before bottling. There is a huge change in the wine here: In the past, it was produced with grapes from Casablanca and had a traditionally Casablancan profile; now the grapes are sourced from two specific plots (3 and 4) that tend to produce wines with a little more structure than other plots from Quebrada Seca. Now the wine has a sharper, more mineral and serious personality, more vertical but with good volume too, a little rounder. This is a little more powerful and has more shoulders than the verticality I found in the Quebrada Seca bottling from Maycas de Limarí. 7,900 bottles were filled in March 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Dried red cherry, wild thyme, sagebrush and an underlying hint of game show on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard first planted more than four decades ago. The palate is herbaceous at first before delivering flavors of roast pork in a mulberry-thyme sauce.
James Suckling, 92 points
Fresh and funky nose of geraniums, raspberries, licorice and caraway seeds. Intriguing hints of tiger balm. It’s medium-bodied with crisp acidity and sleek, tight tannins. Juicy fruit and soil flavors. Refreshingly moreish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Big, tight and tannic, this is a full-fledged dinner wine that needs to pair with a nice caloric veal shank or lasagna. It’s made with 80% Syrah, so the color is almost black, the aromas are spicy and smoky and the flavors feature black cherry, espresso and dark chocolate. The texture is both mouth filling and a bit astringent due to hefty tannins.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Drenched with blackberry and blueberry flavors, this full-bodied Bordeaux-style red blend adds baking spices and chocolate to the mix for an approach that’s hard not to like. It’s made from biodynamic grapes from a single vineyard. Jim Gordon
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Cellar Selection
This is a bold dry wine from one of Bonterra’s biodynamically farmed vineyards, and it has plenty of tannin in the texture and an abundance of ripe black-cherry, wood smoke and baking spice flavors to fill out that firm frame. For all its power the wine is also polished and velvety enough to sip with pleasure. Best after 2020.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Cellar Selection
Brawny but polished, this dark-colored and full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend has a tantalizing aroma of cedar and cigar box, then rich but bright fruit flavors and a satisfying layered and tannic texture. Great acidity and just-ripe fruit help it balance out the handsome oaky character and firm tannins. Best after 2019.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
A deep gold color and bold buttery aromas set up an expectation for rich flavors, which come in the form of butter, butterscotch, vanilla and cream, with some tasty Anjou pear underneath. The wine was made from biodynamic grapes and matured in French oak barrels, making it full bodied, mouthfilling and indulgent.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Editors' Choice
A buttery aroma leads to rich butterscotch flavors and a buttery finish, too. But then there’s more with each sip. The wine is dry but easy on the palate, and reveals tasty apple, almond and toasted walnut flavors with time. These all add complexity and lift it well above the ordinary. Made with certified Biodynamic grapes.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
The Peumo Vineyard, on the north bank of the Cachapoal River, produces Concha y Toro’s most ambitious carmenère, crafted by Ignacio Recabarren off a single block of vines planted in the early 1970s. The warm 2009 season subdued carmenère’s vegetal notes under riper flavors of chocolate and sweet spice. The tannin structure is substantial enough to support the wine’s weight, holding this monumental wine in balance.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
The Peumo Vineyard, on the north bank of the Cachapoal River, produces Concha y Toro’s most ambitious carmenère, crafted by Ignacio Recabarren off a single block of vines planted in the early 1970s. The warm 2009 season subdued carmenère’s vegetal notes under riper flavors of chocolate and sweet spice. The tannin structure is substantial enough to support the wine’s weight, holding this monumental wine in balance.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is drinking beautifully now and evolves into aniseed and black licorice character. It’s mediu- bodied, with ultra-fine tannins. Caresses your palate. 86% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc, and 8% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
This ripe red boasts juicy but focused crushed blackberry, plum and black currant fruit, woven with alluring toasty vanilla, espresso and black licorice notes. The lengthy, pure finish has a nice underlying minerality. Drink now through 2012. 900 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
For serious Carmenère, Carmín is at the top of the list. It’s almost late-harvest in terms of richness and ripeness, with earth, leather, mineral, pepper, plum and berry on the nose. Dense and balanced, yet a little on the soft side, with meaty raspberry and plum flavors. Finishes dark, with coffee, toast and leather. A cuddly, chewy wine to drink now for all its power and richness.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is firm and delicious with dark chocolate, walnuts and hints of berry. Full body, silky tannins and a long finish. This is the first vintage of the wine. It’s more austere and firm now. 88% carmenere, 1.5% petit verdot, 10.5% cabernet sauvignon.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Gorgeous nose of plum sauce, cocoa and aged tobacco, with a rich, fleshy palate of currant, cherry and blackberry fruit layered with loam and tobacco notes. Rock solid finish. An impressive debut. Carmenère with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2007 through 2010. 500 cases made.
James Suckling, 92 points
Attractive, ripe purple berries with plenty of toasty oak, layered on top. The palate has a smooth and juicy feel with a long, plush and silky build that holds fresh. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
James Suckling, 92 points
Attractive flowers and a fresh red-berry and mulberry nose that leads to a palate with a very fleshy, upbeat and fresh finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
A creamy and delicious pinot with strawberries and hints of orange peel that follow to a medium body, fresh acidity and a delicious finish. Creamy and fruity. Delicate at the same time. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Interesting aromas of blackberry, stone, slate and mint. Full body, firm and silky with juicy fruit. Flavorful finish. Drink now or hold.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Earthy, spicy berry aromas come with accents of tomato, oregano and other herbs. This winner of a Cabernet is edgy, lively and tannic. Spicy oak, herbal notes of tobacco and thyme, raw oak and berry fruit flavors finish toasty, oaky, tannic and drawing. Drink through 2022.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A mature and powerful red, with notes of French roast coffee to the plum, dried cherry and mocha flavors. Intense dark chocolate and Asian spice accents linger on the ripe finish. Drink now through 2019. 330 cases made. –KM
Wine Advocate, 92 points
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Initially this smells foxy, with jumpy untamed berry and plum notes racing across the nose. After the aromas come around, this is hard and choppy on the palate, while herbal black-plum and carob flavors finish more lushly than before, but still fairly tannic. Drink through 2023.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
This is a riper, heavier than usual Don Melchor, as evidenced by aromas of raisin along with black plum, coffee and creamy oak. A full, round, plush palate offers more than adequate depth, while black cherry, plum and vanilla flavors come with hints of licorice and chocolate. Hailing from a hot vintage, this avoids almost all herbal characteristics but feels a bit soft and simple. Drink through 2023.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
The 2009 vintage will be remembered as a warm year in the Maipo, producing ripe, voluptuous reds. Among them, Don Melchor is one of the most successful cabernets of the vintage. It surrounds a robust texture with sweet hints of cinnamon and clove, the warmth of the wine balancing the power of tannins. This is a cabernet to drink on cold winter nights, with cheese.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Cellar Selection
This iconic Chilean Cabernet is firm on the nose, with cola, cassis, cherry and leather aromas. It’s racy, juicy and powerful, with flavors of cassis, blackberry, plum, nutmeg and coffee that swim in harmony. This is big, but also elegant and clean. Drink through 2019.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2008 Don Melchor is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that is aged for 15 months in French oak (72% new and 28% one-year old.) It has a crisp, precise nose of blackberry, fish scale and fresh black olives. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins on the entry. It is grippy in the mouth with good weight, but manages to retain fine focus and builds nicely to a citrus-fresh finish with touches of orange peel and marmalade. Drink 2014-2020.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
Enrique Tirado blends Concha y Toro’s top cabernet from a terrace above the Maipo River, where the vines were planted in the mid-1970s. The warm 2007 vintage produced a robust and generous Don Melchor, succulent in its blackberry jam flavors accompanied by mocha notes. It’s a powerful wine to drink now with roast lamb or to cellar for at least three years.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
In recent years, with winemaker Enrique Tirado firmly at the helm, Don Melchor has gotten better and better. And while 2004 was an average year in Chile, this ranks as the best Melchor we’ve sampled. The wine has beautiful blackberry, cola and pepper aromas in front of cassis, cherry, plum, nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. It’s brawny but balanced, with excellent natural acidity. Best from 2008–2012.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Ripe and focused, with a pure beam of black currant and plum fruit, layered with cocoa, mineral, loam, tobacco and toast. Ripe, smoky finish, with impressive structure for the vintage. Drink now through 2010. 11,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
After a complicated 2000, Don Melchor is back. Grown at El Tocornal vineyard, at 2,200 feet in the cool breezes of the Andes, the newest version of this classic Alto Maipo cabernet is firm and round, ripe and elegant. The texture is generous, the firm tannic structure releasing cassis and blueberry flavors as the wine takes on oxygen. The fresh acidity, along with the juiciness and massive attack of the fruit, points to a great cabernet vintage in Maipo. You may want to lay this down and allow its complexity to develop.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Quite backward now, this dense Cab is keeping its currant, cocoa, mineral, loam and toast notes in reserve while the thick tannins work themselves out. Impressive concentration, with a long, grip-filled finish. Built for the cellar. Most impressive Don Melchor yet. Best from 2004 through 2010. 11,935 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
No tasting note given.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
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Wine & Spirits, 92 points
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Wine Advocate, 92 points
At age 27 the 1995 Don Melchor was showing surprisingly well. The blend that year was 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, with 13.3% alcohol. The temperatures during the growing season were close to the average, and the rain was slightly lower. The minty and balsamic character has gown compared with the 1988 I tasted side by side with this. It was an average year in temperature but quite dry; it was a year of powerful wines, meaty and powerful, with that menthol, almost eucalyptus, note. The palate is spicy and with full body, with sweeter fruit, wider, with concentration and depth. It was bottled in October 1996 after some 12 months in French oak barrels, 65% of them new and 35% second use. 205,000 bottles produced.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
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James Suckling, 92 points
This has a fresh nose of crushed raspberries, cherry stones, cloves, citrus peel and soil. It’s medium-bodied, juicy and flavorful, with soft, silky tannins. Delightful. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
A full-bodied white with aromas and flavors of nectarine, mango, vanilla and toast. Flint and crushed hazelnut, too. Creamy texture with crisp acidity. Clean finish with lingering flint and nuts. Some nougat and yogurt. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
This syrah grows along the south bank of the Maipo River, in Buín, where vines on gravelly sands often produce muscular and voluptuous reds. This syrah needs air to reveal its true personality. At first, it seems to be a big block of black fruits, but after a few hours, it delivers herbal, earthy details that lend it complexity and finesse. An impressive, palate-filling syrah.
James Suckling, 92 points
A spicy and rich syrah with lots of dried fruit character. Full to medium body, silky tannins, and turns to raw meat, dark fruit, and tea leaf. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Top Wine
Dense and powerful, with layers of dark fruit fringed by concentrated smoke and Asian spice notes. The muscular finish is filled with dark chocolate and espresso accents that are rich and alluring. Drink now through 2020. 319 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Dense and structured, delivering lots of loam and roasted fig notes underneath the core of black currant, maduro tobacco and roasted espresso flavors. Long and powerful, but with refined tannins coursing through the finish. Contains 12 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the debut release of this wine. Drink now through 2014. 200 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The Gravas Rojas is now the 2017 Gravas del Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon, which is just a change of name, and the wine still contains some 10% Cabernet Franc (and 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot). It’s balsamic and minty, very old-style Maipo, classical and structured, with volume, power and a lactic/creamy touch. It matured 14 months in French barriques, 25%. This wine might change in 2018. 18,000 bottles were filled in January 2019.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
There is always a little Cabernet Franc in the 2016 Gravas Rojas, a very classical and round, spicy and herbal Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto. This is not that different from the flagship Don Melchor, which is produced from the same vineyard (and I also tasted the 2016 next to this), but it seems to be a little more rustic. It’s very tasty, though, and has the Maipo personality with subtle balsamic notes and herbal twists. Very tasty.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Red-fruit aromas are fresh and suggest raspberry rather than anything dark or oaky. A full palate is a bit choppy with acidity and tannins, but this wine can handle that ruggedness. Flavors of plums and berries lead to a dry, toasty finish with some heat. Drink through 2026.
James Suckling, 92 points
A soft and stony red with blackberry and hints of bark. Medium to full body and soft and silky tannins. 500 cases made. Very drinkable now.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Intense, powerful and rich-tasting, featuring a luscious core of red fruit and dark cherry flavors, matched to vibrant acidity and medium-grained tannins. The silky finish offers a savoriness that lengthens out nicely, with minerally accents. Drink now through 2024. 500 cases made.
James Suckling, 92 points
A cabernet that shows structure, yet at the same time it is savory and pure with currant, chocolate and walnut undertones. Juicy with lots of cassis, too. Full-bodied, chewy and savory. Dry. Delicious. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
Aromas of currants, sweet tobacco and hints of cedar. Medium to full body, dense and spicy. Shows intense tannins yet the pretty fruit and freshness keeps it all together. Drink in 2019.
James Suckling, 92 points
Aromas of blueberry, stone and violet follow through to a medium body, fine tannins and a fresh and dry finish. Subtle texture. Shows tension. Serious style. Drink now
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2013 vintage of the Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition was sourced from the Pirque appellation within the Maipo valley, unlike the 2010 that I tasted last time that was sourced from Puente Alto. This follows the stylistic line of that 2010 Limited Edition, as it was harvested early, looking for a fresh wine with a lot less concentration and oak; but this time it was sourced from vines planted in 1996 closer to the Andes. The wine was produced in a very classical way, in stainless steel with pumping over and then matured exclusively in un-toasted 5,000-liter botti from Piemonte for 22 months. The difference with the 2013 Casillero del Diablo Leyenda Cabernet Sauvignon, which is quit similar and I tasted it side by side with this, is that the botti here was completely un-toasted, the staves were bent with steam instead of with fire and the élevage of the wine was longer. Bigger volume oak containers polish the tannins of Cabernet much slower than the barrique and the wine needs more time. This shows much better integration of all components and feels purer, fresher and more aromatic. The palate also shows very good integration and the texture is finer, lace rather than velvet, with a very fine thread of acidity. Super! These almost experimental wines really help to open the way for the bigger volume bottlings. Only 6,600 bottles were produced and filled in March 2015.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
You can feel the freshness of the 2010 vintage in this wine, in its scents of herbs and eucalyptus and its refreshing red fruit flavors—a contrast to the darker fruit ripeness of the Marques 2009. The pointed acidity acts as a framework to hold all the power of the wine’s flavors.
James Suckling, 92 points
A more refined carmenere with the normal aromas and flavors of dried herbs and earth, fresh and dried fruit. Medium-to full-bodied, tight and focused. Long, flavorful finish. Yet subtle. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Aromas of walnuts, dried fruit and blackberry follow through to a full body, spicy and juicy fruit and a rose petal and dark fruit aftertaste. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points Years Best
Led by a charming core of herbs and black fruits, this is an intense carmenere, ripe and round, with the depth and density the variety attained in the warm 2014 vintage. It needs time to evolve, but would already fit comfortably with lentil soup and bacon.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
While Terrunyo and Carmín come from specific sites, Marqués is Marcelo Papa’s selection from the 540 acres of carmenère Concha y Toro grows in Peumo. From the relatively warm 2012 vintage, this is a carmenère driven by red fruit and mild notes of black pepper. Substantial and firm, this is polished and refreshed by its acidity—another signal that Peumo is a great terroir for carmenère.
James Suckling, 92 points
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Wine Advocate, 92 points
The sharper and saltier 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay shows the Chablis-like character of he limestone soils and the marine influence from the proximity of the sea. They used some 600-liter barrels and lowered the percentage of new barrels, so the oak is very integrated. The wine is long and mineral, serious and balanced. 180,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2019.
James Suckling, 92 points
Plenty of white pepper and lightly cooked apples and lemon curd. Chalk undertones. Full-to medium-bodied, dense and tight palate with sliced lemon and lime flavors. Extremely long and vivid. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
A gorgeous chardonnay with hints of apple, chalk, cream and lemon character. Medium to full body, bright acidity and a flavorful finish. Light barrel aging, about 20% new, gives the wine complexity. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
Winemaker Marcelo Papa helped to pioneer viticulture in the Limarí Valley, while working for the Calina winery during the mid-1990s. And since joining Concha y Toro in 1998, he has added that northern fruit to his wines, including this chardonnay from vines planted ten years ago at Quebrada Seca, a stony site with calcareous soils about 18 miles from the ocean. Like many chardonnays in the area, this has a strong saline component that mixes with the aromas and flavors of ripe white fruits and spice. It is unctuous, but with an almost tannic density contributing structure. It still needs a couple of years to achieve greater complexity.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
From the clay and chalk soils of Limarí, about 15 miles from the sea, this focuses on the salty mineral side of chardonnay. It starts off ripe and fruity, seducing with mild sweetness and a layer of creamy roundness. Then, what’s underneath comes to the top, as the limestone-driven structure provides tense acidity, combining with salty flavors in a pointedly firm texture. Built to cellar.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points Years Best New World Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay from Limarí, in northern Chile, is often marked by the limestone soils and the influence of the sea. Both lend a sturdy structure and salty flavors to this 2013: Rich in mineral aromas and taut with acidity that refreshes from the beginning to the end, this is a wine for grilled shrimp.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
NR
James Suckling, 92 points
I love this new rosé that is bright and very clean with flowers such as rose petal and peach as well. Medium body. Very dry and delicate. A pure rosé that is reminiscent of those from Provence. Best in Chile? Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 92 points
The blackberry and wet-earth character is impressive here. Medium to full body and creamy tannins. The quality is excellent with a refined texture. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
A juicy and flavorful red with dark-berry and walnut character. Hint of bay leaf. Medium to full body, round and polished tannins and a savory finish. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
NR
James Suckling, 92 points
Led by a charming core of herbs and black fruits, this is an intense carmenere, ripe and round, with the depth and density the variety attained in the warm 2014 vintage. It needs time to evolve, but would already fit comfortably with lentil soup and bacon.
James Suckling, 92 points
The blue fruit and flowers are so attractive, giving perfumed and vivid aromas. Medium-bodied with hints of stems and whole bunch fermentation. Tannic and firm. Solid as always. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
I love this new rosé that is bright and very clean with flowers such as rose petal and peach as well. Medium body. Very dry and delicate. A pure rosé that is reminiscent of those from Provence. Best in Chile? Drink now. Screw cap.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
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James Suckling, 92 points
This is real syrah with very pretty fruit and the dried meat and earth character at the finish. Medium to full body. All here. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
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Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Composed on the bouquet, with generous aromas of marzipan, cedar, olive and high-grade dark-berry fruits, this pure, powerful Syrah from a warm year is bursting with plum, raspberry and boysenberry flavors along with chocolate and fine oak. A finish graced by mocha and coffee flavors is smooth in feel after an initial acidic blast. Drink through 2020.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
In this syrah from the Alto Maipo, the density of fruit comes across in ripe blackberry and blueberry flavors, accented by sweet spice. The firm, sinewy structure keeps it balanced and drives the fruit through a long finish. For beef slow braised in red wine.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A velvety red, with plush and well-spiced flavors of plum tart, cherry cobbler and raspberry that are supported by medium-grained tannins. The creamy finish lingers effortlessly, showing hints of dried mint. Drink now through 2022.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is very floral and vivid with notes of roses and stems. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and flavors of blue fruit and fresh herbs, such as thyme. Lovely texture and fruit. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
Reflecting a cooler year, the 2016 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon has less alcohol and better acidity than the 2015 I also tasted next to it. The vines are some of the oldest they have and were planted in Pirque Viejo in 2003 at some 650 meters in altitude. The wine matured in 55% new French oak barrels for 16 months. The freshness of the year has produced a much more elegant wine than in 2015, and this vineyard was harvested before the rain, so the fruit was very healthy. This is a very pure expression, with some more herbal notes, juicy fruit and finer, more elegant tannins than 2015. 87,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Spicy, savory berry aromas meld with forest floor, earth and tobacco notes. On the palate, this feels quite fresh and vibrant, but still full in body and layered. Raspberry, currant and bramble flavors are savory and spicy, with a backing of toast, pepper and cocoa on the finish. Drink through 2025.
James Suckling, 92 points
A rich and silky red with lots of walnut, currant and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium body, fine tannins and a rose petal and berry aftertaste. Firm. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
As I’ve seen in many of the 2013 wines produced by winemaker Ignacio Recabarren, there is a big jump in freshness in the 2013 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon, which shows elegant, balanced and layered aromas of black raspberries, tobacco leaf, cracked pepper, hints of spices, smoke and aromatic herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very good acidity and freshness, with very fine and elegant tannins. This is superb Cabernet Sauvignon. 73,300 bottles produced.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
A rich red, this is packed with liqueur-like aromas and robust tannins, herbal notes bringing freshness to the mix. The heat of 2012 shows in the sweet ripeness of the flavor, while the tannic structure has a classical firmness, suggesting five years of cellaring.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A big, strapping red, with flavors of dark currant, mineral, graphite and dried plum, powered by muscular tannins and plenty of fresh acidity. The rich, cream-filled finish, featuring dark chocolate notes, completes the package. Drink now through 2020. 5,300 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Cellar Selection
Deep, alluring aromas of blackberry and cassis are youthful and thus a bit animal and wild. In the mouth, this young CS is chunky, rubbery and dense. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and black coffee are on the dark side, while the finish offers a meaty, substantive feel, tons of lasting fruit flavor, and a touch of heat and burn that will fade away with more time in bottle. Best from 2016–2022.
James Suckling, 92 points
Aromas of blackberries with hints of fresh herbs and rose petals. Full body, with very fine tannins with wonderful fruit that shows plenty of polished tannins and a crisp finish. This is finer than the 2011. A small percent cabernet sauvignon. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 92 points +
Winemaker Ignacio Recabarren is an enquiring mind, and he likes to experiment with small lots that often result in extraordinary wines. This is the case with the very limited 2014 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1, which has the subtitle of “Bajo las burras,” the name of the specific plot of vines used for the vinification. The plants were over 40 years old and were ripped up after this harvest because they were in a poor state and produced very irregular grapes, so this is a one off. The vinification was pretty normal—in closed stainless steel vats, followed by 16 months in French oak barrels. It was blended with 1% Cabernet Franc. There are notes of blackberries, aromatic herbs and spices and a sense of balance and subtleness I didn’t find in the rest of the range. The palate has very fine tannins and gobsmacking balance. This is a great Maipo Cabernet. Unfortunately, only 2,200 bottles were filled in October 2016.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2018 Terrunyo Carmenere tries to show the Peumo terroir without any makeup—they have shortened the time in barrique to 10 months and have introduced some 500-liter oak barrels. The grapes always come from the same plot, and the grapes are picked at more or less the same dates. 2018 is a complete vintage, when the grapes ripened properly while maintaining the acidity. 108,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.
James Suckling, 92 points #53 - Top 100 Wines of Chile 2020
I love the aromas of dried red chili and paprika with dark berry and cherry. Full-to-medium body, lovely silky tannins and a bright and tangy finish. Shows balance and freshness. Lovely austerity. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Extremely aromatic with fresh herb, currant bush and blackberry. Black olives. Full-bodied, round and fruity. Very soft texture.
James Suckling, 92 points Top Wine
A rich and well-sculpted red, bursting with fresh flavors of dark plum, cherry tart and dried blackberry. Asian spice notes fill in midpalate. The complex finish balances savory and dark chocolate notes. Drink now through 2020. 100 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A rich and well-sculpted red, bursting with fresh flavors of dark plum, cherry tart and dried blackberry. Asian spice notes fill in midpalate. The complex finish balances savory and dark chocolate notes. Drink now through 2020. 100 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A rich and well-sculpted red, bursting with fresh flavors of dark plum, cherry tart and dried blackberry. Asian spice notes fill in midpalate. The complex finish balances savory and dark chocolate notes. Drink now through 2020. 100 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Mossy, lightly herbal aromas of blackberry and marzipan are attractive. This is rich, loud and racy in the mouth, with vanilla, tobacco, plum and berry flavors that finish long and ride elegantly on a beam of slightly sharp acidity. Drink this fine Carmenère through 2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Big, stout and solid, with a smoky, pure-fruit nose that’s very attractive. Lush and full in the mouth, with pure, deep, intoxicating flavors of blackberrry, black currant and Mediterranean black olive. Solid throughout and holds its form across the finish. Ripe, smooth and delicious. Drink now thru 2012.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
Ignacio Recabarren has been crafting Terrunyo carmenère from a block of mature vines in Peumo since 1998, and it’s consistently one of the best examples of the variety in Chile. In a hot year like 2003, the wine hides the grape’s herbal side, instead offering a ripe, lush sweetness. Chocolate and mocha flavors add density, while the acidity lasts to the end, creating a lovely fresh finish. Decant it to obtain more complexity.
Wine Advocate, 92 points +
I had already previewed this 2013 Terrunyo Lot 1 Carménère when it was still very young and unbottled, and later once it was already in bottle. This is almost an experimental wine; Ignacio Recabarren played with ripeness and time in oak in search of a fresher wine, for which 2013 provided perfect conditions. The wine was bottled after only six months in barrique (when in a year like 2003, the upbringing lasted a whopping 22 months!), and resulted in a fresh wine with moderate spice and smoky aromas with a core of crunchy red cherries, very fine tannins and great acidity. This is groundbreaking Carménère. Only 2,400 bottles were filled with the juice of 2013 in June 2014.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The one bottling I tasted from the white variety, the 2017 Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc, was produced with fruit from Los Boldos vineyard (they buy the grapes from Kingston) on red clay soils at some 14 kilometers from the sea in the southeast of the Casablanca Valley. It’s produced in a reductive way, from the pneumatic press to the whole process in stainless steel in absence of oak. It was kept in stainless steel with the lees that were stirred weekly for some six months. It’s serious, somehow austere and with more citrus than exotic fruit and limited herbal notes, more on the spicy side. This is very Casablancan, with gooseberry and white fruit and a sharp, austere palate while keeping the texture and mouthfeel, with good volume. It’s remarkably fresh for a warm year, with the electric sensation provided by granite. 14,400 bottles were filled in September 2017.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2013 Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from the cooler part of the Casablanca Valley very close to Valparaiso and produced by Ignacio Recabarren in Puente Alto, Maipo. Again, they sometimes harvest at night to avoid daytime heat on the grapes during the long trip to the winery. From a very cold vintage, the 2013 is an austere Sauvignon, with a citric personality – sharp, vertical and focused – as well as notes of crushed rocks and gooseberries, followed by a salty finish with electric acidity and minerality. This Sancerre-styled Sauvignon should age well. Drink 2014-2018.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
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Wine & Spirits, 92 points
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Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2007 Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc Block 27 is medium straw-colored with a superb bouquet of freshly cut hay, grapefruit, lemon-lime, and gooseberry. This is followed by a lush, ripe, focused Sauvignon with layers of flavor, superb balance, and a pure, fruit-filled finish. It should drink well for another 1-2 years and offers sensational value.
James Suckling, 92 points
At first, you get fresh herbs and grass, then this turns to freshly squeezed nectarines, limes and minerals. Medium to full body, finely cut acidity and a medium-long finish. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Rich and lushly spiced, with concentrated dark fruit flavors, dominated by blackberry and currant notes and backed by vibrant acidity. Sanguine and loamy accents chime in, leading to a muscular finish filled with dark chocolate details. Drink now through 2018. 590 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Muscled up and dark, with robust blackberry, tar, spice and mocha aromas. The palate is big and dense but raring to run, with smashing black cherry, berry and black plum lushness. Turns more oaky on the finish, with coconut and mocha. Impressive for New World Syrah. Drink now through 2013.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Quite ripe, but stays very stylish, with velvety layers of plum pudding and braised fig backed by hoisin sauce, charred apple wood and mineral. The long, fleshy finish has nice buried acidity. Drink now through 2011. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Blocky, jammy berry aromas are forward and include lactic oak. This is a big boy with commendable structure. Blackberry, cassis, tobacco and vanilla flavors finish bold and spicy, with latent tobacco and barrel notes. Drink this classic full-bodied Malbec through 2023.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A polished red, with plush, spicy accents to the rich, ripe flavors of blackberry, mocha and plum pudding. Finishes with notes of cocoa powder and cream. Very suave. Drink now through 2021.
James Suckling, 92 points
Beautiful blackberry and blueberry character. Mineral and fresh rosemary too. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. A subtle and delicious red. Drink or hold.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A big red, offering an array of dark fruit flavors, including blackberry, currant, roasted plum and fig. Quite minerally midpalate, with a finish filled with baker’s chocolate and Asian spice notes. Drink now through 2020.
James Suckling, 92 points
Loads of asphalt and lead pencil aromas with hints of plums and blackberries. Fully body, round tannin mouthfeel and a juicy finish. Hints of walnuts and smoked wood. Still a little extracted but softening all the time.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The 2010 Eolo Malbec is pure Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, from a vineyard planted in 1912 very close to the Mendoza River. It is a serious, concentrated and slightly backward young wine, a little bit marked by the oak, with black fruit and tobacco aromas, plenty of sweet spices accented by hints of smoke, a note of violets developing with time. The palate is medium to full-bodied, balanced, and powerful with pungent flavors ending with chocolate and licorice notes. Drink 2014-2020.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is a rich and intense red on the nose with lots of licorice and blackberry character. Floral and chalky too. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a fine and silky finish. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Eolo is apparently on the upswing in just its 3rd incarnation. The nose is deep and sweet, with licorice, rubber, lemon peel and tobacco to go with bold berry aromas. Shows immensity and structure in the mouth, with layered blackberry flavors and creaminess. Fades well, with tobacco and leather gracing the finish. Drink now through 2014.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
Bodegas y Vinedos Trivento is owned by Chilean giant Concha y Toro. The 2007 Eolo Malbec is sourced from a vineyard planted in 1912 and aged for 18 months in new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it sports an inviting nose of toasty oak, pencil lead, a hint of balsamic, lavender, cinnamon, black cherry, and black currant. Youthful on the palate, medium- to full-bodied, and intensely flavored, this promising effort will continue to blossom over the next 4-6 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2027.
Wine Spectator, 92 points
A really velvety style, with mocha and warm fruitcake aromas leading the way for supersilky raspberry, red plum and boysenberry fruit. The long, seamless finish lets the fruit drip on. Drink now through 2011. 328 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The flagship 2005 Eolo is made up of 90% Malbec aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak and 10% Syrah aged for 14 months in new American oak. The wine is opaque purple-colored with a superb aromatic array of pain grille, mineral, scorched earth, black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry. On the palate it is layered and dense with gobs of savory fruit, spice notes, and excellent integration of the oak, tannin, and acidity. This nicely balanced effort will evolve for 4-6 years and deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2025.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Jumpy berry aromas include notes of juniper and oaky maple. Once this settles, what you have is a fully extracted Syrah with a rich but balanced palate. Spiced plum and wild berry flavors are powerful but show restraint, while this shows savory flavors of dark fruits, olive and spice on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Wine & Spirits, 92 points Year's Best Maipo Reds
Max Weinlaub makes this wine from Viña Maipo’s original vineyard, along the river in the central valley town of Maipo, west of Buin. The own-rooted cabernet vines date to 1970, planted in alluvial soil, producing a rich and generously oaked New World style of cabernet. Give it some air, and the Andean influence begins to show, with currant flavors adding a lighter, floral touch to the deep black-cherry tones, clean and tangy. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Editors' Choice
Beautifully integrated oak and a firm structure combine in this rather tight but superbly balanced wine. It smells like black cherries and tastes like raspberries and blueberries, accented by toasted baguette, cinnamon and fresh cedar notes. The finish is long and lightly spicy. Best after 2018.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
There is one special bottling in their most popular range, the 2016 Casillero del Diablo Leyenda Cabernet Sauvignon, which plays in a different category. It’s produced with Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc from Pirque in Maipo and resembles some of the other wines produced there, like the Terrunyo. It’s only 13.5% alcohol and has good freshness, with the oak neatly folded into the fruit, perhaps because the élevage was eight months in barrique and a further ten months in botti. They picked the grapes a little earlier, and the wine has a more modern profile (Terrunyo is more classical); there is more fruit, and there’s good freshness in the layered palate. The tannins are very fine, classical Cabernet. 4,000 bottles were filled in November 2017. This has nothing to do with the cheaper Casillero del Diablo ranges, one of the most popular brands in the world.
James Suckling, 92 points
Not only does this show really pretty purity of fruit, but there’s also plenty of depth and complexity. Brambleberries, dark plums and cherries are all a feature, as well as citrus. Medium to full body, succulent tannins and a juicy finish. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, carmenere and syrah. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Freshly-picked blackcurrants, spice box, herbs, spices and licorice. Tightly-wound and chewy but structured with generous blue fruit, fresh yet balanced acidity and a succulent finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Very beautiful and balanced cabernet with blackcurrant, black olive and light walnut. Medium body, dense and refined. Lovely texture. Fine grained. Drink now and enjoy.
James Suckling, 92 points
A refined and balanced red with blueberry and licorice aromas and flavors. Medium body. Fine tannins and a pretty finish. Spicy. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
A spicy and intense carmenere that shows cassis, brambleberries, undergrowth, vanilla and tar. Full body, ripe and round tannins and a chewy finish. Nevertheless, this wine shows good acidity drive. Drink in 2021.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
Even in cool years, like 2016, the generous sun of Peumo manages to ripen carmenère without difficulty. This wine feels broad, with ripe flavors of blackberries and black cherries. The breezes that flow along the Cachapoal River translate to freshness in the grapes, providing a lively, tenacious acidity that makes this wine easy to drink. The black-cherry flavors last in a deliciously herbal finish.
James Suckling, 92 points
A firm and silky red with black pepper and blackberry. Medium body, firm and silky. Long and flavorful with a vibrant, lightly austere finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
A complex and subtle carmenere with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, fine tannins and a bright finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
I like the cherry, blackberry and fresh-herb character to this with white pepper. Medium to full body and very fine tannins. Racy and long. Such balance. No barrels here. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
An elegant malbec that shows red licorice, red plums, dark chocolate and tobacco. Juicy on the palate, which is succulent and round, but with excellent tension of fruit and acidity. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Tight and fruity with a solid fruit and tannin profile. Full, chewy and flavorful. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
A full-bodied red with blackberry, chocolate and spice character plus hints of nuts. Fruity and delicious now.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is a serious white with lemon rind, stone and lime character. Full body, bright fruit and a zesty acidity. High energy sauvignon. Screw cap. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
This is a serious white with lemon rind, stone and lime character. Full body, bright fruit and a zesty acidity. High energy sauvignon. Screw cap. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
Some berry and cherry character with meat and hints of olives. Medium body. Round, integrated tannins. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
An elegant and spicy syrah with a tight palate of ripe and compressed tannins. Medium body, fresh acidity and a tangy finish. Plenty of dried meat, dark berry and lemon rind. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
Compact and grapy up front, this is showing pure berry power on the nose. Lush and intense but also bright and balanced in feel, this Malbec is pumping out fleshy blackberry flavors offset by meaty notes. A full, mellow finish is deep and pure, with absorbed oak. Drink through 2020.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
The voluptuous black cherry flavors of this malbec firm up as they meet the tense acidity, feeling lively and energized in the finish. Still young, with floral scents of violets, this needs a rib eye or three to four more years in the cellar. From Concha y Toro’s winery in Mendoza.
James Suckling, 92 points
A rich and round textured red with blueberry and mineral aromas and flavors. Full body, flavorful and juicy. So much going on here. Drink now or hold.
James Suckling, 92 points
A fresh and savory malbec with blueberry and mineral character. Medium to full body, fine tannins. Drink now or hold. Always an excellent malbec.
James Suckling, 92 points
Dark cherries, blackberries, spices and woody notes on the nose. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. Fleshy texture with balance. Juicy and flavorful. Long finish with length. 50% cabernet and 50% malbec. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 92 points
James Suckling, 92 points
Notes of black fruit, sage and smoke on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Mineral and savory in the mouth with smoky character. Grainy texture and structure through to the finish. Slightly tannic, but flavorful. A blend of 43% cabernet sauvignon, 35% carmenere and 22% syrah. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points Year's Best
This is the 25th vintage of Don Melchor, a wine selected from the Tocornal vineyard in the Alto Maipo, from vines planted in the mid-’70s in alluvial soils on the north bank of the Maipo River. In warm years like 2012, the fruit of this wine often becomes round and voluptuous, marked by sweet spice. In 2012, however, the wine held its freshness: The acidity feels firm amid generous waves of black fruit flavors. Cellar this for two or three years to serve with beef braised with cranberries and cinnamon.
James Suckling, 92 points
Baked apple, nectarine, lemon curd and vanilla on the nose. It’s full-bodied and creamy with rich layers of ripe fruit and salted butter. Round and buttery with a long, flavorful finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 92 points
The floral aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, and then chamomile, apricots and pears are really enjoyable. Medium to full body, an oily mouthfeel and a textured finish. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 92 points
The Gravas Blancas is now the 2019 Gravas del Bio-Bio, which is just a change of name, because the wine comes from the same vineyard as before. 2019 is a “normal” vintage, slightly warmer than 2018, which was a little colder than average, with good ripeness, balance and freshness. It’s varietal and clean, with perfectly integrated oak and a delicious texture, which is the effect of the fermentation in neutral oak barrels and gives the wine an extra touch of complexity, not as sharp as some of the Sauvignon Blanc produced in Chile. Delicious. 3,000 bottles were filled in October 2019. This wine started changing in 2018, and this is a breakthrough year.
Wine & Spirits, 92 points
Marcelo Papa heads up the winemaking team at Concha y Toro, and one of his most impressive achievements during his years at the company has been the transformation of Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet. He focuses the wine on Tocornal Oriente, a vineyard in Puente Alto across the road from Don Melchor. He also includes a significant contribution from Pirque (35 percent) on the south bank of the Maipo River. The wine far outperforms its price—a 2018 with finesse in its tannins and gracious straw-berry-plum flavors. It’s a cool cabernet with a Bordeaux accent and a Chilean lilt.
James Suckling, 92 points
Redcurrant, bell pepper, chili and tobacco on the nose. Full body with smooth tannins. Structured, yet juicy and playful in the mouth. Polished and creamy with pretty vanilla notes. Fresh and flavorful finish with good length. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
A medium-bodied red with aromas and flavors of violets, stewed blackberries, cloves, nutmeg and tea leaves. Lots of licorice and bark, too. Fine, chewy tannins. Try from 2021.
James Suckling, 91 points
This shows the prowess and power of the region. Citrus meets peach and grapefruit aromas with savory mealy oak in behind. The palate has an energetic core of tangy, bold peach flavor. The acidity holds long. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
Some cooked yogurt combines with hints of smoke. Full body and full lees-stirring character that gives it richness and flavor. Perfect for those wanting a more powerful style yet it remains fresh. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Grown ten miles from the sea, this is a white of vast proportions, creamy and ripe with lush fruit flavors checked by the depths of its mineral acidity. The wine’s complexity slowly develops as it opens in the glass, suggesting this will benefit from several years of bottle age.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
Amelia used to be only one wine, a Chardonnay, but now there is also a 2017 Amelia Pinot Noir, produced with grapes from Quebrada Seca in Limarí, from vines planted in 2009 at 22 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean on red clay and limestone soils. They used 10% to 12% full clusters, and it fermented after a seven-day cold soak. It went through malolactic fermentation in barrel, where it also matured for 12 months. They selected the plots with alluvial stones covered in limestone, which provide a combination of power and elegance in the wine. There are some toasty notes and a little riper fruit, with expressive aromas and flavors. The palate is medium-bodied with some chalkiness. 6,500 bottles were filled in March 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Cellar Selection
This formidable Rhône-style blend has a deep color, smoky, toasted, and grilled-meat aromas, a dense and chewy texture and focused flavors like blackberries and black pepper. The concentration is quite good, the balance and tannins are very firm, preparing this wine for a long life. Drink after 2019.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
This square-jawed wine is big, powerful and just a bit rough around the edges. An aromatic blast of oak, tobacco and cedar on the nose is followed by ripe focused black-cherry flavors and integrated oak along with firm chunky tannins on the palate. It should make a great match with a steak or roast. —J.G.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Plump and buttery, this medium-bodied wine pours on the vanilla, butter and baking spice flavors, with a rich, layered texture that’s soothing on the palate. Made from biodynamic grapes, it is well concentrated but not too heavy.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Price aside, this is a fine, ready to drink, full-bodied Carmenère with earth, cola, tree bark, cherry and cassis aromas. It’s full and a touch soft in the mouth, with easy tannins and bold flavors of blackberry, herbs, bitter chocolate and leather. On the finish, it’s peppery tasting and mildly herbal. Drink now through 2016.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
This dark, racy red displays an extra dimension to the slowly unfolding kirsch, plum sauce and cassis flavors, with maduro tobacco, grilled rosemary and espresso bean notes. Well-focused and fine-tuned through the long finish. Drink now through 2016. 1,500 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
About as dense, lush and ripe as you can get without teetering over the edge. Along the way there’s mint, tobacco, cedar and heavy raisin/plum fruit aromas. Big and broad across the tongue, with sweet boysenberry, cassis and chocolate flavors. This is to wine what Guinness Stout is to beer.
James Suckling, 91 points
Very ripe blackberry aromas and some bell-pepper notes pour from the glass of this juicy but well structured red blend. Bright and rather dry finish makes this food-friendly. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
They had frost in 2014 and didn’t make a sparkling wine from that year, so we started with their second vintage of traditional sparkling wine, the 2015 Centinela, which was produced with Chardonnay from Casablanca. The wine has moderate alcohol, very good acidity and 5.8 grams of balancing sugar. It matured refermenting in bottle with lees for 24 months and has a creamy and leesy nose, quite clean, juicy but serious, with citrus, flowers and some nutty tones. The idea is to use some of their best Chardonnay grapes (like the ones used for 20 Barrels) that are close to the sea and with high acidity to produce a quality sparkling wine refermented in bottle (they have been making Charmat method for some time too), and this is quite balanced and vibrant, with minerality in the palate and very tasty flavors with freshness and an almost salty finish. 6,000 bottles produced. It was disgorged in October 2017. It should develop more nuances in bottle.
James Suckling, 91 points
Plenty of blackberries with some red bell-pepper and bitter-chocolate notes, give this wine plenty of appeal. The tannins are silky, until you get to the slightly rustic finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A dense and fruity red with dark berry, toasted oak and coffee character. Full, chewy and juicy. More fruit-forward, coffee profile. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Pure and focused, with vibrant cherry, currant and dried berry flavors that feature notes of sandalwood and cedar. Concentrated cardamom accents emerge on the creamy and well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2020. 1,700 cases made. –KM
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Deep and rich-tasting, with bold, well-crafted flavors of roasted plum and cherry, showing some sanguine elements. Fine-grained tannins power the spicy and savory finish. Well-knit. Drink now through 2019. 1,300 cases made. –KM
James Suckling, 91 points
A fresh-peach and lemon style with plenty of zesty and appealingly fleshy fruit on the palate. Plenty to like here. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 91 points
The fresh fruit this merlot offers is really tasty with blueberries, mulberries and vivid lavender. Medium-bodied with a generous core of berries, soft tannins and a succulent finish. If only more Chilean merlot were this juicy. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points Top 100 Values of the Year
The initial scents may remind you of cracked green peppercorns, and then, if you stay with the wine a while, the spiciness of turmeric. It’s a rooty character, like freshly turned earth, that adds depth to this wine’s yellow fruit. Pour it with lightly poached bay scallops tossed over pea shoots. – Joshua Greene
James Suckling, 91 points
A surprisingly sophisticated dry riesling for Chile with lovely nectarine and chamomile. Juicy and well structured on the sleek, medium-bodied palate. Long and crisp finish with some mineral character. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
Wine Advocate, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
This attractive and vibrant sparkling wine has crisp apple, pear and lemon notes with a hint of fresh herbs, then a long, refreshing finish. Where are those oysters? Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2012 Don Melchor, which in that ripe and warm vintage contained some 7% Cabernet Franc, has a showy nose with ripe blackberries that develop minty aromas with some time in the glass. The grapes are selected from their 127 hectares of vineyards in the zone, and fermented in small stainless steel vats to separate the different plots that are kept apart until after malolactic, when they are tasted and the blend is decided in July (the grapes are harvested between mid April and mid-May). The wine aged for 15 moths in French oak barrels, 70% of which were new. The palate is juicy with round tannins and good volume of fruit with the softness of a ripe vintage, showing the expressive aromas of the year. 91,200 bottles produced. This wine will be sold in March 2016.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2009 Don Melchor is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc from one of the best terroirs in Chile for Cabernet Sauvignon. 2009 was a warm, powerful vintage, but the microclimate of Puente Alto helps to keep the fruit and acidity, and the wine has lots of notes of beef blood, black berries and licorice. It feels serious, concentrated and ripe, with round tannins, moderate acidity and good length, with some notes of dark chocolate and tobacco toward the finish. Drink now-2018.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
A ripe and enveloping Maipo cabernet, this wine’s oak plays an important role, containing notes of brandy-soaked cherries. Its youth is apparent in its strict, astringent tannins. Five years in the cellar will make it more accessible and complex.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
This is a muscular vintage of Don Melchor, Enrique Tirado’s top cabernet from Concha y Toro. Its ripe black currant aromas meld with light herb scents. The structure is robust and tense, with young tannins that will need another two or three years to fuse with the fruit. Or drink it now with prime rib.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Reflecting the warm vintage, this is a ripe version of Don Melchor. Dark cherry and cinnamon dominate the aromas, while its soft, round texture delivers chocolate flavor with hints of mint and black pepper. Decant it for roast lamb.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Earthy and real, with strong hints of menthol, forest floor, cassis and other concentrated berry notes. Ripe on the palate with a bit of berry candy balanced by cola, toast and vanilla. Solid by any first-class standards, with firm tannins and acids providing structure. Imported by Banfi Vintners.
James Suckling, 91 points
Aromas of sweet flowers, sweet tea and cedar follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Slightly drying tannins now but an attractive wine. A blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon and 9% cabernet franc. Needs drinking.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The barrel sample of the 2000 Don Melchor I tasted was medium to dark ruby/purple-colored. It reveals candied red fruit aromas and a majestically concentrated character. This jammy, cherry and raspberry-flavored wine has outstanding potential. It is spicy, broad-shouldered, and powerful. Projected maturity: 2008-2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Flowery and fresh with bursting fruit. The texture is mildly jammy and bordering on syrupy, but that is as much a reflection of youth as it is extraction. The finish delivers toasty oak, vanilla and some candied fruit. Very pleasing.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The dark ruby-colored 1993 displays a lovely nose of Moroccan spices, mostly cumin and cinnamon. On the palate, it is broad, expansive, and extravagant, and then tightens in its firm finish. Layers of dark fruits are intermingled with fresh herbs in this delightful wine’s opening and mid-palate. If its finish softens with age, it will most certainly merit an outstanding score.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The medium to dark ruby-colored 1991 Don Melchor has a mouth-watering nose of chocolate covered cherries. This wine has outstanding depth of fruit, a medium body, and a satiny texture. It is quite youthful, revealing dense layers of blackberries, spices, cassis, cedar, and rosemary. While it is powerful and expressive, this is an elegant wine that has lovely structure. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
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Wine Spectator, 91 points Top 100 #74
Brick-orange, garnet color. Soft and mature, with dried currant and smoke notes. Doesn’t show the density of other vintages, and seems to be fading a bit now.–Don Melchor vertical. Past its prime. 4,000 cases imported.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
From a range of stellar vineyard sites, including Heitz, Morelli, Sullivan and Dutton, this coastal-influenced white impresses in its grip of floral earthiness and stony mineral. Quince, apple and brioche flavors ride along subtle, well-integrated oak and balanced power. VIRGINIE BOONE
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Smooth rounded layers of stone fruit are complemented by well-integrated oak and bright bubbling acidity in this well-made, complex white wine. With a hint of sea spray, it is aptly named, showing earthy elements of its cool-climate soul.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
This is a new, high-end project from winemaker Sebastian Donoso at Fetzer, sourcing from several spectacular vineyard sites, including Heintz and Morelli. Tart, structured and nervy, it offers integrated flavors of tangerine, guava and apple laced in nutmeg.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Citrus and green melon aromas include a touch of matchstick, while this southerly SB is bold, fresh and well-balanced, with depth to the palate. Peppery green apple, lime and melon flavors finish steady and minerally. Drink this well-cut, sleek number through 2021. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2016 Gravas del Maipo Syrah is from the same vineyards as the Marqués de Casa Concha, but this is harvested riper and produced in a very traditional way, with pumping over, more in the style of a Cabernet. It has a very good, round and lush palate, with integrated oak, some tannins and some depth and complexity. It doesn’t have much varietal character. This is from an old Sauvignonasse vineyard from the 1960s that was regrafted to Syrah in the early 2000s.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The top Syrah is the 2015 Gravas del Maipo Syrah, and it is made with grapes sourced from Buin in Maipo. They left some 15% of grapes uncrushed, and they were fermented in small stainless steel vats with selected yeasts. It matured in French barriques for one year. Only 20% of the barrels were new, and they have shortened the time in barrel. There are some lactic hints intermixed with notes of smoke, ripe black fruit, with something floral and meaty, too. The palate is powerful, full-bodied with fine tannins and good balance. This should develop nicely in bottle, and it will help it polish the tannins a little more. 10,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
This ripe, dark Maipo Syrah opens with slightly generic aromas of blackberry and black cherry. Rich, resiny and creamy on the palate, this tastes oaky at first; next come roasted spicy blackberry flavors in front of a minty finish with wood-spice notes and barrel-related tannins. Drink through 2021.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
I liked even better the 2010 Gravas del Maipo, a wine first produced in 2007, a blend of 87% Syrah and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon which is sourced from an old vineyard planted in the 1960s in Maipo on gravel soils as the name points out. It has notes of smoked bacon, blackberries, sweet spices and chocolate and a raspberry leaf kind of freshness. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with a fine, velvety texture, very good balance (the 15% alcohol goes mostly unnoticed) and acidity. According to the winemaker Enrique Tirado, the Cabernet Sauvignon adds mid-palate to the wine, acting as a kind of “press wine.” Superb Syrah! Around 6,000 bottles are produced. Drink now-2018.
James Suckling, 91 points
This is a ripe Syrah, with warm, earthy, raisiny aromas of blackberry, vanilla and prune. The palate is so dense and extracted that it feels spongy, while a full-force flavor profile includes inky blackberry, graphite and minty oak. On the finish, this is fat, jammy and baked in flavor while soft in feel. Drink through 2018.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Powerfully structured, with dried berry and red plum flavors, accented by plenty of savory notes. Shows a firm, tannic backbone and a finish that is loaded with minerality. Needs some time in the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2023. 2,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
There’s minerally richness to the lithe mix of dark fruit and spice flavors in this red. Dark chocolate and mocha fill the plush finish, with hints of dried herbs. Drink now through 2024. 75,000 cases made, 12,000 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 91 points
This is a cabernet that shows a complex character of ripe fruit and freshness with very vertical and fine tannins. It’s partially aged in large casks. Gives you the generous fruit as always, but gives you more definition. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 91 points Smart Buys
Powerful and refined, featuring flavors of dark plum, mulberry and dried berry that are laced with mint and chocolate notes. Bittersweet chocolate accents show midpalate, with a finish that lingers with pepper and paprika details. Drink now through 2020. 77,220 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
This compact yet suave red is marked with silky layers of cassis and wild berry fruit that mingle with well-integrated hints of graphite, tobacco and toasty oak. Drink now through 2018. 58,300 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Pure, ripe and berry-scented, this has none of the menthol aromas usually associated with cabernet from Puente Alto. Instead, it’s big and sweet, soft and creamy, with a black pepper kick to the tannins. Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
A real beauty with graphite, minerality and rich, clean, exciting berry fruit and controlled oak aromas. Very pure and stylish Cabernet Sauvignon with fat but balanced cassis and sweet berry flavors. Big tannins lend structure and framework; young like a baby now; will be better and more evolved come fall, winter and over the next few years.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Ripe and rich-tasting, with concentrated dark plum, currant and blackberry flavors that feature notes of anise and plenty of dried green herbal accents. Dark chocolate on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2025. 20,000 cases made, 714 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 91 points
Blueberries, fresh herbs, citrus and black pepper. Medium body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
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Wine & Spirits, 91 points
A wine of enormous power, this is dominated by black fruit flavors and a youthfully blunt texture—a carmenère far from its ideal point of consumption. The clean lines and firm acidity will help it develop in bottle for at least three years. If you open it now, decant it for a steak.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points Best Buy
Marcelo Papa makes this wine from the Quebrada Seca Vineyard, 14 miles from the Pacific, its clay soils mixed with calcium carbonate that has been carried downriver off the Andes. And his wine has the pale, boney brightness of chardonnay grown in limestone, along with juicy apple and pear flavors and a tight limelike acidity lifting the finish. Pour it with crab. —J.G.
James Suckling, 91 points
A layered and luscious white with cooked apple and cream character. Full and flavorful. Delicious now.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay Edición Limitada or Limited Edition comes from the same vineyard as the Sauvignon Blanc in the Gravas range—from an inland zone in the south with influence from the mountains. The hand-picked clusters were pressed directly, the juice let to settle and then it fermented in oak barrels where the wine matured. This follows a Burgundian school, not trying to re-invent the wheel, but the wine doesn’t go through malolactic. The grapes are picked early, and they want to keep the acidity. This combines power and concentration with freshness, and it’s varietal and ripe, with good acidity and good integrated oak. This is sharp and tasty. Only 1,800 bottles were filled in March 2019.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Etiqueta Negra is a classical Bordeaux blend—62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot—from Puente Alto in Maipo on alluvial soils. I tasted this next to the 2018, which was a cooler year, but the 2017 still maintained very good balance. And while the fruit is darker and riper and the tannins more noticeable, it follows the line of the initial 2016—classical, with good balance. 72,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2018.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Etiqueta Negra is a red blend in the Marqués de Casa Concha range produced with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot from Puente Alto in Maipo on classical alluvial soils, which are very good for Cabernet. It fermented in stainless steel with pumping over and selected yeasts, and the aging was in French barriques, 60% of them new, and lasted 18 months. It’s spicy and very classical, a faithful representation of Maipo, with the spiciness added by the Cabernet Franc. It has very good balance and the grapes are very integrated. This is a classical Maipo at a great place. 24,000 bottles were filled in September 2017.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Malbec was produced with fruit from Loncomilla in Maule and has a floral and expressive nose with an herbal twist. The wine matured in oak foudre, looking for a modern and fruit-driven profile of Malbec. It’s vibrant and fresh, with round tannins, juicy fruit and very good balance. This is the second vintage of this wine. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
A juicy and fruity red with walnut, citrus red and dark fruit aromas and flavors. Olive undertones. Medium body, bright acidity and a medium finish. Shows real merlot character and finesse. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A juicy and fruity red with walnut, citrus red and dark fruit aromas and flavors. Olive undertones. Medium body, bright acidity and a medium finish. Shows real merlot character and finesse. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
A powerful merlot, this is unbridled in its youthful energy, filled with a slightly coarse prickle of firm tannins. There’s plenty of ripe red fruit underneath, needing several years in bottle to come into balance.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
Raspberry, currant and spiced red plum aromas are true to Pinot Noir. On the palate, this is medium in body, balanced by fresh acidity and anchored by oak tannins. Oak spice, wood grain, plum and raspberry flavors are steady on a finish that shows a hint of campfire. Drink through 2021. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Lithe and rich-tasting, with lusciously spiced red fruit and berry flavors. Creamy midpalate, featuring a finish filled with forest floor and minerally accents. Drink now through 2024. 4,500 cases made, 2,500 cases imported. — KM
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
From a vineyard on the south bank of the Limarí River, this is a light red-raspberry-scented pinot noir. The fruit is crunchy and fresh enough to handle the grape sweetness, making this an intriguing New World wine, fruity yet lean, with plenty of refreshing lime-like acidity. For roast fish and fruity wild mushrooms.
James Suckling, 91 points
This shows wonderful balance of ripe strawberry, minerals and hints of flowers. It’s spicy too. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and an attractive fruit and acid balance. A pretty coastal pinot. Salty undertone. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
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Wine Advocate, 91 points
The very expressive and clean 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir Edición Limitada was produced with fruit from a massal selection from Burgundy planted in Quiltramán in Bio Bio in 2007 on red clay and volcanic soils. It fermented in oak barrels with 5% full clusters and matured in 20% new French oak barriques for 12 months. This is bright, aromatic and very attractive on the nose, with an herbal touch that adds freshness and complexity. It has a velvety palate and is quite fruit-driven and not terribly complex but very pleasant to drink. 1,800 bottles were filled in April 2019.
James Suckling, 91 points
A dry, tight rosé with dried peaches and some light berries. Medium to full body. Firm, creamy and lightly tannic. Made in concrete eggs and old barrels. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
Reductive at first, but this opens up into fresh pomegranate, white roses and herbs. Very clean and fresh,but shows good weight and density. Nutty finish. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Gentle citrus notes pervade this sauvignon from the beginning: The scent brings to mind fresh lemons while the flavors feel like a cool, delicate lemonade. A wine for fluke sashimi, Marqués grows in the San Antonio Valley, nine miles from the sea.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
An extreme wine, this has the freshness to equal its full-bodied peach and grapefruit flavors, everything supported by a spine of acidity. It almost feels tannic, muscular, its tension held in a chalky feel that ties it back to the lime and clay soils of this vineyard nine miles from the sea.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
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Wine Advocate, 91 points
The Maipo Syrah from Buin, the 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Syrah fermented with some 20% full clusters and was vinified in the style of a Pinot Noir to counterbalance the generosity of Maipo, and 40% of the volume matured in oak foudre and the rest in barrique for 16 months. It has notes of tapenade, violets and tar, very Syrah. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Earthy aromas of crushed rocks and sea shells are backed by scents of garrigue and herbal black plum. This wine feels both lush and racy. Spicy, peppery plum flavors run long on a finish that shows a toasty accent. Drink through 2021.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Decadently ripe, this is full of blue and black fruit, a robust and voluptuous red with powerful tannins capable of supporting all that massive flavor. The web of tannins will sustain this wine as it evolves over the next five years.
Wine Spectator, 91 points Top 100, #62
This compact red needs aeration, featuring layers of blackberry and dark plum notes wound around fine tannins, with the long finish evoking savory grilled game, cured olive and mocha. Best from 2014 through 2018. 5,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Flashy yet compact, with floral wild berry coulis, cassis, spice and game notes all tightly wound on a full-bodied frame, as hints of salted licorice, smoke and spice add range to the fruit-filled finish. Drink now through 2016. 8,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Dennis Martin sources most of the fruit for this wine from the Usibelli Vineyard in Rutherford, producing a tight, austere red. It shows some reductive character in an initial scent of black rubber, but that’s completely gone the next day, when the dusty Rutherford grape-skin tannins come on to lend the sweet fruit an earthy grandeur. Built to cellar. (2,935 cases)
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Brightly citrus-driven, this moderate, balanced white is layered in acidity and refreshing flavors of tangerine and blood orange. With nuanced oak, it has an exuberant, fruity frame and quiet seasonings of baking spice. —V.B.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
From two superb vineyard sites, Charles Heinz and Dutton Ranch, both on the cool edges of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, this is a thick, concentrated and delicious wine, which manages its richness with grace. Honey, vanilla and baked apple linger on the palate, finishing softly and with a note of nutmeg.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
It’s always interesting to taste two vintages of the same wine side by side, as was the case with the 2015 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon and the following year. This is produced with grapes from vines planted in Pirque Viejo in 2003 that produce classical Maipo reds. 2015 was warm and dry, and the grapes ripened to 14.7% alcohol. 2015 clearly marked the wines, and there is an almost sweet sensation in the fruit (but there’s no residual sugar). It has some grainy and dusty tannins, with more concentration and opulence than 2016. It matured in French barrique for 15 months. 90,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2016.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
There are two Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings in the Terrunyo range in 2014, the “regular” of which is the 2014 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon. It was sourced from the vineyards in Pirque on the alluvial terraces of the Maipo River, the classical zone for Cabernet Sauvignon. In this warmer than average year it only contains 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine matured in French barriques for 14 months. This shows quite classical, combining power and elegance, concentration and a certain lightness. The palate is silky, and the tannins are very soft, with great freshness. 81,600 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
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Wine Spectator, 91 points
Focused and featuring concentrated flavors of dark plum, roasted cherry and dried blackberry, supported by zesty acidity. Shows enticing pepper and mineral notes, which linger on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 5,700 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2011 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon is a tad better than the 2010. The wine aged for 14-16 months in barrels and has a perfumed nose mixing the classical notes of tobacco and blackberries with fresher aromas of raspberries leading to a soft, feminine profile, very attractive and lovely, with tannins that show great work in the winery. This is a great Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now-2018.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Luscious and juicy, this features a backbone of fresh acidity to the dark chocolate, currant and dried blackberry flavors. Black olive and bittersweet chocolate accents fill in midpalate, showing creamy notes on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 8,100 cases made
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Firm berry and plum aromas come with equal amounts of spice, oak and earthy notes. This is forward and concentrated, with chewy tannins that are obvious but not hard or mean. Loamy blackberry and blueberry flavors get a boost from tobacco, licorice and chocolate accents before finishing muscular and spicy. Drink through 2022.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
The boysenberry and dried currant flavors are long and vibrant in this expressive red. Graphite and slate notes add to the complexity, with plenty of sanguine accents. Firm finish. Drink now through 2018. 848 cases imported.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
The nose is an attractive mix of cassis and mineral notes. The palate is more racy and wiry than dense and soft, with juicy, flashy flavors of berry, cherry and currant. Those notes all carry through to the long finish; drink from 2013–2018.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Aromas of game and spice lead to a jammy palate of crushed black cherry, cassis and wild herb flavors. The hot shows spice, graphite and ripe berry fruit notes. Drink now through 2015. 4,800 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
One of Chile’s most consistently excellent Carmenères is playing at its normal high level, with a glistening dark-purple color and spicy, lightly herbal berry aromas that are purely of the grape variety. Tartaric burn roughens the palate prior to flavors of tart plum, wild berry and pepper. Slight heat and burn are noted on the finish; drink through 2028. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Big, with savory richness to the concentrated dark plum, dried cherry and raspberry tart flavors. Accents of forest floor are powerful and pure-tasting. Finishes with light smoky notes and hints of dried green herbs. Drink now through 2024. 11,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2016 Terrunyo Carmenere was created back in 1999 to express the vines from Peumo in Cachapoal, and they sourced the grapes from a plot that tends to deliver cooler wines in the cool 2016 vintage, with 13.2% alcohol and a pH of 3.43, very healthy parameters. It matured in French oak barrels for nine months. The grapes were impressively healthy when harvested one month after the heavy rains in April (it wasn’t the case with other Carmenere vineyards with higher yields). The difference with Marqués de Casa Concha is a specific plot planted in the 1990s, and the grapes from Carmín come from even older vines, where there is a little more sand. There are varietal notes, herbs, pepper and paprika intermixed with balsamic aromas, hints of cigar ash and a velvety palate. It has a dry finish, with tasty flavors. Carmenere really needs specific places and cannot be produced everywhere. Peumo is one of the places where it thrives. 72,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Richly fruity and powerfully spiced, delivering subtle savory herb notes to the concentrated crushed raspberry, blackberry and wild plum flavors. Crisp and minerally midpalate, with a peppery finish. Drink now through 2020. 6,790 cases made.
James Suckling, 91 points
Some rich and juicy fruit with a dried fruit character. Some jam too. Full body, velvety tannins. Round and soft texture. Pretty wine. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Electric purple in color, it conveys wiry aromas of wet dog, green herbs and berry fruits. The palate is loud and clacky, with a jumpy overall feel and an overriding sense of youth. Boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors come with undertones of green herbs and licorice, while the finish is aggressive and moderately complex. Drink through 2019.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
A ripe, rich, full-bodied red, with a core of muscular dark fruit and spice flavors. Shows intense notes of black olive midpalate. The finish lingers with hints of smoke and a lush creaminess to the dark chocolate accents. Drink now through 2017. 6,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
This racy red leads with a floral undertone to the fresh raspberry, dark cherry and plum notes that build momentum through the iron- and smoke-tinged finish. Drink now through 2017. 9,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Dense in color, with earthy, crusty aromas of baked berry, moss, tobacco, cola and cassis. Feels lush, meaty and deep, with tobacco, balsamic flavors, baked blackberry and chocolate. Mellow, lightly herbal and smooth on the finish; hits all the high marks. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Dark cassis, kirsch and plum sauce fruit is framed by fine tannins, which lend a creamy edge to the dark fruit notes and maduro tobacco, wildflower and spicy cedar hints. Drink now through 2017. 8,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Sleek and polished, displaying a pure, racy core of raspberry, black cherry and black currant fruit, laced with alluring black tea, mineral and tobacco notes. Very stylish. Drink now through 2012. 8,100 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
As in previous years, this wine delivers earthy, proprietary aromas and flavors on a structured frame. The palate has forward berry and plum flavors, while the feel is rich, only mildly tannic and 100% healthy. Never does it sag, and with adequate acidity it doesn’t lack for purpose or a finish line. Drinkable now into 2011.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
Some of the best-bred Carmenères in the world are grown in Peumo, and a star example is this saturated, minty wine with medium-weight tannins and a long finish. It’s lush, powerful and along the way you taste pepper, chocolate, berries and sunshine.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
A textbook Carmenère, with a fine-edged savoriness to the dark plum, blackberry and dark currant flavors. Green herb and chocolate notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 7,300 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
They also produced a second vintage of the fresher Carménère, the 2014 Terrunyo Lot 1 Carménère, which is a wine bottled and sold early in search of a more drinkable and accessible Carménère. I feel a little more ripeness in this 2014 compared with the 2013, which is in line with the character of the vintage, but with the fresher character that started with the previous vintage. 2,400 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Crisp, citric aromas are pure and minerally, with only the slightest hint of prickly green herbs. A fresh, wholesome palate is crystalline and bright, balanced by a mix of citrus, green herb and peppery flavors. A long and cleansing finish rides a beam of lively acidity. Drink through 2021. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
There is a new label for the Terrunyo range, including the white 2019 Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc, which comes from Los Boldos in Casablanca. It’s more a gooseberry style of Sauvignon Blanc—classical Casablanca with the marine influence. The grapes are purchased from Kingston. This is sharp, long and pungent and less textured than the Gravas from the Bio-Bio, as this is more classical as the style has always been. It keeps very good freshness, with moderate alcohol and good acidity. It was bottled after six months in stainless steel. It was bottled in September 2019. 26,400 bottles produced.
James Suckling, 91 points
A fresh, creamy sauvignon blanc with lemons, hints of herbs and some celery. Medium body. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
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Wine Spectator, 91 points
Tasty lemon zest and herb notes run through the modest core of white peach, with the herb edge lingering on the finish. Drink now. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Meticulous winemaker Ignacio Recabarren has been working and working the Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc for the past five years and in 2006 he seems to have nailed it. You can smell and taste its purity and style. The citrus and minerality are unparalleled in Chile, while the finish is as long as the country it comes from.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2013 Terrunyo Syrah is produced with grapes from the cool Casablanca Valley, and in 2013 it shows much better freshness than in 2012, while not being herbal or vegetal at all. I feel the toast from the barrels right now a little bit too much, but I believe those aromas should disappear with a little more time in bottle. The core of fruit shows good freshness and classical Syrah aromas of black olives, a spicy twist and something tasty, almost saline that calls for food. The palate is medium to full-bodied with good freshness and the cool character of the valley and the vintage, with that tastiness the nose hinted. This showed what the samples I tasted last year promised. Only 4,500 bottles of this Syrah were filled in November 2014.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Cola, spice, wild berry, herb and graphite aromas are powerful and raring to go. This feels racy, juicy and tangy, with a mix of oak, herb, tomato, leather and savory berry flavors. A long, herbal, chocolaty finish is pure in feel and offers a fine conclusion to this cool-climate wine. Drink through 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
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Wine Spectator, 91 points
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Wine Spectator, 91 points
Dense and ripe, but suave, delivering velvety tannins that carry the blackberry, black currant paste and fig notes. The finish lets licorice snap and loam chime in, with impressive length and definition. Drink now through 2012.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Dark in color, then jammy on the nose, this oaky specimen has heavily extracted berry aromas. In the mouth, there’s a level of freshness offset by heavy fruit content. Flavors of berry and plum are chocolaty up front and finish with spice, pepper and additional chocolate richness. Drink through 2018.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2009 Eolo Malbec, pure Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, is bright, dark-colored, with a ripe nose of macerated black fruit and loads of sweet spice. The palate is super-intense and concentrated, with buttery tannins. It is dense, powerful and incredibly well-balanced for the amount of alcohol (15.6%). A true blockbuster. Only 5,300 bottles were produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Eolo is Trivento’s prized wine, and this vintage hammers away from the start with blackberry, toast and pepper aromas. The palate is huge and extracted, with dark, fat blackberry flavors that are tempered by graphite and minty oak. It’s as black as they come, with mint and licorice flavors on the finish. An inky, intense wine, with less than 500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
An ambitious wine, with ripe linzer torte, plum preserves and berry coulis fruit that’s well-integrated with toasty notes of apple wood and tarry mineral, leading to the long, fruit-filled finish. An impressive effort for the vintage. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
Fresh blackcurrants, black raspberries, bilberries and tar. Medium body, fine tannins and a medium-chewy finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A carmenere that shows blackberry leaf, dark blackcurrants, dried peppercorn and spices. Medium to full body, a round but structured tannin backbone and a medium-chewy finish. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
With the opulence of the vintage, this is abundantly ripe in its sweet white fruit, with a good balance of acidity to support that ripeness. A great match for pernil.
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Ripe, powerful style, with dark loam, blackberry, currant paste and coffee notes laid over a muscular frame. Dense and fleshy finish. Drink now through 2011.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Saucy aromas of wild herbs, grilled meat and black fruit are boisterous on the nose. This feels mostly pure, but at the same time it’s thick and full in body. Creamy blackberry, cassis and raisin flavors finish with good depth. This is a true-to-form ripe Chilean Cab to drink through 2023. – M.S.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Cassis, cherry and coconut aromas are toasty and offer a minerally note. Lively and juicy across the palate, this Maipo Cabernet brings a typical Chilean mix of plum, currant, herb, spice and chocolate flavors. A dry, peppery finish shows some unresolved oak, meaning this has more time to mature. Drink through 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
Substantive flavors and a rich, tannic texture form a serious profile for this deeply colored, dry and full-bodied wine. It smells like raspberries, tastes deep and concentrated, and has a very firm and nicely astringent mouthfeel. Pour it with a big steak, chop or roast.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
Made mostly from Mendocino grapes, this presses all the right buttons—the deep, dark red color; the spicy, toasty aromas; the ripe, black cherry and currant flavors; the firm tannins and full body. It’s tasty, and built for enjoyment alongside a great meal involving rich protein.
James Suckling, 91 points
This has perfumed aromas of honeysuckle, lily, apricot and golden apple. It’s full-bodied and creamy with crisp acidity. Lovely ripe fruit. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 91 points
Aromas of spiced plum, licorice, black olive, savory meat and earth. It’s medium-bodied with smooth tannins and fresh acidity. Juicy finish. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2021.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Top 100 Wine 2020 (#75)
The black-fruit flavors in this full-bodied and moderately tannic wine go deep and broad, filling the palate with rich blackberries and cherries. Hints of cocoa and dark chocolate add interest and complexity, too. Jim Gordon.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
This elegant medium-bodied wine has everything in place, from fresh plummy aromas to warm layered flavors to an appetizing and moderately tannic texture. It has excellent balance, with a sense of freshness and depth that is compelling.
James Suckling, 91 points
Red cherries, licorice, cloves and raw button mushrooms on the nose. Some tangerine peel, too. It’s medium-bodied with soft tannins and a silky texture. Delicate flavors. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Well made, complex and complete, this offers a tantalizing whiff of lightly toasted oak that mingles with cinnamon and berry aromas, all carrying through to the palate. It’s nicely balanced between assertive flavors, fresh acidity and full body. Nuances of rosemary, plum and cherry linger on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
Beautiful black-cherry aromas and flavors make this wine direct and focused. A slightly gripping texture of fine-grained tannins and good acidity keeps the mouthfeel lively. It has a wonderful sense of purity and focus.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
This wine is big and bold, but its opulent, generous fruit flavors perfectly fill out its frame, giving it the balance it needs for enjoyment. Ripe blackberry and black cherry notes mark the palate, unfettered by oak-inflected flavor. The texture is firm with lots of fine-grained tannins, while the fruit lingers nicely on the finish.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
There is a special label in the popular Casillero del Diablo range, of which I tasted two consecutive years starting with the 2014 Casillero del Diablo Leyenda Cabernet Sauvignon, which is sourced from the prestigious Pirque appellation in Maipo. It had a traditional vinification, but it then aged in 5,000-liter oak botti from Piemonte for some 17 months. This comes from a slightly cooler year, and the herbal character is more noticeable, a more austere and serious Cabernet, very representative of the zone. It has good shoulders, focused flavors and fine-grained, classical varietal tannins. This is very tasty and long. 6,600 bottles were filled in January 2016.
James Suckling, 91 points
This has a very fresh, polished and lively feel with supple blackberries and cherries, delivering attractive, juicy appeal. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A delicious red with aromas of dark berries, chocolate, currants and hazelnuts, which follow through to a firm and lightly chewy palate. There is plenty of fruit at the finish. Shows tension and structure with some aging potential. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
A layered and rich red with lots of berry and oyster-shell character. Full body, juicy fruit and an intense finish. Always a solid cab for the money. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
A firm, chewy cabernet with currant, tile and cherry character. Some terra cotta. Medium to full body. Dry and fresh on the finish. Already delicious. Drink now.
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Wine & Spirits, 91 points Best Buy
Marchigüe, in western Colchagua, is cooled by winds off the Pacific Ocean. That climate typically gives some of the freshest wines in the region, like this one, with its spicy black fruit intersecting vivid acidity. It feels energetic, yet smooth and refreshing, ready to pour now with a meaty pot roast.
Wine Spectator, 91 points Daily Wine Picks $15 – $30
Complex and elegant, offering juicy red fruit and spice flavors, accented by some interesting pemmican notes. Sinewy midpalate, with graphite and white pepper accents. Anise and black olive hints enrich the finish. Drink now through 2017.
Wine Spectator, 91 points 2020 Top Value Big Reds
Svelte and focused, with fine-grained tannins supporting the fresh-crushed plum, cardamom and dark cherry flavors. Taut midpalate, offering a finish that lengthens out nicely with green herbal and minerally accents. Drink now through 2024. 5,500 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. — KM
James Suckling, 91 points
A solid red with hints of plums and berries. Full body, silky tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Fruitier style of carmenere. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
A softer, easier chardonnay with pineapple, lemon and light sour-apple undertones. Medium to full body. Fresh, easy finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
Vivid, pressed violets, burnt blueberry skin and lots of caramelized orange peel. Medium body, very fresh acidity, lots of blue fruit and a vibrant finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A sauvignon blanc that shows juniper berries, lemons and peppercorns. Medium body, bright acidity and a mineral-driven finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 91 points
A ripe and elegant sauvignon blanc. Attractive yellow grapefruit and passion fruit aromas follow through to a dynamic interplay between fleshiness and crisp acidity. A long and polished finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 91 points
A ripe and elegant sauvignon blanc. Attractive yellow grapefruit and passion fruit aromas follow through to a dynamic interplay between fleshiness and crisp acidity. A long and polished finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 91 points
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Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Best Buy
Pure blackberry and friendly side aromas of cola, sandalwood and fine leather give this blend of Malbec and smaller parts of Bonarda and Syrah a classy bouquet. The palate is firm and staunch, with tough but manageable tannins. Blackberry, spice, fresh herb and tobacco flavors finish fresh and under control.
Wine Spectator, 91 points Smart Buys
This ripe red delivers jammy cherry, boysenberry and spice notes, backed by fresh acidity, light tannins and a zesty finish of spice box, licorice and smoke. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now through 2016. 40,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
75% Torrontes, 15% Viognier, 10% Chardonnay; Complex aromatics, spice notes spring flowers, pit and tropical notes; loads of flavor, dry, long.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Deep blackberry and cassis aromashold up to scrutiny, while this perennially impres-sive Malbec from Luján de Cuyo delivers a bold palate, with tons of fruit but also balancing acid-ity. Toasty blackberry flavors are backed by peppery spice and a touch of charred oak on the finish. Drink through 2023. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2017 Golden Reserve Malbec was produced with fruit from the four districts in Luján de Cuyo, and it was produced in a traditional way: aged in oak but preserving the varietal fruit and the round tannins, with a round palate and finesse. It’s not as dense as before, with more elegance and a little less oak than in the past. It’s juicy and balanced, with good ripeness but without excess, and with fine tannins and some grip. 650,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 91 points Top Values
Ripe and rich, with a core of dark plum, kirsch and cocoa powder flavors. Well-structured, featuring medium-grained tannins and a long, sumptuous finish loaded with mocha and spice details. Drink now through 2020.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2010 Golden Reserve Malbec, from fruit grown in Lujan de Cuyo (a classic region within Mendoza), aged for one year in French oak barrels and has an exotic nose of curry, cardamom, vanilla and blueberries. The ripe palate displays intense, penetrating flavors that provide good clarity and plenty of power. It is well-crafted with balance, power and elegance and at a very good price for the quality level. Drink 2014-2020.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points Editors' Choice
The nose is deep and dense, delivering pure blackberry and blueberry aromas along with toast and herb notes. It feels balanced and pure as a cloudless night, with controlled blackberry, spice and chocolate flavors. Strong on the finish, with bitter notes of chocolate and espresso, and narrow tannins.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
After a few years of stumbling around in Mendoza, this Concha y Toro project seems to have found its way. This wine, albeit oaky, is full of dark fruit, dill and toast aromas. The palate is balanced and tight, with firm tannins and plenty of black cherry, plum and coffee flavors. Toasty and lasting. Shows a lot of power and purity.
Wine Advocate, 91 points
Showcasing the classic Malbec from Vistalba, Las Compuertas, Perdriel and Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo, the 2015 Golden Reserve Malbec matured mostly in used French barriques, while 5% of the volume was in oak foudres for 12 months. It feels closed and serious, restrained and harmonious. It benefits from time in the glass or even a decanter. This is tasty and vibrant, quite classic Luján, but they have been harvesting earlier, making it fresh and approachable, with less alcohol, more acidity and less oak. 600,000 bottles produced.
James Suckling, 91 points
Dark fruit on the nose, such as blackberries, with meat and chestnut undertones. Full body with firm tannins. Structured, yet it retains a lean and juicy feel on the palate. Very clean. Real malbec character. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
This is a sauvignon with a dual personality—delicate in aromas, then powerful in its flavor intensity. Its soft and elegant scent of flowers, white fruit and herbs contrasts with that taut spine of acidity, making this a perfect oyster white.
James Suckling, 91 points
Aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry with sage undertones. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Juicy and fruity with texture. Firm, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 91 points
A delicious red with aromas of dark berries, chocolate, currants and hazelnuts, which follow through to a firm and lightly chewy palate. There is plenty of fruit at the finish. Shows tension and structure with some aging potential. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Matías Ríos makes his top pinot noir from the Triángulo Estate in eastern Casablanca, blending in some fruit grown in San Antonio, closer to the ocean. The wine spent 14 months in barrels and immediately shows the sweetness of that oak, but if you are patient and allow the wine to develop its ripe red cherry flavors take on a gentleness and finesse that lasts. That flavor persistence will meld with duck prosciutto and other charcuterie.
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
James Suckling, 91 points
A softer, easier chardonnay with pineapple, lemon and light sour-apple undertones. Medium to full body. Fresh, easy finish. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points
Citrus and green melon aromas include a touch of matchstick, while this southerly SB is bold, fresh and well-balanced, with depth to the palate. Peppery green apple, lime and melon flavors finish steady and minerally. Drink this well-cut, sleek number through 2021. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
From a tighter selection of fruit than the Marqués de Casa Concha wine (also recommended here), Amelia is more ambitiously oaked, too, a big, rich and succulent white. The fruit is bright, charged with brisk mineral acidity, the oak integrated with the yellow plum and golden pear flavors. The only downside is the alcohol, which initially adds a jazz riff of spice, then begins to stand apart as the wine opens with air. It may become less prominent with age and, if so, it would be well worth waiting. —J.G
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Focused on fresh golden-apple flavors, this wine has a Mâcon-like simplicity to its structure—it’s rich, with enough bright acidity to keep it clean and sapid. Marcello Papa harvests grapes for this chardonnay from an estate vineyard in Limarí, grown in limestone soils washed down from the Andes.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2011 Amelia Chardonnay, sourced from the clay red soils of Las Petras Vineyard in Casablanca, is a restrained Chardonnay with no malolactic. It has a golden color and a nose with plenty of yellow plum, citric notes of tangerines and orange peel, hints of smoke and vanilla and a chalky feeling. It’s still young but accessible, and should age well. Drink now-2017.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A ripe, rich white, displaying notes of baking spice, black licorice and flint to the zesty pineapple and guava fruit flavors. Shows plenty of character, featuring fresh acidity driving the long finish. Drink now. 500 cases made
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2009 Amelia Chardonnay was sourced from the El Triangulo Vineyard in Casablanca that was planted in 1992. The wine was fermented in barrel with malolactic blocked. It then spent 11 months in 40% new French oak sur lie with batonnage. Notions of toasty oak, poached pear, baking spices, jasmine, and mineral lead to a seamless, creamy textured, nearly opulent Chardonnay crying out for lobster Thermidor. Drink this outstanding effort over the next 6-7 years.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
A rich wine with ample barrel influence on the nose along with white fruit aromas. Healthy and big in the mouth, with a flavor profile that blends tropical flavors with citrus. Deep and lightly toasted on the finish, with an excellent feel and texture out the door. Noticeably less oaky than in the past.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2005 Chardonnay “Amelia” has a classy perfume of minerals, apples, spiced pears, and a hint of tropical fruits in the background. This is followed by a wine with excellent depth and length, concentrated flavors, and a pure finish.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A bolder style, with apple, brioche and fig aromas and flavors that ride along a ripe, creamy texture. There’s good acidity buried here, which stretches out the finish nicely. Drink now through 2009. 5,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Starts slowly, with mineral and floral notes, but shows deep pear and fig fruit as it moves along. Fine acidity really stretches it out, too. Long and elegant, this should age nicely in the short term. Drink now through 2006. 365 cases imported.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
The winemakers at CyT intentionally lowered the oak level on this wine, and now it’s a much better Amelia than what we tasted in the past. It’s still a figgy, round wine with papaya, pear and banana, but the transition from palate to finish is seamless. And without all that wood, you really taste the purity of the Casablanca fruit.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
There’s a load of pear, fig and papaya fruit here, but it’s all held in check by ripe, racy acidity. A crackling mineral edge and floral and citrus peel notes lend further definition on the finish. Brief cellaring will allow this to round into form nicely. Drink now through 2005. 1,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Fresh-crushed cherry, raspberry and smoke notes fill this fresh, vibrant style. Minerally midpalate, with fine-grained tannins on the finish of sandalwood and spice. Drink now through 2020. 487 cases made. –KM
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Taut and well-built, with aromas of currant, crushed stone and licorice. Dense flavors of smoky plum and cracked pepper build toward big tannins. Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2027.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Inky on the nose, with feral notes of animal fur, this is a concentrated fruit bomb from start to finish. Given that 2010 was a cold year, it’s not surpising that this wine would be closed at this early state; yet with mossy flavors and minty, oak-based notes of carob and mulberry, it’s showing good signs. Drink through 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Intense and compact on the nose, this has cola, mint, cassis and blackberry aromas that are tightly knit. The palate is narrow and intense, with lightly herbal, reedy flavors of saucy, savory berry and herb. This is a leading Carmenère, but it’s not as flavorful and substantive as prior years.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A jammy red, with game, mocha and light underbrush notes accenting the fleshy plum and dark cherry fruit. Full-bodied, featuring a broad, round finish. Drink now. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A muscular red, with peppery notes to the cherry tart, green olive and dark currant flavors. Bittersweet chocolate hints on the finish are supported by ample tannins and accented by smoky details. Drink now through 2022. 290 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
I tasted a Carignan from Cono Sur for the first time with the 2016 Single Vineyard Carignan, produced with fruit from a plot of old vines in Maule, which had a drier harvest than other valleys. It fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and open pumping over, and it matured in French barriques, 70% of them new. They have been working with these grapes for a long time, but they were always used for blending, and in 2016 they decided to bottle it separately for the first time. It was a little closed and with a slightly reductive personality, so decanting in advance might not be a bad idea if you plan to open it anytime soon. The palate is a textbook austere Cariñena, with the bark-like rusticity of the tannins and very good acidity. It has character and should be able to develop further nuance and complexity in bottle. This is a great start. 7,000 bottles were filled in December 2017.
James Suckling, 90 points
A bright array of rich and brambly red berries that have a deep, rolling presence on the palate, in a ripe and soft style. Gently spicy oak finish. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
James Suckling, 90 points
A generous and juicy dry white that has tons of gooseberries, grapefruit and passion fruit. Crisp, but harmonious acidity for a sauvignon blanc with just 12 per cent natural alcohol. Drink now. Screw cap.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
A juicy, ripe 2012, this balances sweet tropical fruit notes with tense, fresh acidity. It prickles on the tongue, calling for steamed clams spritzed in lemon.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
James Suckling, 90 points
Not so vibrant on the nose, but on the palate this has nice strawberry and melon character, the finish quite long and very harmonious. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 90 points +
There is also a 2017 Single Vineyard Syrah, from a plot in San Antonio Valley, a cool-climate place. The destemmed grapes fermented in open stainless steel vats, and the wine matured in a 50/50 mix of barriques and oak foudres for ten months. It has a super pungent nose with acute aromas of olives (a touch green), tar and even a diesel-like touch, with balsamic and medicinal undertones. It’s from the same vineyard as the Pinot Noir single vineyard, a place that provides mineral austerity in the wines and a vibrant sensation in the palate. This has a very strong personality and is very different from the 20 Barrels Syrah, which is from Limarí. Some might think this is a bit overwhelming, an in-your-face Syrah. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2018.
James Suckling, 90 points
This has a bright, ripe and easy style with light berries and light, spicy complexity. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2007 Don Melchor is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in French oak (78% new) and one-year old oak. It has a rounded, smooth tobacco and cedar scented bouquet with plush red fruit. The palate is full-bodied with chalky tannins, smoky black tarry fruit and a reserved, slightly austere finish with dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. It has Old World sensibility and is well crafted. Drink now-2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Hard to believe that this Chilean icon is now in its 17th year. We recall back in the early ’90s when it was just getting going at well under $20 a bottle. With this wine look for potent, almost buttery oak propping up ripe berry fruit. In the folds are notes of tobacco, earth, mineral and mushroom. Tannic on the tail, with some overt wood that needs to find its place. Hold of at least a year.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
No tasting note given.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Really inviting wine, with plush currant, black cherry, mint and smoke. Ripe and fleshy, yet has serious underlying structure and density. Mineral and sanguine nuances peek out on the finish. Harmonious and expressive now, with more to come.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now through 2007. 14,800 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Seems quite modern in style compared with the other vintages, with noticeable toast and polish (this vintage contains an atypical 3 percent Merlot). Ripe plum, spice and coffee flavors, with a nice winey feel and a muscular but juicy finish. Still has some baby fat to shed.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now through 2005.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Gorgeous. Mixes mint, smoke, black cherry and sanguine notes up front, then picks up additional mineral and clay flavors on the firm, muscular finish. Delicious, and just about to hit its peak.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now through 2004. 4,000 cases imported.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Top 100 #12
Emits a pronounced minty aroma, with fleshy currant, coffee and chocolate flavors. Dense, but stays stylish, with bright, ripe acidity carrying the finish.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now through 2002. 10,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Year's Best California Chardonnays
This is a new partnership between two Fresno-trained friends, viticulturist Ben Byczynski and Sebastian Donoso, who is originally from Chile. They source most of this chardonnay from the Heintz Vineyard (91 percent), allowing the far-coast freshness to power through any influence of the oak in which the wine was aged (mostly older barrels). It’s supple and clean, a lively white for lemony pan-roasted sea bass.”
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2017 Gravas del Maipo Syrah comes from the same vineyards as the Marqués de Casa Concha, and despite being a more Bordeaux style, the 2017 keeps its poise with a round palate and contained opulence. It has some creamy notes, concentration and power—at 14.8% alcohol—with black rather than red fruit. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2018.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Lushly spiced, with good cut to the boysenberry and dried blueberry flavors, featuring some meaty notes. Peppery and minerally accents show midpalate, leading to a ripe finish that offers raspberry and balsamic elements. Drink now through 2019. 350 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2009 Gravas del Maipo is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from an old vineyard planted in the 1967 with Savignonese that was grafted to Syrah in 2002 from the Buin appellation within Maipo on gravel soils (as the name points out) with a top layer of clay gravels. The nose has some ripe black fruit aromas with notes of spices, chocolate and a lactic, smoky hint, with a medium-bodied palate, good freshness and acidity and pungent flavors as well as elegant, soft tannins. This is a limited-production wine, only around 6,000 bottles are produced and its scarcity is reflected in the price. Very well-crafted, if slightly international-styled. Drink now-2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
The hot conditions of 2009 are draped all over this rich, syrupy wine that’s opaque to the eye and heavily charred on the nose. Under a blanket of burnt oak, there’s leather, beef and black-fruit aromas. The palate on this heavyweight is chewy, while flavors of oak, roasted berry and herbs lead to a mildly complex but forceful finish. This is more big and ripe than elegant.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Aromas of baked blackberry are a touch earthy but mostly easy to process. This Cabernet feels solid but not overextracted. Malty, earthy flavors of baked berry fruits and cassis finish with coffee and mocha notes. Drink through 2021.
Wine Advocate, 90+ points
The 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of grapes from Puente Alto and Pirque. It has some balsamic aromas and clean cassis aromas, with good freshness combined with good volume. It has good varietal typicity, very integrated oak (matured in barrique and oak foudres) and just a touch of cedar wood and is juicy and vibrant. This is really very good in a fresh vintage like 2018. 900,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Aromas of spice, rubber and berry fruits lead to a full palate with punchy acidity and firm bones. Flavors of mint and green herbs meld with dense dark berries and lead to an olive tone that lingers on the finish.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Rich, featuring fleshy dark fruit flavors supported by firm tannins and acidity. Notes of hot stone show midpalate, with accents of dried meat, savory herb and Asian spice on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 75,000 cases made, 12,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
The cool 2011 season isn’t apparent in this cabernet. Instead, it tastes of sweet fruit, with ripe flavors of figs and plums building through the finish. The texture is soft, with a thick velvet nap.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
An opening of dense black-fruit, spice, violet and toast aromas functions as an invitation to this plump, chunky, well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate bears boysenberry, blackberry and cassis flavors, with chocolate and molasses accents. Toasty, warm and rich on the finish. Drink now–2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Stands out for its fruit quality, balance and structure. The nose is strong and piercing, with charred notes, black-fruit aromas and depth. Ripe and clean in the mouth, with elevated blackberry flavors and a chewy, meaty mouthfeel. Toasty and tasting of black licorice on the finish. A serious, well-made Chilean Cab to drink now through 2012.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
All their Carmenere comes from Peumo, the classical zone for the grape in Cachapoal, including the 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere, which also contains 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc. This is expressive and varietal, spicy and open, with good freshness, and it was produced in a much more approachable way than in the past—matured in a combination of barriques and oak foudres. All these Carmenere have a more modern, fresher style, and this is a good introduction to it. 240,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2019.
James Suckling, 90 points
Lighter notes of cranberry pie, blueberry sauce and some herbal essence. Medium body, fresh acidity and a pretty finish. Juicy. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Bright and savory, this needs time in a decanter for its spicy fruit to move past the sweet tobacco and jalapeño notes and gain more juiciness and finesse. The flavors turn toward pomegranate, lasting in a gentle finish. Reviewed by Joshua Greene.
James Suckling, 90 points
Blackberry and fresh herbs with blueberries. Medium to full body, round and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Yet dry and fresh. Delicious now.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Leathery berry aromas are dense and earthy, while not showing any of the green character that sometimes plagues Carmenère. A flush mouthfeel is solid and fruity, with berry and plum flavors that are roasted and meaty. Savory notes on the finish suggest a pairing with barbecue.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Sleek and refined, with firm, sinewy flavors of mocha, dark currant and roasted plum, supported by muscular tannins and crisp acidity. The spicy finish has peppery notes. Drink now through 2021. 22,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Smart Buys
A suave and plush red, with concentrated, well-spiced flavors of dried blueberry, blackberry and roasted plum. Minerally midpalate, followed by a finish of mocha and dried green herbal notes. Drink now through 2019. 22,900 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Leathery, spicy, herbal berry aromas are a bit feral but remain typical of this variety. Jammy, fleshy and fruity on the palate, this exudes herbal plum and raspberry flavors with toasty, green notes. A minty, chunky, solid finish brings herbal notes that are indicative of the grape.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Clean white-fruit aromas show nice lift on the nose, while this Limarí Chardonnay smells faintly smoky and toasty. A textural body is medium to full in size, while light oak notes accent flavors of melon and green banana. A steady finish confirms the relative high quality of this oak-aged Chardonnay. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Generous and creamy, this is a mouthfilling chardonnay with lasting apple and pear flavors. Marcelo Papa grows it in the alluvial soils flecked with limestone at Quebrada Seca, far north of Santiago at the edge of the Atacama desert. A bristle of acidity tames the malt and smoke of the lees; it’s a fresh chardonnay to serve with sea bass.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay was produced with grapes from vines planted in Limarí in 2009 and 2010. It fermented in 228- and 600-liter oak barrels with selected yeasts and matured in 22% new barriques for 12 months. This is always austere and sharp, with a lot less oak than in the past, with good freshness for a good year, with light and good focus. They have removed the makeup to show more of the terroir, and it was interesting to taste this next to the one from Bio Bio, where this is sharper and austere, with a more serious personality. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2018.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Best Values
Steely and rich, with powerful flavors of dried apple, pear and allspice. Luscious honeysuckle details show midpalate, accented by notes of dried citrus on the crisp finish. Drink now through 2020. 11,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
NR
Wine Spectator, 90 points
This smoky white opens up with dense pineapple, Pink Lady apple and zesty citrus notes that are tightly wound on a bright, medium-bodied frame. Drink now. 16,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points #62 Top 100
A fresh, harmonious white, featuring pineapple, citrus and spice notes backed by juicy acidity and creamy texture. Well-integrated, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit and chalk. Drink now. 8,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
From time to time there are small lots produced from different regions, like this 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay Edición Limitada, which is sourced from southern Bio Bio, from the Mulchén region by the river on volcanic soils. This is a vineyard from the family and is planted with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that is also used for some Cono Sur wines. It fermented for 12 to 15 days in oak barrels where it matured for some 11 months. This is a completely different expression from the Chardonnays from Limarí, with a more austere nose with some notes of apple but a livelier palate and an absence of tropical notes so common in the coastal range. Only 1,800 bottles were filled in February 2017.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Concentrated baker’s chocolate and mocha notes accent the dried blackberry and dark plum flavors. Shows creamy and peppery hints on the dense finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024. 6,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Advocate, 90 points
Produced with grapes from San Clemente in Maule, in a slightly cooler zone since 2013, the 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot contains some 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah. It’s ripe and juicy, with a soft texture and the telltale tannins of the variety. Half of the volume matured in 5,000-liter botti, and the rest was kept in barriques for 18 months. 125,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2019.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The minty 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot was produced with grapes from San Clemente in Maule and contains 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah from vines planted between 1999 and 2005. Half of the volume matured in 5,000-liter botti, while the rest was kept in barriques for some 18 months. It’s round, with good ripeness and a soft texture—quite remarkable, as Merlot is not easy in Chile, but it seems like the Maule keeps better freshness than in the central valley where the vines get stressed and the tannins don’t ripen properly. This has good length. Quite impressive. 266,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2018.
James Suckling, 90 points
A wine with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body, firm tannins and a juicy finish. Hints of rust. Flavorful and pretty. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Aromas of balsam wood, sandalwood-scented soap, blackberry and rubber feed into a drawing palate with abrasive tannins. A heavy oak character leads blackberry and licorice flavors, while this feels tannic and grabby on the finish, with acidity that sticks out. Drink through 2023.
James Suckling, 90 points
A ripe and muscular red, with concentrated flavors of plum pudding, cherry tart and dried blackberry, filled with Asian spice notes. Finishes with dark chocolate, mint and minerally accents. Drink now through 2020. 25,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A ripe and expressive red, with rich flavors of dark plum, currant and cherry, flanked by notes of graphite and white pepper. The muscular finish is filled with Asian spice and dark chocolate accents. Drink now. 28,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
The crunchy red fruit comes first, but there’s enough tannin power in this merlot to make it more than just refreshing. There’s structure for a steak, and enough acidity to cut the fat from anything off the grill.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
An expansive merlot, this wine’s black fruit fights with the chocolate flavors for dominance, a battle filled with ripe, sweet sensations. A substantial red designed for winter and Camembert.
James Suckling, 90 points
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Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2018 Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir reveals a ripe nose of cherries and wild berries and has a sharper palate with straightforward, clean and focused flavors. 54,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.
James Suckling, 90 points
Lots of dried strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors in this. Full body, round texture and sweet berry aftertaste. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Plum, berry and raspberry aromas are light and elegant. This feels medium to full in body, with tannins that grab a little but don’t clamp down. Ripe black-fruit flavors of plum and currant finish with an herbal note of basil along with flavors of oak and tomato sauce.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
Same as the Chardonnay, the Pinot used for the production of the 2014 Marqués de Casa Concha Pinot Noir is also sourced from the Limarí Valley. The grapes come from very young vines planted in 2006-2007 south of the Limarí river on red clay and chalk soils, with some even newer grapes planted in the Quebrada Seca part in the northern bank of the river. Some 5% full clusters were used for the fermentation in stainless steel open top vats. The wine matured in 27% new French oak barrels for 14 months. These wines are slightly oakier with a more commercial profile than the Maycas de Limarí range, but you see the precision, freshness and how the oak is getting better integrated. The core of bright cherries and raspberries is there, and make it quite aromatic and open. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety texture and moderate to good acidity. 26,200 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Top 100 Outstanding Values
Perfumed, with layers of spice, game and underbrush leading to a core of racy cherry fruit. A mineral edge appears on the fine finish. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
As in 2016, there’s a 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir Edición Limitada, produced with fruit from vines planted in Bio Bio in 2007 on red clay and volcanic soils. It fermented with some 5% full clusters and matured in 20% new 228-liter oak barrels for one year. From the Andes part of Bio Bio, with more influence from the mountains, this Pinot Noir is very attractive and shows more finesse and poise than the Chardonnay from the same zone, which was a little rounder and fatter. This is very attractive, with some meaty notes, hints of spices and flowers. I found this very balanced in the palate, clean and focused. The oak is perfectly integrated. I was very impressed by this. It was very interesting to compare it with the one bottling from Limarí that I tasted. This is more layered and textured, with more depth and complexity. 1,800 bottles were filled in March 2018.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The third vintage of the rosé from Itata 2019 Marques de Casa Concha Cinsault Rose has 10% Garnacha, which they finds adds texture and also a little more acidity. It had a natural fermentation in concrete eggs and 500-liter oak barrels. It has notes of red fruit, pomegranate and watermelon, with freshness and a nice texture. This is a very gastronomical rosé with a dry finish. It should be interesting to see how this one develops in bottle. They have grown a lot with this wine, up to 32,000 bottles. It was bottled in October 2019.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Top 100 Outstanding Values
This compact white sets a serious tone, with concentrated layers of lime, grapefruit, flint and pea shoot notes. Ripe, with plenty of zip to the long, savory finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Top 100 Wines of 2012: Rank #87
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Wine & Spirits, 90 points
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Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Bright black fruit aromas are the greeting on this grapy, extracted Syrah. Intense blackberry and plum flavors are charged up and kind of heavy, while needed acidity brings the finish back to the center, leaving ripe and sappy leftovers. Drink or hold through 2023. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Powerful and well-crafted, featuring ripe flavors of dark plum and cherry tart that are liberally spiced. Dark chocolate and cream notes linger on the muscular finish, with some peppery hints. Drink now through 2022. 6,600 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2013 Syrah Marqués de Casa Concha is produced with grapes from vines planted in 1998 in the Buin appellation within Maipo. Some 10%-15% of the grapes fermented in full clusters with the rest un-crushed in a combination of stainless steel and wood vats. The élevage was in 20% new barriques, 50% used barriques and 30% 5,000-liter botti. There is more black fruit and the wine has a different profile when tasted next to the ones from Limarí. This is from the south bank of the Maipo River. It’s quite fresh for the zone, with some classical smoky bacon and violet aromas, and less chocolaty aromas than in the wines from previous vintages (this year represents a big change and a departure from the old style); the grapes were harvested three weeks earlier than in past vintages. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins and more fresh fruit, easier to drink. 65,280 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Complexity on the nose comes via earthy aromas of licorice root, sandalwood and mild berry fruits. The palate is on the big and bullish side, but it’s neither heavy nor fierce. Flavors of ripe blackberry, pepper and chocolate finish with a touch of herbs and mint. Drink through 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Pure, alluring aromas of minerally black fruits, lavender, cola, fir tree and pepper combine to form a highly inviting bouquet. This doesn’t fall off in the mouth, where it’s more fresh and bouncy than heavy. Flavors of dark berry fruits, herbs and chocolate end in a rich, grabby, textured finish. Drink this lusty but elegant Syrah now through 2016.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Elegant and pleasantly understated, with a supple mix of creamy oak, currant, black licorice and dark berry flavors, maintaining a mix of charm and finesse. Drink now through 2030. 2,900 cases made.—J.L.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
For the fan of big, bold flavor, this Rutherford red is robust in tannin and oak, as well as full, ripe waves of blueberry, black cherry and chocolate. Interspersed among the enjoyable proceedings are dessert-like elements of caramel and cinnamon.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Strongly flavored in caramel and French butter, this wine has a light touch of acidity with full-bodied layers of vanilla oak, pear and pineapple. Fleshy and textured, it packs a lasting punch of richness and roundness. VIRGINIE BOONE
Wine Advocate, 90 points
Winemaker Ignacio Recabarren prefers Pirque in Alto Maipo to Puente Alto, and that is exactly the source for the 2012 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon. This terroir always produces a note of graphite and some earthy hints, with classical aromas of blackberries and tobacco leaf, with good ripeness and moderate spiciness from the élevage. The palate is medium to full-bodied with the telltale Cabernet tannins and very good balance. 66,600 bottles produced.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2010 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon is from 25-year-old vineyards in Pirque in the Alto Maipo, the left bank of Maipo River, and feels serious, classical and elegant, with notes of pencil shavings, graphite, tobacco and a lively nose of raspberries and exotic aromas of roses that make it extremely attractive, and dare I say it, feminine. It has sophisticated, glossy tannins, with a silky texture. This is a Margaux-styled, elegant Cabernet at a magnificent price.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
With all the generous red fruit and silky tannins that Peumo can give, this wine is still battling some youthful pyrazines. That makes it a little lean and funky for now. But there’s something dark underneath, a deep fruit presence that should emerge with two or three years in the cellar. This is often one of the great reds of Chile, and well worth patient cellaring.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
A lot of handiwork went into this wine; that much you can tell. The nose is loaded with heavy, oak-based aromas of coconut, butter and brown sugar. There’s also intense dark fruit sitting beneath, and ultimately it all comes together in a modern, fruit-forward way. Not all that herbal or rugged; it’s very polished and not terribly varietal. Imported by Banfi Vintners.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Dark and saturated, with hefty aromas of toffee, toasted marshmallow and berry syrup. Plenty of bulky dark fruit backs up the nose, while the body is full in every sense. Muscular, no-holds-barred stuff made in a modern way. Unique among Carmenère. Imported by Banfi Vintners.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Minty, herbal berry aromas are boosted by a lot of oak, resulting in chocolaty scents of mocha and coffee. High acidity, be it natural or added, creates a saucy, tomatoey mouthfeel, while this tastes of herbal blackberry and dark plum. More oak is found on a dry, tannic finish. Drink this generous Carmenère through 2025. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Minerally citrus aromas are the greeting on this high-end, pure SB. Stony minerality and citric acidity make for a fresh, polished mouthfeel, while flavors of lime, passion fruit and grapefruit are focused and smooth, and not at all soft. When people talk about fine cool-climate Chilean SB, this is what they should be referencing.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
This crackles with fresh acidity, featuring well-concentrated flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and blood orange that extend with rich, spicy details. The juicy finish shows a crunchy minerality. Pure and complex. Drink now through 2016. 3,100 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
The 2012 vintage was so hot in Chile that harvests came very early. Thus finding mature, complex SBs in this year won’t be easy. This perennially excellent wine is as good as you’ll find in 2012. Scallion, lime and other green aromas precede a zesty, hard-driving palate. Sea shell, grapefruit, lime and chervil flavors set up a tight, minerally finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
This is about as racy as Sauvignon Blanc from Chile gets. It’s green and melon-like on the nose, with punchy asparagus and lime aromas. It is wide awake on the palate, where citrusy acids push lemon, lime, green herb and lemongrass flavors. It cuts like a razor; drink with shellfish.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
This elegant, lemony white leads with a flinty edge to the savory citrus, lemongrass and lime leaf notes. Mouthwatering, with a lingering citrus zest note. Drink now. 2,900 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Perfumed and exotic at first, this benchmark Chilean SB settles into familiarity upon airing. The nose is pungent and tropical, with green accents. The palate is zesty and sharp, with acid-driven lemon, lime and green apple flavors. Not timid; this is Sauvignon Blanc served up on a laser beam.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
We won’t call this the best Terrunyo SB to date, but it is typically clean, mineral and full of lime and passion fruit. The overall balance and purity are up the ladder, while the flavors of green fruits, passion fruit, brine and lime don’t hold back. Top notch SB from Chile to drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Lean and bracing at first, with flint and lime notes, this slowly opens to show more gooseberry, chive flower and sea salt flavors that ripple through the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2009. 8,800 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Lots of lively pea, chalk, lemon zest and herb flavors with a chiseled, minerally finish. Very tasty. Drink now. 7,500 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
A tense, floral sauvignon with light and ethereal flavors of grapefruit, this opens with air to richer passion-fruit tones. Some coastal salinity keeps it dry, and makes it a refreshing match for oysters.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Year's Best Mendoza Malbecs
This is an oak-driven red, its notes of vanilla, fennel seed and cool red-berry fruit combining with Rioja-like grace. A vineyard selection from a 1912 planting at 3,225 in elevation, it’s young, needing time in the cellar to develop more detail.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Pure and crisp, with red currant and plum flavors backed by fresh acidity. The juicy finish has slate accents, showing some creamy notes. Drink now through 2021.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A fleshy red, featuring juicy flavors of boysenberry, dried cherry and plum tart, backed by firm tannins and acidity. Minerally midpalate, with hints of pepper and baker’s chocolate on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 650 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
This opens with warm, earthy, horsey aromas that become cleaner with airing. A muscular palate with hard tannins and evident tartaric acidity creates edgy flavors that are matched by vanilla and darker-fruit notes of raspberry and plum. This is hard now, a bit disjointed and short in spots. Drink from 2016 through 2026 for best results.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A rich, juicy red, with notes of hot stone to the brambly mix of plum and cherry flavors. Very creamy midpalate, presenting a plush, chocolate- and spiced-filled finish. Drink now through 2018.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2006 Eolo Malbec is the second vintage of this cuvee, a wine sourced from a 96-year-old vineyard and aged for 18 months in 80% new French oak. Purple-colored with a brooding bouquet of toasty oak, mineral, black cherry, and blackberry, on the palate it is smooth-textured, spicy, and elegant. With soft tannins, excellent balance, and a pure finish, it is a wine of finesse. Give it 2-3 years to round out and drink it through 2018.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Silky tannins and luscious flavors of blackberry, dark plum and cherry pie give this plenty of juicy liveliness. Creamy midpalate, with a spicy finish of milk chocolate and pepper. Drink now through 2019.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
With the generosity and warmth of ripe red fruit, this is a classic Buin cabernet, formidable in the mouth, packed with blackberry flavors. It has the tension and strength to stand up to a lamb braise.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
This widely available, well-priced bottling is worth stocking up on. Creamy aromas of yellow peach, oak, butter and lemon are classic Chardonnay markers. The palate offers ripe peach, pear and apple flavors, cut by lime peel and decent tension. It’s rich yet clean and balanced.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Best Buy
Ripe fruit meets butter and spice in this medium-bodied, smooth and integrated wine. It opens with Bosc pear and golden apple aromas, melding with vanilla and marzipan notes, its richness of flavor nicely buoyed up by acidity.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Best Buy/Top 100 Best Buys 2020
Joseph Brinkley at Bonterra farms these muscat vines under biodynamics, delivering fruit that can stand naked, in a completely dry style. And it’s delicious to taste a dry muscat with this much lemony bitterness and citrusy freshness. It feels honest, a lovely summer refreshment.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
This is an aromatic, bone-dry wine that shows off the grape’s floral side. It smells of jasmine, rose and lychee, tastes crisp and refreshing and finishes with an appetizing nip of astringency.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fruity and focused red with cherry, slate and some walnut character. Medium-bodied. Delicious finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Editors' Choice
A firm texture and big, earthy black-fruit flavors give this full-bodied wine plenty of presence. It tastes of blackberry, cranberry and dark chocolate while it feels tannic and grippy on the palate. Merlot and Petite Sirah are the two main components in the blend.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Best Buy
On the big and bold side, this has abundant fruit flavors surrounded by equally abundant lip-smacking tannins, great acidity and a long finish. Not very oaky, it has a vibrancy and fruit focus that is mouthwatering and compelling. It’s tasty now, but will also improve through 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Cinnamon and clove aromas lead to a juicy, well-concentrated cherry flavor in this medium-bodied, fairly oaky wine. Light tannins add to the grippy mouthfeel and help pull the fruit flavors through the finish. —Jim Gordon
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
This might be the best value Pinot out there. Light in color and strong in Bing cherry flavor and aroma, smoothly textured and well-balanced, it’s made from organic grapes to boot. A fine and rare example of a Mendocino Pinot that’s not overly complicated or fussy.
James Suckling, 90 points
Lemon zest, grapefruit, apple blossom and hints of green peppercorn and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity and light spritz. Sharp and citrusy. Lightly off-dry. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Best Buy
Fresh and vibrant grapefruit, lemon and crisp apple aromas join equally lively citrus flavors in this medium-bodied, not-too-tart wine. It’s refreshing and clean, pairing especially well with seafood.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Best Buy
Well concentrated and lively in texture, this medium-bodied wine offers nice lemon and grapefruit aromas. These vivid citrus flavors carry to the palate, backed by snappy acidity. JIM GORDON
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Editors' Choice
This combines freshness with concentration and great structure. With a deep, dark color and aromas like cranberry and red cherry accented by hints of rosemary and thyme, it tastes deep, juicy and ripe, and feels vibrant and handsomely tannic.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fresh and clean white that shows green apples, melon and limes. Light to medium body, zesty acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
A pretty and delicious cabernet sauvignon with currants, berries and dark chocolate. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a crisp finish. A go-to cabernet that always pleases. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 90 points +
The 2015 Casillero del Diablo Leyenda Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Pirque appellation in the south bank of the Maipo River, fermented in stainless steel and had an extended élevage of 20 months in 5,000-liter botti from Piemonte in Italy. The wine had just been bottled and might have been in a little bit of a shock. The nose opens up slowly, quite balsamic with notes of camphor and ripe blackberries. The wines now are a lot fresher than the wines from yesteryear, and the oak a lot better integrated. I might be underestimating this 2015 right now, and I might revisit it next time… 6,600 bottles were filled in February 2017.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
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James Suckling, 90 points
An attractive red that shows citrus, blackcurrants and herbs. Medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Amazing value. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Smart Buys
This ripe and muscular red offers dense dark currant, dried blackberry and green olive flavors that lengthen out nicely, with plenty of fresh acidity. Savory green herbal and bittersweet chocolate notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 62,878 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Stout and compact out of the blocks, with ripe cassis and berry aromas and only a pinch of herbal spiciness. It’s creamy, big and warm in the mouth, with a ton of mocha, chocolate, cassis and blackberry. Intense and dark late, with a coconut sweetness to the finish.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Exuberant flavors of strawberries and blackberries meld with this wine’s firm structure. The depth of the fruit demands full-flavored dishes. Try it with braised lamb.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
A new addition to the Casillero line of great values, this Reserva Privada offers currant and black pepper scents over a firm texture; its tannins support the wine’s refreshing fruit character.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fresh and clean white that shows green apples, melon and limes. Light to medium body, zesty acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
A bright and simple array of purple flowers and berries, delivered in approachable, supple style on the palate. Super drinkable. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fresh and citrusy chardonnay with a joyful personality, this is medium-bodied with nice creaminess, underlying the lively fruit. Good length. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 90 points
Aromas and flavors of ripe nectarine, sliced apple, pear and wet stone. It’s full-bodied and creamy with a fruity finish. Straightforward and easy to drink. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
A full-bodied, off-dry white with floral aromas and flavors of roses, geraniums, pineapple and orange zest. Gently oily in texture with medium acidity. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Best Buy
This medium-bodied wine matches ripe black-plum and -cherry flavors with light yet firm tannins. A sense of concentration and density comes through on the palate and encourages the lingering finish.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The excellent 2018 Gran Reserva Serie Riberas Cabernet Sauvignon has a very harmonious nose and the juiciness of the 2018 vintage. This comes from clay and soils in Marchigüe. The wine has some 13% alcohol and good freshness, quite different from the wines from Maipo. They used a combination of barriques and foudres for the élevage, and the result feels very good. 792,000 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
A welcoming blend of mild oak and red fruit aromas is well executed on the nose and reflective of a great vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, this feels tight and slightly angular and edgy. Lightly oaked plum flavors are herbal in that patented Chilean way and aided by a hint of cinnamon, while this stays lively and balanced across the finish. Fetzer Vineyards. —M.S.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Marchigüe is on the coastal side of Colchagua and, thanks to the marine influence, it offers wines with more nerve and sharper focus than those from the warm center of the valley. This wine’s acidity pricks the tongue, and its red fruit refreshes everything in its path. It feels alive and energetic, crunchy and vivacious.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Daily Wine Picks $15 – $30
A taut, muscular red, with forest floor notes to the luscious dried berry and cherry tart flavors, accented by olive and tar notes. The juicy finish is filled with baker’s chocolate and white pepper details. Lithe and pure. Drink now through 2020.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
Distinctly carmenère, with its notes of blackberry, bitter chocolate and red-pepper spice, this simple red feels clean, plump and zesty.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Features minerally snap to the concentrated raspberry, plum and wild cherry flavors. Crushed green herb notes show on the suave finish. Drink now through 2022. 22,000 cases made.
James Suckling, 90 points
This is very intense with loads of toasted oak, lemon rind and vanilla. Full-bodied and round textured. Oily texture but remains energetic. Contrasty white. 20% concrete eggs with the rest full-Burgundy treatment.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
This boasts richly spiced aromas, with flavors to match, as well as dried raspberry, portobello mushroom and currant elements. Dried beef notes on the powerful finish. Drink now through 2021.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Smart Buys
A rich red, with concentrated flavors of dark plum, dried blackberry and mocha that are intensely spiced. Dark chocolate and mince pie notes show midpalate, followed by a lively finish. Drink now through 2019.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2009 Riberas Carmenere was sourced from the Peumo Vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley, one of the prime sites for this variety. It contains 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in its blend. It spent 14 months in French and American oak, 15% new. It displays a bit more density and richness than the Riberas Cabernet along with an inviting nose of cedar, Asian spices, incense, lavender, plum, and blackberry. Concentrated, lengthy, and moderately structured, it can be approached now but will provide pleasure for another 5-6 years. It is an outstanding value.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Best Buy
While there isn’t much going on in the aroma of this wine, it takes off in the mouth, where the electric acidity and ripe tropical fruit flavors hold a little fiesta. It feels sparkling clean, vivid and vibrant, yet there’s more depth to the flavor than you might expect for the price.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fresh and delicate malbec with dried fruit and blueberry character. Hints of spice. Medium body, light cream and a fruity finish. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A precise, spicy style, with plenty of mineral and white pepper notes to the red plum, pomegranate and violet flavors. Beefy hints emerge midpalate, offering a long, lip-smacking finish of Asian spice and floral nuances. Drink now through 2020. 3,330 cases made
James Suckling, 90 points
A tangy sauvignon blanc with green herbs, celery and fennel leaves, as well as lemons. Medium body, bright acidity and a clean, bright finish. Vivid acidity. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points
From the clay and granite soils of the Cachapoal coast, this sauvignon owes its unctuous personality to a very warm vintage in Chile. The sunniness comes in tropical fruit notes and in a texture that feels warm and creamy, supporting deep flavors that fill out the middle of the wine.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The red blend 2017 Amado Sur is 70% Malbec, 20% Bonarda and 10% Syrah, a fruit-driven and juicy blend with aromas of black fruit and herbs that mixes fruit from Valle de Uco and Luján de Cuyo. It’s a wine with high drinkability, with a round palate, but it’s lighter and fresher than in the past. It’s simply delicious. 400,000 bottles produced.
Wine Advocate, 90 points Smart Buys
This floral red exhibits juicy blackberry, raspberry and plum notes supported by medium tannins. The grippy finish unfolds with hints of mulled spice and licorice. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now. 35,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points The Top 100 “Reds Under $25″
Dark, with a core of very ripe black currant, raspberry ganache and black licorice notes, supported by polished tannins. A raspberry note emerges more on the lengthy finish. Very solid. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now through 2012. 15,000 cases imported.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Best Buy
Torrontés is the main force in this lively, flowery white, blended with ten percent each viognier and chardonnay. It’s filled with spiced, ripe white fruit, yet the texture is firm enough to pair with white sausages or pork.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Best Buy
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Wine Advocate, 90 points
Trivento’s 2010 Amado Sur Blanco is composed of 75% Torrontes, 15% Viognier, and 10% Chardonnay fermented and aged in stainless steel. Fragrant and surprisingly complex aromas of peach, apricot, jasmine, and tropical fruits lead to a crisp, just off-dry, balanced wine that will serve well as an aperitif or with savory food courses. Drink this outstanding value over the next 1-2 years.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2017 Golden Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Valle de Uco, and it matured mostly in oak barrels with a small portion in oak foudres for 12 months. They look for a wine that is longer than wider, avoiding over-ripeness by harvesting earlier than yesteryear. The result is a wine that comes through as an aromatic, herbal and floral expression of the grape with integrated oak and a sleek and tender palate with fine-grained tannins and a faint bitter twist in the finish. 80,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Savvy Shopper
Ripe and richly textured, with dark plum and dried blackberry flavors that feature some minty notes. Dark chocolate details linger on the powerful finish, showing some peppery accents. Drink now through 2020.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
A crisp style, with red plum, currant and dried raspberry flavors supported by snappy acidity. Fresh and juicy midpalate, with a lively, mineral-filled finish accented by notes of kirsch and pomegranate. Malbec. Drink now through 2019.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
Lush and very expressive with mocha, crushed currant, plum sauce and fig paste notes that glide over the dense but velvety structure. Long and fleshy, with the fruit echoing nicely. Not shy at all, but nicely balanced. Drink now through 2010.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Juicy and very direct, with a delicious beam of plum and blackberry fruit backed by sweet toast and warm fig sauce notes. Long, polished finish. Drink now through 2011. 3,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 90 points
This is a Malbec in Cabernet clothing–powerful, with a wall of toast, dark cocoa and coffee protecting the core of dark currant and blackberry fruit. Dense and very broad-shouldered, with a structured finish that needs time to open. Drink now through 2007. 2,200 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 90 points
The 2014 Golden Reserve Malbec mixes grapes from different zones of Luján de Cuyo, Las Compuertas, Vistalba, Perdriel and Agrelo on alluvial soils, where old vines abound. The wine matured in new and used French oak barrels for one year. There is a little bit of a change towards more freshness, aided also by the cooler vintages, starting with 2013, trying to remove the heaviness of the ripe grapes on clay soils by harvesting a little earlier. This is a bit of a global tendency, and the result is less alcoholic wines; they also use less new oak and larger volumes, not only barriques, but also foudres. There is a touch of smoky meat, perhaps the result of many different harvests at different points of maturity. There is juicy fruit and a slightly bitter finish. 480,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 90 points Smart Buys & Top Values
A powerful, muscular red, offering green herbal notes to the sinewy flavors of dark currant, black olive and baker’s chocolate. Creamy hints show on the lavishly spiced finish, with cocoa powder details. Drink now through 2020.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Big and brooding on the nose, with blackberry, violet, coffee and mineral aromas. The palate is smooth, rich and silky, with sweet, pure, jammy black fruit flavors and a pinch of chocolaty bitterness for balance. Finishes warm and minty, with an added dusting of cocoa. Big and bold more than complex or elegant.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Floral and big, with large-scale plum and berry aromas. The palate is grand and thick, with creamy vanilla flavors adding sweetness and width to meaty berry and plum flavors. Nothing out of the ordinary here; just lots of well-applied oak, serious fruit and body. Thoroughly modern red wine.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Information unavailable
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
A lusty value made right. The nose issues black cherry, cough drop and cassis aromas. It’s concentrated and balanced, while flavors of black cherry and cassis follow the nose. A mild tannic burn and chocolate on the finish tell you it’s good and can go with any meat, from burgers to a quality steak or roast.
James Suckling, 90 points
Quite fresh red-berry and cherry aromas lead to a straight-shooting palate that offers bright berries. A smoky edge to the finish. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
A rather developed wine for a 2018 chardonnay that’s not very aromatic, though there’s a nice touch of dried pear. But at least the balance is good and it isn’t suffering from over-oaking or opulence. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
A meaty syrah with a nice, fleshy palate and some moderately dry tannins, nicely balancing the ripe flavors. Good length, but a bit simple at the finish. Drink now
James Suckling, 90 points
An attractive red that shows citrus, blackcurrants and herbs. Medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Amazing value. Drink now.
James Suckling, 90 points
Redcurrants, as well as raspberries here and a vibrant, floral edge, too. The palate has a smooth and juicy array of soft, fine, red-berry flavors, framed in spicy vanillin oak. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 90 points SB WSI
This ripe and muscular red offers dense dark currant, dried blackberry and green olive flavors that lengthen out nicely, with plenty of fresh acidity. Savory green herbal and bittersweet chocolate notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 62,878 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 90 points Best Buy/Top 100 Best Buys 2020
Joseph Brinkley at Bonterra farms these muscat vines under biodynamics, delivering fruit that can stand naked, in a completely dry style. And it’s delicious to taste a dry muscat with this much lemony bitterness and citrusy freshness. It feels honest, a lovely summer refreshment.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points Editor's Choice
This is an aromatic, bone-dry wine that shows off the grape’s floral side. It smells of jasmine, rose and lychee, tastes crisp and refreshing and finishes with an appetizing nip of astringency.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
A broad mouthfeel and generous fruit and spice flavors make this velvety and layered wine easy to love. It boasts subtle cinnamon, black plum, clove and vanilla flavors on a full body, all wrapped in soft tannins.
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
Oodles of ripe fruit flavors ride a full body in this dark-colored, saturated wine. Impressively concentrated chocolate and black-cherry notes are braced by fine-grained tannins for an almost chewy texture.
James Suckling, 90 points
A fresh, medium-bodied white with aromas of pineapple, lemon zest, flint and toasted hazelnut. Bright and focused with a mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 90 points
James Suckling, 90 points
Aromas of guava and green mangoes, as well as nectarines, leading to a palate that has a smooth, juicy pear and green-apple finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.
James Suckling, 90 points
Sliced apple, fresh apricot, stone and lemon on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a fresh, creamy finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink now. Screw cap.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
This white offers ripe apple, glazed pear and apricot flavors, with lots of buttery accents. The creamy finish has plenty of toasty richness. Drink now. 1,500 cases made, 250 cases imported. — KM
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2012 Amelia Chardonnay from Las Petras Vineyard in Casablanca was harvested earlier because it was a warmer vintage. As a result, the wine has half a degree less alcohol than the 2011. It’s very accessible, with notes of vanilla and toffee intermixed with aromas of yellow plums and nuts. It’s balanced and round, quite drinkable with a showy balsamic personality. Drink now-2017.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Concentrated and rich-tasting, with plenty of buttery notes to the ripe pear and apple flavors, showing some savory hints. Candied ginger and pineapple details linger on the finish, accented by smoky details. Well-crafted. Drink now through 2017. 2,200 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
This is heady for Chilean Chardonnay, with baked apple and no shortage of toast on the bouquet. It feels fresh but full, with polish and elegance to the mouthfeel. Flavors of apple and spiced squash end in a whirl of cinnamon and mild oak-related resin, while a final touch of acidity keeps things lively.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Rich, candied, nutty and moderately sweet, with a bit of popcorn, baked apple and banana on the nose. In the mouth, it’s more citrusy and forward, with juicy, acid-based flavors of apple and a full allotment of spice to add complexity. This vintage finds the right blend of ripeness and oak. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Stylish but persistent, with apple, pear and mineral notes that race along a bright, fresh frame. Solid length. Drink now through 2009. 2,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Nice creamy texture, with apple, fig, floral and mineral notes unencumbered by toast. Just a touch soft in the end, but still very stylish. A shade less concentrated than previous vintages. Drink now. 2,100 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Still a touch tight, this wine’s minerally backbone keeps the fig, quince and floral notes at bay for now, but they should unwind with short-term cellaring. Shows length and focus on the finish. Drink now through 2004. 2,200 cases made
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Shows uncharacteristic richness for Chilean Chardonnay, with ripe pear, fig and grilled nut notes and a long, juicy finish. Alluring toast weaves in from start to finish. Needs just a touch of time to flesh out fully. Drink now through 2003. 1,025 cases made
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Crisp and minerally, offering red cherry and dried berry flavors that are flanked by plush spiciness, with creamy hints. Shows toasty notes on the well-knit finish. Drink now through 2023. 500 cases made, 250 cases imported. — KM
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Crisp and well-structured, with some savory accents to the dried apple and pear flavors. Touches of richness show on the spicy and creamy finish. Drink now through 2023. 475 cases made.
James Suckling, 89 points
A rich, toasty sparkling chardonnay with crisp, appley acidity to keep it fresh. The finish is slightly tart and simple. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
Wine Advocate, 89 points
2016 is a good vintage for whites and short cycle varieties (Pinot Noir), and this is a good example of it. It has moderate varietal aromas, more on the citrus and floral than the herbal side. The palate is sharp and balanced, with very good freshness.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2017 Single Vineyard Riesling Block 23 Rulos del Alto comes from a plot in Bio Bio. The vines were planted in 1986 and are dry farmed in the Fundo Quitralman, over 500 kilometers south of Santiago. The high acidity is balanced by 6.7 grams of sugar. It was bottled after four months in stainless steel with the lees stirred during the first two months. It has some white flowers and developed aromas with hints of petrol and citrus. It’s produced in a reductive way (similar to the Sauvignon Blanc) and bottled without malolactic and without touching any oak. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
Wine Advocate, 89 points
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
No tasting note given.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Quite minty on the nose, with dark chocolate and cassis flavors and a slightly firm finish. Still, there’s remarkably good flesh and mouthfeel for a ’98. One of the top efforts of the vintage. Drink now through 2004. 18,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 1996 is medium to dark ruby-colored and has a red fruit (mostly cherries and raspberries) filled nose. It is medium-bodied and firm, with juicy cherries and blackberries as well as zesty hints of currants in its foursquare personality. Analytically, this wine has a high pH, but the acidity that it does have is tartaric (not lactic) and, therefore, it is tightly wound and firmer than wines that possess high percentages of lactic acid. Drink it over the next 8 years.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Concentrated and fleshy, but doesn’t show the vivacity of the other recent vintages. Still, there’s enough currant and black cherry here to give it the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps a little dumb right now.–Don Melchor vertical. Best from 2002 through 2004. 3,250 cases imported.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The dark ruby-colored 1994 exhibits blackberry, cassis, pit fruits, and spices in its aromatics. This extremely youthful wine has outstanding depth to its dark, fruit-laden character. It is medium to full-bodied and concentrated, revealing copious quantities of tannin (yet they are ripe) in its firm finish. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2013.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The dark ruby-colored 1993 displays a lovely nose of Moroccan spices, mostly cumin and cinnamon. On the palate, it is broad, expansive, and extravagant, and then tightens in its firm finish. Layers of dark fruits are intermingled with fresh herbs in this delightful wine’s opening and mid-palate. If its finish softens with age, it will most certainly merit an outstanding score.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Dark red color. Ripe, with nice concentration to the plum, cassis, smoke and mint components. Focused, persistent finish. Solid.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Quite crisp, with floral accents to the green apple and gooseberry flavors. Minerally midpalate, with Key lime on the powerfully fresh finish. Drink now through 2024. 235 cases made. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
For most of its length, this weighty and well-filled wine keys on ample, fully ripe fruit with a plentiful presence of sweet, mildly butterscotchy oak, but, if showing a good bit of coating viscosity to start, it grows increasingly firm as it crosses the palate with abundant acidity imparting a citrusy, lime-like note, lots of youthful nerve and the structure to ensure several years of positive growth.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Offers meaty, beefy aromas, with flavors to match, featuring well-structured dark currant and roasted plum fruit. Delivers a brooding finish of smoke and spice, accented by a surplus of dark chocolate. Drink now through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 850 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2008 Gravas del Maipo is a blend of 91% Syrah and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon that is aged for 17 months in French oak (70% new and 30% one-year old.) It has a well-defined bouquet with black currant, raspberry and a touch of crushed violet that exhibits fine lift. The palate is crisp and focused with pepper tinged dark berry fruit, black olives and a touch of truffle, although the finish does not demonstrate the precision and focus I would expect given the price. Drink now-2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Foresty, roasted berry aromas are spicy and rooty, while rubbery, hard tannins make for a rocky road. This tastes blackened and baked, with prune and black plum flavors turning slightly raisiny on a broad finish that remains rough in texture
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Dark, rubbery aromas are offset by a floral berry component. Grabby tannins are a big part of this Cabernet’s chunky palate. Flavors of hickory, café mocha and roasted berry fruits finish chocolaty and with residual tannins.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
This drips with chocolate mousse and Asian spice overtones to the dark plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavors. Minty notes show on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2020. 49,750 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Snappy accents of licorice and hot stone accent the suave red berry, plum and cherry tart flavors. Minty hints show midpalate, with a finish of chocolate and spice. Drink now through 2023. 20,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere contains around 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and was sourced from the classical zone for the grapes—Peumo in Cachapoal. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels (35% of them new) and 5,000-liter Italian foudres for some 16 months. It has moderate alcohol and good freshness for what the grape used to produce in the past. They have really fine-tuned it. This Carmenere is a far cry from what was produced ten years ago. This is spicy, with notes of paprika, and has very tasty flavors. 266,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2017.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Green olive and dried cherry flavors are backed by powerful tannins. Bittersweet chocolate notes emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 22,900 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2013 Carménère Marqués de Casa Concha contains 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and is sourced from Peumo, the most prestigious appellation for Carménère in Chile. It fermented in stainless steel vats and matured in French oak barriques, 35% of which were new. This is more classical — Carménère is not an easy grape — and here it has velvety tannin, but the grape welcomes the contribution of the stiffer tannins from the Cabernet. The palate is very tasty with supple flavors and good acidity, but never with the tension of other zones or grapes. This is a soft, approachable, easy to understand Carménère. 233,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
An open-textured and rich-tasting red, this sings with a lively array of red and dark fruit flavors, dominated by currant and dark plum notes. Offers accents of black olive, with a dense and powerful finish of dark chocolate. Drink now through 2018. 22,200 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points +
The just-bottled 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay from Limarí is fresh and mineral, with good structure. The full clusters were pressed and the must put to ferment in barrel with selected yeasts. It matured in 22% new barriques for 12 months. There is more freshness in this year, moving more towards the style of Maycas de Limarí, and even if this is always a little oakier, it shows more the austerity and the salinity of Limarí, more Meursault than Puligny. 200,000 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Oaky aromas of bacon and ham blend with vanilla on the nose of this plump, melony wine. Flavors of resiny oak, Animal Cracker cookies and melon turn overtly spicy on the finish that includes a hint of clove.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Shows touches of richness to the delicate flavors of dried apple, cherry and peach, fringed by shiso leaf notes. Spicy, with a slightly creamy texture on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 17,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A rich, ripe style, with notes of apple cobbler, peach and white raspberry that are wrapped inside a plush basket of spice and tropical fruit flavors. Creamy finish. Drink now. 21,640 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
There is a new 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Cinsault Rose produced with fruit from vines planted in the 1960s in Secano Interior in Itata, where it rains about 1,000 liters per year. The grapes were pressed with a three- to four-hour maceration, the juice fermented at 15 degrees Celsius and the wine was kept with the lees for some seven months, 75% in concrete amphorae and the rest in new French oak barrels. It’s light, with only 11.5% alcohol and good acidity. It’s pale, sharp and serious, with a kind of austerity, a dry palate and very tasty and lively flavors. Cinsault seems to be a very good variety for rosé. But in 2018 they added a touch of Garnacha to it, which I was able to preview. It was bottled in November 2017. 3,500 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Smoke and spice notes lead to bigger flavors of concentrated black plum, cassis and cedar that are well-balanced against fresh acidity and light tannins. Drink now. 22,220 cases made.
James Suckling, 89 points
A lifted nose that shows notes of cypress, bright blueberry peel, fresh ham, pine needles, quartz and citrus fruit. Light body, fine, firm tannins, fresh acidity and a rather bitter finish. An unusual but interesting wine. Old pais and cinsault. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir was produced with fruit from vines planted in Limarí in 2006 and 2009. It fermented in open vats with some full clusters and matured in French oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 11 months. This is certainly more austere and shy than the Edición Limitada from Bio Bio, with a shy nose and palate, with subtle flavors, quite simple. 24,000 bottles were filled in March 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Red and dense in color, with plum and raspberry aromas supported by a strong scent of barrel char, this is a generous, plump Pinot showing a mix of plum, berry and herbal flavors. A long-lasting, oaky finish concludes this oak-rich, fuller-bodied offering.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Well-sculpted, with lively cherry, raspberry and currant flavors that are long and rich. Firmly structured, presenting plenty of spice and hints of dried meat on the delicate finish. Drink now through 2018. 3,860 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Perfumed, with layers of spice, game and underbrush leading to a core of racy cherry fruit. A mineral edge appears on the fine finish. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 89 points Savvy Shopper Selection
This compact red needs some air to bring out the dark cherry and currant notes, with nuances of iron, spice and underbrush. Drink now. 1,100 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
There is a new 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Cinsault Rose produced with fruit from vines planted in the 1960s in Secano Interior in Itata, where it rains about 1,000 liters per year. The grapes were pressed with a three- to four-hour maceration, the juice fermented at 15 degrees Celsius and the wine was kept with the lees for some seven months, 75% in concrete amphorae and the rest in new French oak barrels. It’s light, with only 11.5% alcohol and good acidity. It’s pale, sharp and serious, with a kind of austerity, a dry palate and very tasty and lively flavors. Cinsault seems to be a very good variety for rosé. But in 2018 they added a touch of Garnacha to it, which I was able to preview. It was bottled in November 2017. 3,500 bottles produced.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
A mix of tropical and citrus aromas is balanced by classic Leyda scents of bell pepper and jalapeño. This is crystal clear and zesty on the tongue, with cutting acidity. Lemon, tangerine and briny notes create a citrusy flavor profile, while the finish is juicy, crisp and cleansing.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
This fresh and juicy white is loaded with vibrant acidity, featuring snap pea notes to its green apple, ruby grapefruit and Key lime pie flavors, with hints of juiciness. The rich finish shows notes of lemongrass. Drink now. 2,200 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Information unavailable
Wine Advocate, 89 points
I only tasted one Syrah, the 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Syrah, produced with grapes from Buin in Maipo wanting to represent the classical style with color, structure, fruit and a soft palate. The uncrushed grapes fermented in stainless steel vats with selected yeasts and matured in a 60/40 combination of French barriques and 5,000-liter Italian foudres. It’s serious and austere. It has a nice texture and the classical Maipo soft tannins and volume, with the stamp of the variety. 86,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Savory slightly soupy blueberry and blackberry aromas are the opening act. This feels wide and full and in good shape except for an abrasive tartaric streak. Dark herbal black-fruit flavors finish with notes of dried leaves, pepper and grating acidity. Drink through 2020.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A ripe and savory red, with concentrated dark currant, dark plum and dried blackberry flavors. Shows refined minerality midpalate, balanced by a swath of smoky notes on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 7,104 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
This rich yet direct Syrah hails from CyT’s Buin vineyards. It’s a dark, chewy, lush style of New World Syrah with chunky, sweet blackberry and mocha flavors that result from ripe Maipo fruit and generous oak. Very likable but simple, without much of the leather, spice and animal that Old World Syrah is known for.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points Best Buy
This is clean and warm, with scents of orange oil and lavender. The flavors are less generous; it’s smoky, with well-integrated oak and the sweetness of alcohol and ripe citrus fruit. Chill it for any fish off the grill. (230 cases) —J.G.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A zesty red, with crunchy red fruit flavors that are loaded with herbal accents. Cocoa nib notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 6,400 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A muscular red, with dense and chewy dark currant, dried berry and plum flavors backed by crisp acidity. Baker’s chocolate notes linger with dried herb edges on the firmly tannic finish. Drink now through 2019. 250 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Usually Terrunyo exudes blatant ripeness, but this cool-vintage rendition smells stalky, rubbery and herbal more than ripe and lusty. The palate is chunky and extracted, but shallow. Herbal blackberry flavors are toasty and oaky, with licorice, pepper and spice flavors carrying a short finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Initial aromas of lactic oak and sawdust show on the nose, although with time this wine shows more appealing scents of smoky spice and black fruits. Woody and round in feel, this soft Carmenère offers char, hickory and blackberry flavors in front of a plump finish. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Offers an engaging mix of savory herb and dried berry flavors that are fleshy yet well-structured. Crunchy midpalate, with pepper and allspice accents on the tannic finish. Drink now through 2018. 7,150 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Shows good density and structure to the red berry, rooibos tea and dark currant flavors, supported by ample acidity. Juicy midpalate, with a crisp finish that echoes with dark chocolate and spice details. Drink now through 2016. 1,000 cases imported.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A muscular red, with dense and chewy dark currant, dried berry and plum flavors backed by crisp acidity. Baker’s chocolate notes linger with dried herb edges on the firmly tannic finish. Drink now through 2019. 250 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Vibrant accents of hot stone are matched to crushed red plum and cherry tart flavors, with slate and cooking spice notes on the fresh finish. Drink now. 790 cases made, 31 cases imported. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Lively but also narrow on the nose. The feel is very fresh and juicy due to firm, bracing acidity that gives a tangy, lemony character to the wine’s dark-fruit core. Snappy, linear and crisp for a wine of magnitude and extraction. Some might say it’s sheering and acidic; others might call it ageworthy.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The simple and lighter 2015 Vigno is fruit driven and somehow straightforward. They seem to be still defining the style of wine they want to do with this Vigno. 13,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2017.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Powerful, hard-driving aromas of herbal red-berry fruits and spice are enticing. This feels juicy, firm and full, with chewy tannins. Toasty flavors of plum, cassis and pepper show an herbal side in front of a racy, spicy, finish that emphasizes olive and eucalyptus.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Spicy cherry and berry aromas come with the expected herbal character that good Carmenère generally offers. This is full in body but not overbearingly heavy, while flavors of salty, herbal black plum and berry fruits fade away slowly on a fresh, snappy finish. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Lithe, with intense dried savory notes to the juicy red plum, currant and spiced cherry flavors. The fresh, crisp finish lingers with zesty minerality. Drink now through 2024. 4,089 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Made in an international style, this voluptuous blend of cabernet sauvignon and syrah feels as soft as velvet. It layers warm blackberry and black cherry aromas with oak notes of chocolate and walnuts.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A ripe but restrained style, with layers of dark plum, espresso, loam and melted licorice moving languidly through the full-bodied finish, with a roasted cedar hint. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Fresh and juicy with blackberry flavor, this robust syrah is rich in ripe-almost sweet-black fruit supported by a spark of acidity and tannin. For roast beef.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Herbal berry aromas come with oak-based toast and maple notes. This feels pumped up and grabby, with rocky tannins and high acidity. Blackberry and chocolate flavors are forceful, while this Cabernet from a cool vintage shows lasting oak and herbal notes on a wiry yet bulky finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Baking spices and ripe fruit come together to give this medium-bodied wine a big, friendly personality. It feels broad and smooth on the palate and the vanilla, nutmeg and butter notes are as generous in the flavors as in the aromas.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
This bold, peppery wine shows a lot of personality in the black-pepper and wood-smoke aromas and juicy, grilled beef flavors. It is full bodied, somewhat tannic, and just moderately fruity, emphasizing the spicy, meaty qualities instead. JIM GORDON
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Salt and pepper aromas, full body and a meaty flavor give this wine a bold personality that’s fun to experience. Firm tannins add grip to the layered mouthfeel, while ripe cherry and blackberry fruit provides a counterpoint to the spicy character. 45% new oak and the addition of Rhône varieties help amp up the spiciness.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Top 100 Best Buy of 2016
Lively aromas, an appetizing balance and just-rich-enough fruit flavors make a good combo in this medium- to full-bodied wine. It has subtle herb and kiwi aromas, crisp apple flavors, and a texture poised between supple and tangy.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Lively acidity frames the bright flavors of cherry, raspberry and boysenberry, with notes of Asian spice lengthening out midpalate. The suave finish is fresh and pure-tasting. Drink now through 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Initial aromas of tire rubber and road tar give way to berry and cassis scents. On the palate, this is a medium-to-full CS that’s mouthfilling more than elegant. Gamy berry flavors are matched by buttery oak, while vanilla notes vie with residual cherry and plum fruit on a ripe finish.
James Suckling, 89 points
A cabernet with stone, berry and hints of mint. Full-bodied, chewy and stoney. Firm texture. Medium finish. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Spicy plum and berry aromas are earthy and show a hint of green. A focused palate is properly balanced, while flavors of spiced blackberry, coffee and burnt toast fade out nicely on a mild finish. Fetzer Vineyards. Best Buy. —M.S.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Writtten review unavailable online
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Writtten review unavailable online
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
This wine’s herbal and cherry aromas speak of Maipo cabernet. It’s powerfully tannic, with juicy intensity and enough acidity to strike a fresh balance. For braised beef.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Dark, with a loamy undertow to the black currant, melted licorice and roasted coffee notes. Fleshy and pure through the finish. This has solid grip. Drink now through 2010.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Lip-smacking and well balanced, this concentrated but lively wine has everything in good proportions, including a bold rosemary and black-cherry aroma, rich cherry and dark chocolate flavors, and moderate tannins that merge with good acidity for an appetizing mouthfeel.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Loads of orange blossom, plumeria, tuberose, jasmine and fruit-cocktail aromas leap off the nose of this medium-sweet bottling. The wine is zippy and nearly pétillant on the palate, where flavors of tropical white flower and orange syrup are ripe while zesty. MATT KETTMANN
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
This is a medium-bodied, crisp and tangy wine with fresh parsley aromas and lemon and Granny Smith apple flavors. It’s well balanced, restrained and will be very versatile with food.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Jammy raspberry and plum aromas are primary and fresh on the nose. This ripe, round wine is sure to be a party-pleaser. Solid cassis, berry and spice flavors finish pure, with ripeness and proper balance.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2009 Riberas Cabernet Sauvignon (with 10% Carmenere in its makeup) was sourced from the Palo Santo Vineyard in Marchigue, Colchagua Valley. It spent 14 months in mostly seasoned French and American oak. It offers up an initially reticent nose of cedar, tobacco, spice box, violets, and black currant. This sets the stage for a wine with layered fruit, savory, spicy flavors, excellent volume, and a lengthy, pure finish. This excellent value can be approached now but will drink nicely for another 5-6 years.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Oak dominates when you first open this bottle, but give the wine time with air and carmenère’s herbal red fruit takes over. The texture is smooth, the acidity friendly, the flavors lasting with succulence.
Wine Spectator, 89 points Smart Buys
The red currant and raspberry flavors are well-structured and fresh-tasting in this lithe red. Mint and chocolate notes linger on the tannic finish. Drink now through 2017. 20,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points Daily Wine Picks $15 – $30
A firm and fleshy red, with concentrated flavors of macerated plum, cherry and tea. Offers hints of wild herbs and flint, with a firm structure. The lingering finish of raspberry tart is lively, showing details of smoke. Drink now through 2017. 22,500 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Olive, spice and black-plum aromas come with some grit and savory accents. This is well packed and voluminous; flavors of olive, plum and wild berry finish sturdy and smooth, with minty accents. For a good introduction to the positives of Carmenère, try this.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Between the oak influence and the ripe fruit, this wine gains breadth and amplitude across the palate, lasting with a pleasant sweetness. This goes beyond carmenère’s vegetal scents toward a more penetrating and voluptuous ripeness.
Wine Spectator, 89 points Savvy Shopper
A zesty red, with a lively mix of blueberry and raspberry flavors that are flush with seductive spiciness. The spicy finish is fresh and juicy. Drink now through 2020. 5,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Wine & Spirits, 89 points Best Buy
This wine’s black cherry flavor is both rich and a little wild, with the kind of tannic grip that would be soothed by roast beef, charcuterie, or most meats off the grill.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The 2009 Riberas Malbec (100%) was sourced from the Palo Santo Vineyard in Marchigue, Colchagua Valley and spent 12 months in 23% new French oak. Scents of balsam wood, spice box, floral notes, cherry cola, and plum are followed by a medium- to full-bodied, layered, plush Malbec with excellent depth, concentration, and length. Drink this solid value over the next 4-5 years.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
This wine’s fresh lime and grapefruit aromas are simple but lively. Crisp acidity and tang define its lean, racy palate. Orange, lime and green herb flavors linger on the finish, with a note of thyme.
James Suckling, 89 points
Crisp citrusy aromas include notes of crushed vitamin and ocean breeze. This is tangy and speedy on the palate, with racy acidity. Tangerine and lime flavors are stony, while this is fresh, lasting and citrusy on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Punchy citrus and minerally aromas open this fresh SB. A juicy, citric palate points in the right direction, while this tastes like tangerine and orange peel mixed with lime and green herbs. A crisp, persistent finish closes it out.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Ripe and powerful, with plenty of grassy accents to the apple, green pear and dried plum flavors. This lengthens out pleasantly on the finish, showing minerally notes and hints of celery salt. Drink now through 2016. 8,400 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
There’s no denying this wine’s greenness: It’s draped all over the nose, palate and finish. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a classy, structured, tangy wine with length and clarity. It’s a food wine for sure, with pickled, briny notes on the finish. Drink with ceviche, crudo and raw oysters.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Grapy berry and black cherry aromas are jumpy and youthful, while this is all about fruit on a palate that’s untamed and unsettled. Big, ripe, grapy flavors are gamy and hulking, while this stays full and sappy on an extracted finish. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Buttercream, sea salt, caramel and lemon candy aromas show on the nose of this solid bottling. The flavors are full but not overly ripe, with yellow apple, poached pear, white peach and a sea salt character that keeps it mouthwatering.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
There’s a chalky baking soda touch to the nose of this bottling, with touches of key lime, ripe tangerine and orange blossom. The palate is tangy and grippy in chalky texture, with citrus peel flavors. Very fresh and almost entirely dry.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Yellow grapefruit pith, white Asian pear flesh, cherimoya and crisp stonefruit elements show on the nose of this bottling, which also offers the typical touch of petrol. The palate is very pithy and high-toned, showing lemon rind, sour orange and sour apple on the finish.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Well-structured, with a lithe mix of dried red berry fruit and minerally flavors matched to vibrant acidity. Pastry accents appear on the finish, with hints of gunmetal. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now through 2023. 12,000 cases made, 12,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Mineral and forest floor notes accent the dried berry and cherry flavors. Well-structured, with graphite, dark chocolate and spice details lingering on the focused finish. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now through 2021. 50,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Dark in color and ripe from the get go, this Malbec blend smells of blackberry, graphite and licorice. Full and layered, with surprisingly good depth, this tastes of black fruits blended with tomato and plum. Spicy, dry and herbal tasting on the finish, with a hint of saltiness.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points Best Buy
A blend of malbec with smaller amounts of bonarda and syrah, this wine’s ripe tannins give it downy loft and a palate-caressing texture. With its sweet, juicy fruit flavor, the wine is set for a burger.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Ripe and juicy, displaying vivid raspberry and boysenberry fruit that courses along, carried by graphite and licorice notes. No raisined edge of the vintage, either. Very solid. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
A ripe, modern style, with layers of velvety mocha-infused plum, red currant and red licorice flavors. The long, fleshy finish maintains nice purity. Rock-solid. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now. 18,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Crisp and fresh-tasting, with cherry, licorice and brambly flavors, accented by flinty notes. The peppery finish shows smoky details. Drink now through 2023. 55,000 cases made, 11,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Dark, ripe and toasty, with notes of smoke and spice framing the ripe blackberry and damson plum notes that push through the finish, which lingers with hints of smoke and spice.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
For three years running this wine has pulled the exact same score; so at the very least it’s consistent. Golden Reserve is marked by a dark color, saturation, oak and related marshmallow and vanilla. It is big in the mouth, with firm tannins and flavors of dark fruit, black pepper and mint. Exceedingly toasty and coffee-like toward the end, with warmth and recurring tannic clamp.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
An intense, forward style of Malbec. The nose oozes a mixture of mint, black-fruit extract and shoe polish, while the saturated palate is racy and just rich enough; the flavors of blackberry and plum are lively with coffee and mocha accents on the finish. A bit acidic and racy, but that won’t hurt it if served with food.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Full, dark and minty, with aromatic notes of coconut and ink. One look, sniff and sip tells you this is a dark, ripe wine with extract. It’s fairly lush but still tannic and balanced, with black coffee and other dark flavors on the somewhat narrow palate and finish. Imported by Excelsior Wine & Spirits.
Wine Spectator, 89 points
Flashy mocha and coffee toast leads the way in this ambitious, modern-style wine, with thickly layered plum, prune, cocoa and fig flavors. Rich, loamy undertow drives the finish. More power than finesse, but will have a lot of fans. Drink now through 2008. 3,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 89 points Best Values
Dark and zesty, with bright acidity backing the racy black cherry coulis and wild berry notes, accented by charred spice, tobacco and hot stone. Drink now. 50,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 89 points
The largest production from Trivento is the 2018 Reserve Malbec, with some 8.5 million bottles. It’s a straightforward, fruit-driven, fresh and drinkable wine that mixes Malbec grapes from Luján de Cuyo, which provides round fruit, and the Valle de Uco, which adds freshness. Only part of the wine has contact with oak, and the wine comes through as fruit forward, very clean and juicy, like biting into a ripe cluster of Malbec fruit, refreshing and very tasty. Delicious textbook Malbec. It’s not easy to make so many liters of wine of this quality at an unbeatable price.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
This is a solid, well-crafted and flavorful Malbec. Black fruit and cocoa aromas set up a concentrated palate, bearing chewy, dense flavors of black plum, wild berry and chocolate, plus toast and pepper notes. Production is 100,000-plus cases.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Aromas of smoke, oak and berries lead to a saturated palate. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this tastes of cassis, plum and prune. On the finish, saturation and richness make for a chewy ending. Best Buy. -M.S.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Initial aromas of tire rubber and road tar give way to berry and cassis scents. On the palate, this is a medium-to-full CS that’s mouthfilling more than elegant. Gamy berry flavors are matched by buttery oak, while vanilla notes vie with residual cherry and plum fruit on a ripe finish.
James Suckling, 89 points
A cabernet with stone, berry and hints of mint. Full-bodied, chewy and stoney. Firm texture. Medium finish. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
Wine & Spirits, 89 points
A clean and gentle pinot noir with bright black-raspberry sweetness over dry tannins that taste like blackberry seeds, this ends with a hint of sweetness and some vegetal notes of rhubarb. It’s soft and pleasing.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points Best Buy
Aromas and flavors of fresh, crisp, green apples and golden cherries seem to light up this medium-bodied and well-balanced wine. It has firm acidity, a refreshing texture, and just enough heft in the body to serve with appetizers and cheese, but will also stand up to rich seafood preparations.
Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Spicy, savory oak leads the nose on this Chardonnay, which features a bulky palate, with an oily texture. Salty, woody apple flavors extend onto a pulpy finish with heat and briny notes. Michael Schachner
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Concha y Toro Chardonnay Limarí Valley Amelia 2017 – Lavender and beeswax notes accent the baked white fruit flavors. Quince paste details show on the broad finish. Drink now. 1,800 cases made, 200 cases imported.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Toasty oak, wood smoke and baked white-fruit aromas carry the nose. Juicy, cidery acidity bolsters flavors of hickory and bitter peach pit, while apple and woodspice flavors dominate the finish on what amounts to a woody but tangy wine.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Ripe and stylish, this white shows enticing pear, fig and creamed apple notes laced with judicious butter. The finish is creamy. Drink now. 1,800 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Always one of Chile’s more oaky Chards, Amelia offers popcorn, toast, minerality and peach/apricot aromas. The palate is both delicate and high in acidity, with punchy flavors of apricot, peach and orange. Finishes pithy but lively, with forwardness and plenty of verve.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Plump and round, with nicely integrated toast weaving through the Bosc pear, apple and floral notes. The long, creamy finish stays light on its feet. Drink now. 2,100 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Toast, coconut and pineapple all work the bouquet. It’s zesty and healthy on the palate, with pear, coconut and baked apple flavors. Much less oaky than in the past, yet still endowed with a lot of coconut and vanilla. A very nice wine that runs ripe and sweet, as evidenced by the 14.5% alcohol.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Sort of heavy, with touches of baked corn and hay. But it also has nice baked apple flavors and pretty good oak. On the finish, there’s vanilla, almond, citrus and apple, and then very late comes hazelnut and even more vanilla. Drink now; it’s not going to last much longer.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Bold melon and pear aromas to begin with, and alongside that there’s a touch of toasted corn. Sweet enough to please, with pear and vanilla leading the flavor parade. Plump and smooth on the finish, with a sweet coconutty aftertaste. Imported by Banfi Vintners.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
One of Chile’s highest-priced Chardonnays kicks off with ripe, creamy aromas of buttered corn along with baked apple and pear. Banana bread complete with walnuts and white raisins takes over on the palate, while a resiny, vanilla-dominated finish closes the show. Very good for Chilean Chardonnay, but undeniably fat and chewy in the grand scheme of things. Imported by Banfi Vintners.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
If you love overt oak, then add a couple of points to this plump, modern Chard that runs over with the aromas, flavors and textures that stem from new-oak barrels. The bouquet is mostly popcorn atop apple and pear, while the flavor profile is ripe apple and banana. The finish is soft and creamy, with flavors of lemon and fresh-cut wood. Fine acidity and balance work in its favor.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
The pinnacle of Concha y Toro’s white-wine program, Amelia is 80% fermented and aged in French oak. The lees and wood notes are obvious as the Andes. There is a rich, golden color here, lots of creamy texture, proper acidity, and a smoky wood-driven aftertaste. A fine Chard from a good white-wine region.
Wine Advocate, 88 points +
The 2016 Reserva Especial Pinot Noir comes from San Antonio, close to the Pacific Ocean with 10% from Casablanca. The rains of 2016 happened after the Pinot Noir was harvested. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open stainless steel vats, and the wine matured in second use French barriques for 11 months. The nose is clean and expressive, with varietal aromas and a vibrant palate, nicely textured with very good acidity and a tasty, long finish. Really impressive for the price and the volume. 350,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2017.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2015 Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and easy to drink, straightforward and very good value for the quality it delivers.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Crisp snap-pea and cucumber aromas are lightly citric. This feels fresh, tangy and citric, with plenty of acidic cut. Lime, pea and bell pepper flavors are about as true to Chilean SB as it gets.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Written review unavailable.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The dark ruby/purple-colored 1998 from an el nino vintage, has demure cassis and blackberry aromas. It is quite firm and tannic, yet has an admirable core of cassis liqueur, plum, and blackberry fruit, making it certainly one of the great successes of 1998 from South America. According to Tirado, “The success of this wine came from the fact that we harvested subparcel by subparcel, selecting the picking date exclusively by taste. All we cared about was getting physiological ripeness.” Projected maturity: 2004-2014.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Bacon and lavender are prominent on the meaty, slightly muddled nose, which unfolds gracefully if given lots and lots of time. Blackberry and some tannins up front, a fairly nice and buttery middle, and finally cola accents on the grapy, heavy, long finish. For years this was C&T’s top effort, before Almaviva.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Garnet-colored rim. Still has nice black cherry and currant flavors with a mature yet fleshy feel. Tobacco and prune notes on the finish. Shows more density than the ’87 through ’89.–Don Melchor vertical. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Not on par with prior vintages, this high-end Syrah smells soupy and savory. No shock then that this feels thick and compacted, almost syrupy. Chocolaty berry flavors are oaky and pound with heat on the finish. Maybe this was affected by 2016’s El Niño rains.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The balsamic and faintly minty 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard has 5% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Franc blended in. It’s only 13.6% alcohol and has good freshness and integrated oak after 16 months in French barrels and Italian botti. They had to discard and sort the grapes, because there was rain during the harvest (in mid-April) and Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety that suffered. They have been harvesting earlier in the last few years, and that seems to have saved most of the crop in a cooler year. It has the telltale tannins from the variety. 700,000 bottles produced. It was bottled between October 2017 and January 2018.
Wine Spectator, 88 points Daily Wine Picks
A firm, savory red, with dried plum and red cherry flavors, supported by crisp acidity. Minerally finish. Drink now. 77,200 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Blackberry and cassis aromas are limited by a grassy, green element on the nose. In the mouth, this is loud, edgy and tannic. Flavors of saucy tomato, stewed blackberry, coconut and vanilla finish ripe and full, but a little stewy. Overall this wine is strong and generous but shows some gaps in its composition.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2012 Marquesde Casa Concha Carmenere has a strong herbal strike and bright red and black fruit, quite typical from Peumo in Cachapoal, with aromas of paprika and green tobacco leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with a warm, pleasant finish with elegant flavors of dark cherries. Drink now-2016.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Information unavailable
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Well-knit flavors of white cherry, apple and Asian pear are flanked by buttery and spicy notes. The minerally finish lingers with savory nuances. Drink now. 15,000 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Fleshy and also minerally on the nose, with green banana, peach and nectarine aromas. Feels a little gritty, with plenty of oak and ample acidity. Oak-based flavors of baked apple and peach lead to an energetic finish. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
They also did a 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay Edición Limitada, produced with grapes planted in 2007 in southern Bio Bio on volcanic soils. The full clusters were pressed and the must fermented in oak barrels where the wine matured for 12 months. This is completely different from Limarí, it shows more exuberant and open, a little riper and abundant, with notes of pear and yellow fruit without getting to tropical notes. The two are quite different, and that makes it interesting. This could be a more approachable, commercial profile with a little more influence from the oak (this is all 228-liter barriques, while the one from Limarí is also part in foudre) with a slight bitterness in the finish. 1,800 bottles were filled in February 2018.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
A simple, dark-fruited merlot, this is saturated with fresh strawberry and black grape flavors. It’s friendly and juicy, for a cookout.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
The red plum and berry flavors show freshness, flanked by notes of dried green herbs. Minerally accents emerge on the finish. Drink now. 10,400 cases made, 3,500 cases imported. — KM
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Fresh and juicy, offering lively red plum, dried cherry and macerated berry flavors. The minerally finish lingers with savory notes. Drink now. 24,800 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Medium-bodied, with juicy plum and dark currant flavors that offer good acidity. Forest floor notes enliven the firm finish. Drink now. 25,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Information unavailable
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A delicate and fruity style, with lively red cherry, currant and raspberry flavors. Very plummy in the midpalate, with effusive violet and rose petal notes, which linger on the finish. Drink now. 220 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Red-fruit aromas with a touch of herbs carry the nose on this drawn-in Pinot. Medicinal raspberry and creamy oak flavors are missing some harmony, while this tastes woody and like cherry cough drop on the finish.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Fresh and juicy, with vibrant cherry, plum and red currant flavors that turn creamy midpalate. Red licorice and minerally accents linger on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 4,900 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Nettle and gritty citrus aromas suggest matchstick. In the mouth, this SB pumps citrus notes and minerality, while flavors of tangerine, lime and lemon are zesty and shearing. An acid-driven finish confirms the wine’s one-note, chiseled quality.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Information unavailable
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Broadly structured, offering concentrated dried cherry and red fruit flavors, with cedary accents. Spiced chocolate and meaty notes emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 8,200 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
First up on the nose is a blast of oaky clove; next come whiffs of plum, mint and green herbs. This cool-vintage Syrah feels full but nervy. Briny, oaky flavors of black fruits mixed with clove and mint finish more woody and salty than fruity.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Stainless-steel fermented, this value-minded red is 100% varietal and given two years in French oak. Herbal and earthy, it features tight-grained oak and thick tannin, the dense black cherry and plum fruit concentrated and robustly rich. VIRGINIE BOONE
Wine Spectator, 88 points
White fruit flavors show well-defined notes of crushed stone, backed by crunchy acidity, with floral and savory accents on the finish. Drink now. 300 cases made. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Green aromas of lime, canned peas and beans feed into a palate that’s minerally and moderate in body, with pulsating acidity. Flavors of lean, green citrus fruits are herbal and grassy, while this is tight as a drum on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Following trends, Trivento had to come out with its whopper Malbec, and while it’s perfectly good, generous and wide, it doesn’t seem special. Aromas of barrel resin, shoe polish, baked blackberry and cassis solidify its darkness, while the palate is sweet and syrupy, with brown sugar and blackberry flavors. Ripe and rich, but needs better structure to warrant its price.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Rooty, herbal berry aromas are forward and scratchy. This has a narrow, condensed, acidic feel and herbal, spicy, lightly green plum and currant flavors. A minty, peppery, dry finish is choppy and tannic, but it’s also well focused.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Condensed blackened aromas of charred oak, shoe polish and black fruits are intense, while this shows ramped up acidity that creates tartaric burn. Hard flavors of black pepper and char share the stage with clove and cinnamon notes, and never does the fruit speak up on this oaky fire ball. Michael Schachner
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Mossy, herbal, baked-berry aromas are accented by shades of green tones. On the palate, this is lively but a touch raw, with bold acidity. Blackberry, spiced plum, oak and herbal, grassy flavors finish snappy.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Racy and focused, with delicious lime, pear skin and green melon notes backed by a dash of fleur de sel. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Rich, smoky aromas show deep black-fruit scents and a hint of raisin. Offsetting that lusty opening is a palate made jagged and gravelly by an excess of tartaric acidity. Jammy berry flavors are hot, while tartaric burn returns on the finish. Michael Schachner
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This could just as easily be labeled Cabernet because Cab is 90% of the blend. Regardless, it’s a textbook version of a basic but likable Chilean Cabernet with currant and berry aromas. Ripe, composed and tasting of cassis and black cherry. Dry and clean on the finish, with all the basics in place.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Fascinating anise and clove flavors join stewed cherries in this unusually flavorful wine. It has medium body, soft tannins and an easygoing texture. Best Buy. —J.G.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Editors' Choice
A rather stunning deal for the price, this bottling shows creamy lemon, lime blossom and a hint of hazelnut, set against a chalky backbone. The palate shows a flash of sweetness then tightens around a steely core, offering orange skin tang, zingy lime rind and slightly richer hints of cashew cream.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Light, lean and charming, this delicate wine has an airy aroma that hints at cherries, a brisk mouthfeel and very light, nicely tangy raspberry flavors.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This light-bodied wine made from organic grapes seems earthy at first whiff but settles down to crisp citrus flavors, good cleansing acidity and very fresh herb and melon flavors. It’s just the thing to pair with light appetizers and seafood.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This full-bodied bold wine is packed with ripe blackberry, dried plum and boysenberry flavors that ride a smooth, lightly tannic texture. It’s jammy and exuberant. JIM GORDON
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Top 100 Best Buys of 2014 #64
Herbal, saucy aromas of tomato and spice accent dark-berry fruit, while the palate carries a tight, fresh, crisp feel. This brings herbal, spicy notes along with berry and cassis flavors, while the finish rolls out in loamy yet short fashion.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
With muscular tannins flanked by concentrated black fruit, this is untamed cabernet. A juicy steak would mellow its youthful energy.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Writtten review unavailable online
Wine Spectator, 88 points
This fleshy red is filled with plenty of savory richness to the ripe plum and dark berry flavors, with dried green herbal notes filling the crisp finish. Drink now through 2023. 330,000 cases made, 44,985 cases imported.—K.M.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2019
Aromas of blackberry and black cherry carry this easygoing Carmenère. Toasty black-fruit flavors offer a hint of smoke on the palate, with a balanced finish that ends clean.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2010 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere contains 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in its makeup and saw 30% of the wine aged for 8 months in barrel. Aromas of spice box, plum, blueberry, and lavender are followed by a sweetly fruited wine with layered flavors and excellent concentration. This excellent value is meant for drinking over the next 4 years.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Hints of dried mint wrap around ripe flavors of plum and dark berry. Notes of forest floor linger on the savory and rich-tasting finish. Drink now. 100,000 cases made
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Generous in red fruit, this has enough grip to support a steak; it also has enough freshness to go with grilled tuna. Easy to find and worth seeking out.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2012 Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon – Syrah has a peppery, spicy nose with aromas of ripe plums and blueberries, quite pleasant, with some bite, grainy tannins and enough acidity. A good commercial red. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Dark plum, fig and blackberry fruit is nicely integrated with roasted coffee and vanilla notes. Solid, fleshy finish. Drink now.
Wine Spectator, 88 points Best Values
A crunchy white, exhibiting aromas and flavors of dried basil, citrus zest and fennel. Minerally and smoky notes show on the spicy finish. Drink now. 536,000 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Serve this soft wine chilled to enjoy its generous blackberry and ripe plum flavors. The cool temperature will also bring up the wine’s spicy side.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Wine Spectator, 88 points
The zesty raspberry and cherry tart flavors exhibit good cut, with crisp acidity. Appealing green herbal notes show midpalate, featuring a finish of roasted plum and espresso details. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah. Drink now through 2023. 70,000 cases made. —KM
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Cono Sur has 300 hectares of certified organic vineyards, and they produce a 2017 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere / Syrah blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Carmenere and 25% Syrah from a diversity of valleys from Cauquenes (Maule) to Limarí. The wine matured for 11 months, 70% of the volume in used barrels and the rest in stainless steel. It’s a fruit-driven, approachable red blend with a soft texture, fine tannins, with some detail and granite dryness, and a gentle finish. Quite balanced for a warmish year. 700,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2018.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Mild raspberry and strawberry aromas set up a crisp palate, with ample body and good balance. Spiced red plum and currant flavors finish with peppery notes and a dusting of nutmeg. This is an authentic Pinot priced for everyday enjoyment. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine & Spirits, 88 points Best Buy; Year's Best Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
This wine’s gooseberry and green apple flavors have high-toned aromatics, touching on cider and flamed orange zest. The sulfur is a little aggressive for now, suggesting you wait six months for it to settle down, then enjoy the wine’s richness with baked brie.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Offering great value, this rich-textured, well-balanced wine smells and tastes ripe, yet turns smooth and silky on the palate and finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
This well-balanced and well-rounded wine offers a good matchup between crisp lemon and green-apple flavors alongside moderate buttery, toasty notes that add complexity. JIM GORDON
Wine Spectator, 88 points Best Value
Offers a fruity aroma, with well-defined apple and pear flavors that feature hints of beeswax. Creamy and spicy on the finish. Drink now. 92,000 cases made.–KM
Wine Spectator, 88 points Best Value
Well done in a fruit-driven style, built around zesty peach, nectarine and tangerine flavors. Offers nervy acidity and not much oak, delivering purity. Drink now. 208,000 cases made. –JL
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy; Best of Year 2019
Sweet pear, tonic water and gin-like botanicals show on the nose of this bottling. There is a compelling sizzle to the palate, with guava, orange blossom and apple syrup flavors that are leveled by lively acidity and crushed rock tone. Best Buy. –M.K.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Freshly cut peach and ripe pear aromas make for a creamy nose on this widely available bottling. There’s a splash of sweetness at the top of the sip before brisk, acid-driven flavors of lemon-lime soda arise. The sweetness of apple and peach returns on the finish. Best Buy. – M.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy & Top 100 Value Wine
Pure and fruity, this medium-bodied wine is supersmooth in texture, quietly flavorful and well balanced. The light acidity and mild tannins are well integrated and support delicious black-cherry and blueberry flavors perfectly.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
This is an appealing, dry, and well-balanced wine, with everything in good proportions. It has lots of fresh cherry aromas, good and deep fruit flavors and a light but tasty layer of toasted, smoky oak.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Sweet oak aromas, ripe fruit flavors and a firm texture make a complete and enjoyable package in this full-bodied wine. It has a toasted oak flavor, tasty plum and cinnamon nuances, good acidity and supportive tannins.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Big and fleshy, with inky and black tar accents to the dark cherry and roasted plum flavors. Chocolate and dried thyme notes show on the ripe finish. Drink now through 2023. 66,600 cases made, 20,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Gritty berry aromas are oaked up and smell of butter, wood spice and burnt bread. A medium-bodied palate is a touch grinding and bumpy, while this Cabernet from a warm year is woody tasting, with mild green notes. As Chilean Cabs go, this should seem familiar.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A brambly red, with zesty dark fruit and dried berry flavors backed by fresh acidity. Dried blueberry notes show on the spicy finish, which features some peppery details. Drink now through 2021.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Ripe and round, offering a solid mix of cassis and plum sauce notes that expand with light spice and earthy accents. Tannic finish. Drink now. 12,220 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Herbal, leathery berry and plum aromas are warm and a tiny bit horsey and come with a note of chocolaty oak. A plump and generally well-balanced palate deals herbal plum and berry flavors that are standard for good Carmenère, while this finishes with fruity bulk. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Grassy, green aromas are a big part of the nose, which also includes black fruits. This Carmenère feels grabby and tannic, and thus tight. Grass, alfalfa and black plum flavors finish with a wave of spicy oak. If you know the variety in its Chilean form, this should be familiar.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2012 Gran Reserva Serie Riberas Carmenere is somewhat floral, with the brightness of the Cachapoal Valley, red and black fruit, a peppery note and a medium-bodied palate with enough acidity, polished tannins and a roasted finish. Pleasant with red meat. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This bold wine opens with a blast of black fruit and cassis, and then dry spice and herbal aromas settle in. This is racy in the mouth, with a good body and flavors of red plum, raspberry, spice and herbs. It’s acid-driven and fairly elegant on the way out.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Plush and well-spiced, with good cut to the apple, pear and dried quince flavors. Hints of dried sage and white pepper show on the finish. Drink now through 2020.
Wine Spectator, 88 points Daily Wine Picks
A focused white, with concentrated flavors of green apple and ripe pear accented by hints of dried mint and anise. Offers zingy acidity, with tropical overtones on the spicy finish. Drink now through 2017. 8,330 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best of Year 2019
Gritty berry aromas are a bit roasted, while this Malbec from Colchagua is full, dense and chewy in feel. Herbal, spicy plum and berry flavors come from the dark side, while this tastes mildly green on the finish, with bell pepper notes branded into fuller berry fruit flavors. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Juicy, with loamy accents to the roasted plum and dried raspberry flavors. Christmas pudding notes linger on the spicy finish. Drink now. 72,000 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. — KM
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A juicy, fruity red, with concentrated red plum and raspberry flavors matched to notes of white pepper. Offers a fresh finish, showing spicy accents. Drink now through 2019. 4,500 cases made.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Extremely fruity, this wine revolves around sweet and savory black fruit flavors. The texture is dense, the wine soft and approachable. Beyond that, there is a touch of violets that contributes to its charm.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Dark plum, graphite and currant flavors are supported by fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins. Offers a supple texture, with notes of white pepper and chocolate on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 3,330 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This Maule Merlot is a bruiser with berry and cassis aromas accented by campfire and chocolate. In the mouth, it’s drawing but lively, with firm acidity and toasty flavors of oak-rich blackberry and dark chocolate. At the end, it’s tight, tannic and boasting a powerful oak character.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
An intellectual Pinot for the price, it offers minerally aromas of iron, blood and graphite. Flavors are also pleasingly precise, with graphite and steel picking up some ripe raspberry on the edges. It’s lean and focused.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2015 Amado Sur combines 79% Malbec with 11% Bonarda and 10% Syrah and mixes grapes from Valle de Uco and Luján de Cuyo, the two main regions in Mendoza. Sixty percent of the volume was kept in concrete, and the rest matured in oak barrels. It’s a blend they started in 2005 for the US, trying to show the Malbec with Bonarda from the east and Syrah from Valle de Uco, combining the dimension of the New World, the fruit and freshness and some more complexity with the blend. With soft tannins and a juicy texture, it is very approachable, easy to drink, clean, pleasant and precise. Gentle. It’s produced in large quantities, so there’s volume and quality. Lively for its age. 800,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
The dried currant, cocoa powder and beefy flavors have plenty of sanguine notes. Rich midpalate, with engaging minerality. The crisp finish offers accents of orange pekoe and white pepper.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This is dusty and smooth up front, with plenty of oak, balsamic, plum and berry aromas. Showing overall harmony, it feels sure and secure, with depth and solid flavors of toasty berry and bitter chocolate. It tastes similarly on the finish, with a jammy feel. A blend of 80% Malbec with 10% Bonarda and 10% Syrah.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2009 Amador Sur Tinto is composed of 73% Malbec, 15% Bonarda, and 12% Syrah aged for 8 months in French oak, followed by 6 months in tank after the assemblage. It is a forward, fruity effort with plenty of spice, game, and blueberry notes. In the glass it is firm, balanced, and lengthy, suggesting that it will provide pleasure for another 5-6 years.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Information unavailable
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2006 Amado Sur is a blend of 75% Malbec, 15% Syrah, and 10% Bonarda aged for 8 months in French oak (American oak for the Syrah) followed by six more months in stainless steel. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an alluring perfume of blueberry, black currant, and black cherry, a touch of cedar, and a bit of damp earth. On the palate it is smooth-textured, forward, and easy to understand. This nicely balanced effort may well evolve for 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now. It is also an excellent value.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Fresh, with tasty raspberry, blackberry, vanilla and sweet toast notes that run through a medium-weight, fleshy finish. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now through 2009.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2014 Golden Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon blends grapes from Los Sauces (Tunuyan) and Altamira (San Carlos) in the Valle de Uco. In reality it also contains some 2% Cabernet Franc from alluvial soils with a mixture of sand, stone and chalk. This line matures in oak barrels for one year. There is a combination of herbal and ripe aromas, a slightly bitter finish and some tannins. As in previous occasions, I favored the Malbec over the Cabernet. 42,000 bottles produced.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
This jammy red features dark cassis, blackberry preserves and plum sauce flavors that coat the palate, as spice, toasty oak and licorice notes fill in the finish. Drink now. 20,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Opens with a blast of milk chocolate, raisin and sawdust before settling on black fruit and pepper. Shows good concentration and feel in front of prune, blackberry, licorice and burnt toast flavors. Has good pulse and vibrancy, but it’s a bit choppy and oaky.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
A very forward style, with lush blueberry compote, braised fig and mocha notes, followed by a juicy, open finish. Drink now. 12,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 88 points +
The 2005 Golden Reserve Malbec is meant to be more serious, having seen 12 months aging in French oak, 50% new. The nose reveals mineral, earth, mocha, and black cherry but on the palate the wine is a bit clipped. Nevertheless, the flavors are attractive and the wine may round out with another 2-3 years of cellaring.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A polished, heavyweight style, with lots of fig, cocoa powder, mocha, bacon and plum notes, backed by a rich, velvety-textured finish. For fans of the forward, modern style. Drink now through 2008. 3,000 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Pulpy aromas of blackberry, cassis, fig and pastry show a mineral streak. This feels solid and chewy, with spongy tannins. Standard black fruit flavors are normal for Mendoza Malbec, while this is weighty in feel and tastes of blackberry on the finish.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2006 Golden Reserve Malbec was aged for 12 months in 60% new oak. Dark ruby-colored, it has an alluring bouquet of wood smoke, spice box, leather, and black cherry. Elegant on the palate, it has layers of spicy blue and black fruit, ripe tannin, good balance, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink this pleasurable effort through 2016.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
A big, woody, totally modern style of Syrah. There is a lot more coconut, mocha and big berry fruit than anything you might find from France. It’s dark and layered on the palate, with coconut and resin supporting black fruit. Finishes smoky and oaky, but structured, tannic and serious enough to impress.
Wine Advocate, 88 points +
The traditional 2017 Reserve Malbec is fruit-driven, floral, juicy and easy to understand. It was produced with grapes from Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco, with 20% of the volume in contact with oak staves. 2017 was a concentrated vintage because of the low yields caused by frost. The wine has more weight than it normally has. It has berries, flowers and wild herbs, a fresh palate with lively acidity. Straight, simple, direct, clean and what wines like this should be. The quality is really impressive for the volume they produce—no less than eight million bottles of this wine.
James Suckling, 88 points
A malbec with dark fruits, aniseed and herbal undertones. Medium to full-bodied with with polished tannins and a slightly short finish. Drink now.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2015 Reserve Malbec now blends grapes from Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. It is a juicy, dark and concentrated red from a diversity of vineyards as they produced no less than six million bottles of it! One-fourth of the volume spends some six months in oak barrels, while the rest is kept in stainless steel. It’s a fresh and straightforward red, fruit-driven, fresh, with limited influence from the oak, produced with the assembly of many different wines harvested at different points of maturity. They aim to represent the classical Malbec from Mendoza, mixing grapes from Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. It has the aspiration to be the Casillero del Diablo from Argentina. A good introduction to the region.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
In this easy-drinking wine, jammy aromas of multiple black fruits lead to a soft, simple palate with a streak of bracing tartaric acid. Straightforward blackberry flavors come with little to no complexity, while the finish is quick and fades away with modest grip and length.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Dark, vinous and oaky, this mixes notes of cassis, blackberry, licorice, smoke and woodsy spice, with chewy tannins settling in on the finish. Drink now. 25,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator, 88 points Best Value
Racy, with precision to the raspberry and blackberry fruit that glides along the silky frame, with light tannins and juicy acidity driving the tangy finish. Drink now. 110,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Information unavailable
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Information unavailable
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy/Top 100 Best Buys of the Year 2020 (#80)
Fresh yet simple aromas of orange peel and lychee capture the good side of this aromatic variety. Bright acidity charges up and elevates the palate, while this blend of 85% Torrontés and 15% Pinot Gris tastes of salty melon, lychee and persimmon. A fresh, steady finish deals a melony aftertaste. MICHAEL SCHACHNER
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
Delicately herbal, rich in its flavors of ripe cherries and raspberries, this merlot has a crunchy fruit freshness. It’s alive with acidity, vibrant in its flavors, ideal for drinking now with burgers.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A refreshing style, with an engaging minerality to the crushed red plum, cherry and boysenberry flavors, supported by firm acidity. The sanguine finish is tannic yet open-textured. Drink now through 2017.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Peppery notes accent the cherry, raspberry and lingonberry flavors, all flanked by rich hints of Asian spice. The lithe finish lengthens out with mocha and cream details. Drink now through 2017. 23,200 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Spicy, minty green notes are a big part of this Carmenère’s blackberry and black plum aromas. A full and solid palate is round and generous. Mint and blackberry flavors blend with peppery notes that spice up the finish.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A layered and rich red with lots of berry and oyster-shell character. Full body, juicy fruit and an intense finish. Always a solid cab for the money. Drink or hold.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Hints of dried mint wrap around ripe flavors of plum and dark berry. Notes of forest floor linger on the savory and rich-tasting finish. Drink now. 100,000 cases made
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
This wine blends 53% Monterey County and 47% San Luis Obispo County fruit to deliver a well-priced winner. Key lime, lemon peel, white flowers and almond butter show on the nose, while the palate delivers nicely rounded nectarine, sea salt and oaky flavors that are buoyed by ample acidity through the finish.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
A rather deep, brassy color and very buttery aromas make this wine stand out. The flavors are also buttery, appley and rich, while the texture is creamy and the body almost full.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points Best Buy
Drawn exclusively from organically farmed vineyards, this includes a bit of syrah, petite sirah and carignan. It has a sunny fruit sweetness without being sugary, its clean black-currant flavor rising from ripe, round tannins.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Delicious ripe berry and cherry flavors make this medium-bodied wine very lush and fruity. It does have moderate tannins for texture, but the richness of fruit just drenches the palate.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
Light, lean and charming, this delicate wine has an airy aroma that hints at cherries, a brisk mouthfeel and very light, nicely tangy raspberry flavors.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
A clean and savory chardonnay, this wine’s gentle apple flavors and spring buttercup richness make a simple while for a veal chop or other roast white meats.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points
There’s a faint hint of pink in the color of this bright, cheery, light and appetizing wine. It combines flashes of crisp green apple with ripe pear, golden cherry and white peach for a cornucopia of delicious fruit flavor.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Floral and spicy, with good intensity to the apple, lemon and quince flavors, set on a light, refreshing body and finishing with an appealing touch of fennel. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
A bright, red-fruited zin, this has a spicy herbal edge to its acidity and a light floral lift to its black raspberry flavor. It ends clean and cool; great for a picnic along the coast.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
A soft and jammy red, with appealing notes of candied berry and orange zest, showing touches of herb and caramel. Drink now through 2021.
Wine Spectator, 88 points
Appealing cherry and rhubarb aromas lead to easygoing anise and pepper flavors. Drink now through 2023.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Best Buy
Spicy, minty green notes are a big part of this Carmenère’s blackberry and black plum aromas. A full and solid palate is round and generous. Mint and blackberry flavors blend with peppery notes that spice up the finish.
Wine Spectator, 88 points Best Value
This fleshy red is filled with plenty of savory richness to the ripe plum and dark berry flavors, with dried green herbal notes filling the crisp finish. Drink now through 2023. 330,000 cases made, 44,985 cases imported.—K.M.
James Suckling, 88 points
Red fruit, dried herbs, smoke and mocha on the nose. Medium-bodied with sleek tannins. Coffee and some bitter spice and peel notes on the palate with a dusty finish. Drink in 2022.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Cono Sur has 300 hectares of certified organic vineyards, and they produce a 2017 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere / Syrah blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Carmenere and 25% Syrah from a diversity of valleys from Cauquenes (Maule) to Limarí. The wine matured for 11 months, 70% of the volume in used barrels and the rest in stainless steel. It’s a fruit-driven, approachable red blend with a soft texture, fine tannins, with some detail and granite dryness, and a gentle finish. Quite balanced for a warmish year. 700,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2018.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Wine & Spirits, 88 points Best Buy
Brisk and cool with zesty lime flavors, this sauvignon finishes with a touch of sweetness and an herbal cilantro-like flavor. Pour it with a Vietnamese fish curry.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
Wine Spectator, 88 points Top Value
Fruity aroma, with well-defined apple and pear flavors that feature hints of beeswax. Creamy and spicy on the finish.
Wine & Spirits, 88 points
A cool freshness balances the ripe pear and apple flavors in this wine, while notes of vanilla and spice give the texture richness. For roast chicken.
Wine Advocate, 88+ points
The classical 2014 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard was blended with 6% Cabernet Franc and a 1% touch each of Merlot and Syrah from vines planted between 1997 and 2004 in this alluvial part of Maipo. It matured in a combination of 5,000-liter botti and French oak barrels for 16 months. There are subtle varietal notes and some spiciness, tobacco leaves and cigar box, very classical. The palate is soft and polished, with a velvety texture, with good length and width. A very complete Cabernet. 800,000 bottles produced. For context I tasted the 2002, a classical vintage that was a little reductive, the 2009 from the peak of maturity and a warm vintage, all menthol and eucalyptus and the 2010 representing the beginning of a change and a much cooler vintage.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
I also tasted the 2015 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard together with the 2014 and some older vintages (2010, 2009 and 2002) to check the evolution of these classical Cabernet-based blends from Maipo. This is a ripe vintage, but contrary to what I saw in the older warm vintage of 2009, the menthol note is not there—or it’s very subtle. The oak is also nicely integrated into the fruit, with a similar velvety texture and soft tannins. Very drinkable.
Wine Advocate, 88 points
The 2015 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere was produced with grapes from Peumo in Cachapoal and contains some 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels (35% of them new) for some 16 months. There are some leafy aromas, spicy and tasty. It has a soft texture and a nice mouthfeel.
Wine Enthusiast, 87 points Best Buy
A solid choice for anyone seeking a medium-sweet wine, this bottling starts with aromas of Key lime pie, orange blossom and lemon-lime soda, leaning toward petrol. Racy acidity slices through the palate, which is sweet in honeysuckle and orange blossom flavors.
Wine Enthusiast, 87 points Best Buy
Aromas of orange blossoms, scratched apple skins, lemon-lime soda and jasmine waft off of this bottling. The texture is quite grippy, with tactile acidity and a dynamic mouthfeel presenting lime sorbet and sugared apple flavors.
Wine Enthusiast, 87 points Best Buy
A rainy cement minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly.
Wine Spectator, 87 points Best Value
Pear, citrus and yellow apple flavors are medium-bodied, with crisp acidity and a whiff of chamomile. Drink now. 22,000 cases made. –MW
Wine Enthusiast, 87 points Best Buy
Lightly spiced aromas of plum and licorice are varietally correct. This wine feels energetic, albeit a touch choppy. Blackened plum and berry flavors end with hint of toasty oak and caramel.
Wine & Spirits, 86 points Best Buy
This is clean and simple, with scents of white flowers and lime, a green apple through-line of flavor and a mildly phenolic grip. Reviewed by Patrick J. Comiskey.
Wine Enthusiast, 86 points Best Buy
Subtle dill aromas and green-melon flavors give a lean profile to this good medium-bodied wine. JIM GORDON
Wine Advocate, (89-90) points
Wine & Spirits Best for $12 Or Less
“Best for $12 Or Less” selections, among 2,416 wines tasted for the issue; “Jammy with cherry flavors, this has a bitter note that would match the char on a burger.”
Wine & Spirits Best for $12 Or Less
“Best for $12 Or Less” bottles among 1,487 wines tasted for the February 2019 issue of Wine & Spirits; “Soft and grapey, with lemon and bell-pepper notes; for fish tacos.”
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