As we begin to prune on the waning moon (luna menguate) for the 2025 vintage, we received news from VINOUS. So we stop, and tip our hat to say ¨chapeau¨ to Joaquin Hidalgo the first critic to write a Chile report focused on the wines of the Coastal Range of Mountains.
¨ The taut, marine-influenced palates make these coastal range wines so interesting. Their flavor profile is quite different, thanks to the ferrous granite, displaying pomegranate and elderflower … …Excellent wines from this region include the 2021 La Causa del Itata País and 2022 De Martino País Serie las Olvidadas among the reds, and the 2022 Garage Wine Co. Semillon Isidore Vineyard Parcel Selection F5 among the whites.
¨Toto, we are not in Maipo anymore.¨ — Dorothy WSET 3
Yes indeed, South America has two ranges of mountains, the coastal range, the original mountains to rise from the oceans floor, much much older, and known for decomposed granite and schist and . . . . . . well, the soils of fine wine in the old world.
¨ The remainder of Chile is moving steadily in more or less the same direction. The concentrated, indulgent character of the Central Valley contrasts with the dry-farmed regions in Maule.
The Cabernet Sauvignons from South of Cauquenes are especially attractive, not just for their concentration, which is what one would expect, but also for their pleasantly tense and juicy character. Examples include Baettig’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Los Padrinos and the 2021 Renacido Vineyard Parcel Selection 2021 from Garage Wine Co. ¨
On behalf of the team, we are thrilled that for the third year in a row our Cru Truquilemu stands tall— almost tallest. And we are thrilled our Garage VIGNO also from Truquilemu stands just next Cru with 97 [from Vinous] for the first time.
It was hard to hold the2021 wines back until they are ready. Importers complained. Tasting the wines today; it was worth it. We shall have news soon about upcoming releases.
2021 Carignan Vigno – 97 pts
2021 Cariñena Cru Truquilemu Vineyard – 97 pts
2021 Renacido Vineyard Parcel Selection Cab Sauv – 96 pts
2021 Truquilemu Vineyard Parcel Selection Cariñena – 95 pts
2021 Syrah Pereira Vineyard – Lot 118 – 95 pts
2021 Sauzal Vineyard – Garnacha Cariñena Monastrell – 95 pts
2021 Cabernet Franc Las Higueras Vineyard – 94 pts
2021 Cariñena-Garnacha-Monastrell Bagual Vineyard – 94 pts
2022 Semillón Isidore Vineyard Parcel selection F5 – 93 pts
2021 Garnacha Bagual Vineyard – Lot 129 – 93 pts
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reelegido Vineyard – Lot 121 – 93 pts
2021 Cabernet Franc Pirque Vineyard – Lot 110 – 93 pts
2021 Cinsault Soothsayer Ferment Single Ferment Series – 93 pts
2022 País Revival – 93 pts
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