¨ Garage takes top honours with the latest report from Joaquin Hidalgo @hidalgovino with VINOUS @vinousmedia Note: we share the honour, rubbing shoulders with Andrea & Charles at Clos Apalta @ClosApalta .

Pilar and I would like to recognise the entire Garage team on the farms and in the cellar: Cristian & Ester, Jose and clan Medel: Alejo, Ana & Estla, Daniel Flores, Cotaco, Haroldo & Miguelito,  Raúl & Alvaro, Don Franco & Edmundo, Tia Angelica & Tia Maria, Señora Luz, Elsa, Don Hugo Pereira & Don Julio Moraga, Carlos Varas, Armando, Segundo Opazo, Jorge, Juan, Francisco, Pete, Valeska y Diego, Javier . . .  . . . and our co-conspirateurs who support us from Jorge with Regenerative Agriculture and Alejandro & Felipe with analysis.

It has been more than 20+ years of hard work, tradition elbow to elbow with science, but a labour of love working with these gorgeous old vineyards, still under appreciated but no longer forgotten, whose only sins were to be: too far from a paved road, too small to fill a truck and impossible to mechanise.

We are proud to have had a hand in reviving some to be worthy underdogs, in this case one made from a less-than-considered grape: Cariñena in an un-considered place: Empedrado. Let´s here it for old vines and small wine – small by design / on purpose, and for balance and longevity, tension over extraccion, and . . .

[Music heard rising in volume drowning out the words] thank you Vinous!

ESPAÑOL :

Garage obtiene el máximo honor con el último informe de Joaquín Hidalgo @hidalgovino en VINOUS @vinousmedia. Nota: compartimos este honor, codeándonos con Clos Apalta @ClosApalta.

Pilar y yo queremos reconocer a todo el equipo de Garage en los campos y en bodega: Cristian & Ester, José y el clan Medel: Alejo, Ana & Estla, Daniel Flores, Cotaco, Haroldo & Miguelito, Raúl & Álvaro, Don Franco & Edmundo, Tía Angélica & Tía María, Señora Luz, Elsa, Don Hugo Pereira & Don Julio Moraga, Carlos Varas, Armando, Segundo Opazo, Jorge, Juan, Francisco, Pete, Valeska y Diego, Javier . . . . . . y nuestros co-conspiradores que nos apoyan: Jorge con Agricultura Regenerativa y Alejandro & Felipe con análisis.

Han sido más de 20 años de trabajo, tradición codo a codo con ciencia, pero un trabajo de amor cultivando estos hermosos viñedos antiguos, aún subvalorados pero ya no olvidados, cuyos únicos pecados fueron: estar demasiado lejos de un camino pavimentado, ser demasiado pequeños para llenar un camión e imposibles de mecanizar.Estamos orgullosos de haber tenido un rol en revivir algunos para ser dignos caballos oscuros, en este caso uno hecho de una cepa poco considerada: Cariñena en un lugar poco conocido por vino: Empedrado.

¡Brindemos por las vides viejas y el viñatero pequeño – pequeño por diseño / a propósito, y por equilibrio y longevidad, tensión sobre extracción, y . . . [Se escucha música subiendo de volumen ahogando las palabras] ¡gracias Vinous!

VINOUS Media, Joaquín Hidalgo, June 2025

The 2022 Cariñena Field Blend Cru from Empedrado, Maule, is based on Carignan with Syrah and other grapes. The nose reveals red fruit, herbs, ash, raspberry and delicate pomegranate. Silky and agile, driven by elevated acidity and palate intensity, it finishes with layered complexity. The combination of supple texture and vibrant flavor make this unique.

The 2022 Vigno is a field blend of mostly Carignan and Monastrell from Truquilemu, Maule. It was harvested in passes, fermented with partially lignified whole clusters and aged briefly in foudres. This is herbal and stemmy on the nose, with bright red cherry notes. It’s dry and silky with moderately fine tannins and grippy edges. The 2022 is long and energetic, where the interplay of texture and juiciness is so appealing.

The 2022 Cariñena Truquilemu – Lot 137 hails from Empedrado in Maule. Fresh and expressive, it delivers delicate aromas of cherry and pomegranate, accented by subtle herbal notes. The palate is dry, intense and juicy, with a silky texture and persistent flavor. Though somewhat linear, it offers a compelling purity of expression and a soft, velvety feel. Grippy tannins add structure, while the cool-climate character shapes a long, flavorful finish. This is a Cariñena that achieves clear varietal expression with depth and nuance, beyond mere fruit and ripeness.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Renacido Lote 134 comes from Cauquenes, Maule. This expressive red opens with aromas of red fruit, redcurrant, blackberry and raspberry, underscored by a hint of ash. Subtle balsamic and camphor notes add complexity to the mix. Lean in body, with compact tannins and a core of richness, it shows finely woven structure and moderate intensity. Still in development, this will benefit from at least two more years in bottle to reach its full refinement. For now, power leads the way, but elegance is close behind. The freshness of the vintage lends charm and lift.

The 2022 Cabernet Franc from Las Higueras, Maule, opens with ash, delicate herbs and mint, balanced by subtle pyrazines and a cassis backdrop. Dry, juicy and finely textured, this shows compact structure and clear fruit definition. Reminiscent of the Loire in expression, it finishes with a mentholated note and delivers impressive complexity and tension.

The 2021 The Ploughmen is a blend of Garnacha, Cariñena and Monastrell from Sauzal, Maule. It shows a liqueur-like profile, with black fruit, fig, cherry, rose and licorice aromas. Dry and structured, the active tannins and elevated freshness give this juiciness and presence, with mature fruit notes.

The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Revival comes from Maule. With cassis and blackberry aromas, plus subtle menthol and camphor, this is a dry, broad red with a hint of orange zest on the palate. Flavorful and slightly warm in tone, it finishes with depth and regional character.