Calcu Winemaker's Selection Blend 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent five-grape blend led by Cabernet Franc that is sustainably crafted from Chile. It arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the LCBO VINTAGES May Cellar Collection (formerly Classics) and is available for purchase directly from VINTAGES Shop Online.

It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a special and unique project that was established by the Hurtado family in 2003. The Hurtado family has over a century's worth of experience making quality wines in the Colchagua Valley and found a unique place in Marchigüe, within the Colchagua Valley in central Chile that is marked by hills of granite stone. This hill is the inspiration for the name Calcu Vineyards - "CAL: Hill" and "CUrá: Stone".

One of the fundamental pillars of the Hurtado family business is the passion for the pursuit of excellence. This is reflected in each of their wines and implemented by each member of the viticultural and winemaking team in the pursuit of excellence through precision viticulture and winemaking that accurately reflects the character of Calcu Vineyards in Marchigüe. Calcu Vineyards and the historic Viña Maquis share a winery in Palmilla, in the Colchagua Valley, for vinifying and ageing their wines. This winery was built in 2002, a year prior to the establishment of Calcu, under a sustainable concept by using gravity-flow technology to gently move the fruit and juice throughout the winery. The facility also uses geothermal energy for its wine production and is the only winery of its kind in Chile.

Sustainability is also a core value of the Hurtado family. They care for the environment, workers, and local community. One such example is the small vineyard blocks with short rows which were intentionally planted this way so that it minimizes soil erosion, while the sloping rows help reduce the risk of accidents for farm workers. The vineyards were also planted with extra care devoted to respecting natural rock formations, clay deposits, and native trees; 4,500 plants were also planted in ravines near the vineyards to increase biodiversity and protect endangered native species.

With this red wine blend, Calcu seeks to rediscover Colchagua Valley from the exceptional terroir in Marchigüe, a town and commune located in the province of Cardenal Caro, a few kilometres from the Pacific coast. The vineyard here has a unique architecture that was designed by hand to craft world-class wines that faithfully reflect the terroir, with deep care for the winegrowing and natural landscape. A blend that changes every year, this particular vintage is composed of 38% Cabernet Franc, 25% Carmenere, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.

The grapes were grown in Calcu's own vineyards in Marchigüe on gentle hills where it is influenced by the sea breeze in the afternoon and at night, which helps moderate temperatures to produce particularly fresh grapes. The soils are primarily granitic with some important clay content, but poor in organic matter which helps to obtain low yields, delivering power, structure, and elegance to the wines. The grapes were manually harvested and selected in bunches, and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

The 2018 growing season in Chile was somewhat cool during spring and early summer, resulting in a harvest that was a little later than normal. This helped deliver grapes with great freshness, outstanding elegance, and natural balance with round and delicate tannins. With dry weather during the ripening phase, the grapes were very healthy with developed impressive concentration. From an exceptional vintage that is described as the year of finesse, let's see how this 2018 red wine from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CALCU WINEMAKER'S SELECTION BLEND 2018 - Sustainable, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#28585) (XD) - $43.00
A blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 25% Carmenere, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot, it is elegantly fresh and fragrant on the nose with lovely, complex aromas of crushed red and black berry, currant, cassis, floral and fine oak spices with touches of dried herbs and stony mineral. On the full-ish bodied, warming palate it has well-structured and velvety smooth tannins along with fresh, juicy acidity that supports the ripe red and black berry, cassis, currant, smoky oak, mineral, and dried herbal flavours on a well-structured frame. Impressive depth and complexity. Some tannic grippiness on the back palate. Savoury with mineral and smoky oak notes lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoy over coming 10 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Calcu Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.