Undurraga Terroir Hunter Cauquenes Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the August 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Viña Undurraga, one of Chile's oldest wineries and a producer known for crafting high-quality wines. It was founded in 1885 by Francisco Undurraga Vicuña and has played a significant role in Chile's winemaking history. It all started in 1970, when Francisco brought plants from Germany and France in lead capsules so they wouldn't wilt during their journey through the tropics. He also used oak wood from Bosnia to make the casks that the company started with.

Undurraga was initially founded as "Fundo Santa Ana", in honour of Francisco's wife, Mrs. Ana Fernández de Íñiguez and in 1891 they had their first harvest. At the turn of the century, the winery expanded and built its original cellar. In 1903, Undurraga became the first winery from Chile to export their wines to the U.S. and awards followed soon thereafter. The 1960s brought decades of distinguished visitors to the winery, along with the production of their first sparkling wines in 1975.

Today, Undurraga is headquartered with vineyards in the Maipo Valley. They have six estates and vineyards across five regions in Chile that are exclusively dedicated to the cultivation and production of the finest wine grapes. Each of these locations was carefully selected by the company's viticulture teams based on its suitability for specific varieties, while the unique qualities of the terroir are studied using precision farming techniques. The winemaking philosophy at Undurraga is based on creating characterful, authentic, and consistent wines. The winemakers and viticulturists work together to express the identity and quality of the vineyards through each and every one of their eight lines of wines by meticulously managing the vines and taking the utmost care throughout the vinification process. While each line bears the personal stamp of its winemaker, all Undurraga wines have one thing in common - each line seeks to faithfully represent the character of the grape variety it is made from and its place of origin, while prioritizing good balance, fruit expression, and fine quality.

This particular wine is from their emblematic T.H. (or Terroir Hunter) range, which is made by Head Winemaker Rafael Urrejola. The Terroir Hunter project is a constant search across the diverse Chilean topography for micro terroirs. These small plots of land with strong characters are carefully managed to obtain genuine wines of origin.

For this Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes were grown in their 6.45 hectare vineyard, which was planted in 2009, and situated 5 km south of the town of Cauquenes, on the banks of River Tutuvén, in the southern part of the Maule Valley in central Chile. The Maule Valley is Chile's largest winegrowing region, with 30,000 hectares planted with vines. Undurraga has an estate property in Cauquenes, and the grapes for this red wine come from densely planted vines which reside on gentle slopes of granitic origin, in low-fertility red clay soils which have a high content of quartz. In Cauquenes, summers are warm and dry, with average highs of 32°C and cool night temperatures of 11°C., while autumn is cold and humid, with average rainfall between 700 to 1,000 mm. These conditions contribute to the extended growing season that is ideal for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon.

From a balanced and cool growing season that also had good thermal amplitude, let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CAUQUENES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Valle del Maule, Chile (#24768) (XD) - $26.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was hand harvested. The grape characters were delicately extracted during fermentation, and then aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (30% new). The clean, fresh, fragrant, and highly aromatic nose offers lovely evergreen and tomato leaf aromas that surround a core of dark berry, currant, cassis, and subtle earthy, cedary wood spice notes. It's medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe palate with red & black berry, cherry, currant, cassis flavours that are slightly stewed. Some gentle cedary oak, earth, dried herbs, and spices add complexity. It's framed by juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, lightly chalky tannins. It's nicely balanced throughout with earthy, evergreen, dried herb, currant, and cassis all coming through on the exceptionally long, well-balanced finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 6-7 years! Score: 92 pts

Other fine wines by Undurraga are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.