Monday, September 7, 2026Happy long weekend! red wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly, and unoaked Cinsault from the Itata Valley in Chile that made its debut at the LCBO in last month's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE), a major wine producer in Chile that makes premium wines with unique styles and characteristics. It was established in 1976 by Luis Felipe Edwards Sr. after he and his wife returned to Chile following some years in Europe. The couple was enamoured by an estate in Colchagua Valley that was for sale by a family friend and already had 60 hectares of vineyards, a small winemaking facility, and a historical country farmhouse. This estate was the foundation for what would become one of Chile's largest wineries, while also committing to maintaining their family heritage.
Over the years, Luis Felipe Edwards purchased more vineyard holdings and produced bulk wine, but in the 1990s, he recognized the quality of the wines being produced from his estate grapes and decided to bottle his wine and sell it under his own brand, using his own name as a seal of quality on each bottle.
In the 2000s, Luis Felipe Edwards Jr. took over the role of General Manager, while all director positions are held by members of the family. The focus was to preserve the quality of his wines while also diversifying the portfolio, which led to the exploration of new terroirs, most notably an estate in coastal Leyda Valley. Since 2010, LFE has grown exponentially by increasing vineyard plantings and winemaking and bottling capacities in order to keep up with growing demand, with a particular focus on premium wine grapes.
Today, LFE Wine Group is still family-owned and -managed. Their mission is to be the leading ambassador of Chilean wine across all categories, while also offering exceptional quality at the best value to wine drinkers worldwide. LFE is committed to innovation, sustainability, and biodiversity, while honouring their heritage in every bottle they produce.
LFE Wine Group has several estates and many brands and ranges of wines, and what makes them unique is their exclusive origin and the gentle care in which they are crafted, which gives them their distinctive personalities. All of the company's wines are produced at their Puquillay Estate in the Colchagua Valley and are vegan-friendly. This particular red wine is from LFE's Heritage range of wines. This Cinso and its companion Paí are fresh and unique wines crafted using grapes from small producers in Chile's Itata Valley. These Cinsault and País vines were planted on their own roots more than 30 and 80 years ago, respectively, and are head-trained and traditionally harvested by hand, giving rise to a pair of wines that are a true reflection of their terroir and the history of Chile.
This red wine is crafted with 100% Cinsault that was sourced from small growers located in various areas of the Itata Valley, about 500 km south of Santiago. The vineyards are situated at high altitude on gently rolling terrain approximately 30 km inland from the ocean, while the vines are more than 30 years old and are planted on their own roots, without rootstock. Vineyard work was carried out traditionally, with tillage on horseback and without machinery.
To vinify this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested during the first and third weeks of April, and different winemaking techniques were used to achieve the greatest expression of fruit. Maceration was carried out using both thermo-flash and traditional techniques. Some berries were destemmed, while others remained as whole clusters, and everything underwent a delicate crushing prior to alcoholic fermentation, which was carried out over 10 days with wild and native yeasts. The wine was then macerated for another 15 days on its skins, and was then aged on its fine lees and bottled unfiltered. It had no contact with wood, resulting in a wine of intense colour and spice notes, and a rustic character.
The 2024 growing season in southern Chile began with a wet winter and cool spring due to El Niño. However, this also meant that there were no summer heat spikes, which allowed for slow, even ripening and higher-than-usual acidity levels. Despite some challenges, quality expectations are high. Let's see how this 2024 Cinsault from Chile is tasting tonight...
Screw cap. The medium+ to medium-high intensity has engaging aromas of peppery spice, dark red berry, wild berry, and dried herbs with savoury, underbrush, and earthy undertones. The dry, medium+ bodied palate has a nice, weighty mouthfeel with a fine mix of fruity-herbal-earthy notes with dark red berry, mild peppery spice, and earthy mineral flavours. Crisp, citrusy acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins have a slightly chalky textured grip, with good structure. Tangy wild berry and dried herbal notes taper to savoury earth and underbrush on the dusty textured finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts
A couple of other wines by LFE Wine Group are available at the LCBO, while wines from the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Canada.
It is produced by Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE), a major wine producer in Chile that makes premium wines with unique styles and characteristics. It was established in 1976 by Luis Felipe Edwards Sr. after he and his wife returned to Chile following some years in Europe. The couple was enamoured by an estate in Colchagua Valley that was for sale by a family friend and already had 60 hectares of vineyards, a small winemaking facility, and a historical country farmhouse. This estate was the foundation for what would become one of Chile's largest wineries, while also committing to maintaining their family heritage.
Over the years, Luis Felipe Edwards purchased more vineyard holdings and produced bulk wine, but in the 1990s, he recognized the quality of the wines being produced from his estate grapes and decided to bottle his wine and sell it under his own brand, using his own name as a seal of quality on each bottle.
In the 2000s, Luis Felipe Edwards Jr. took over the role of General Manager, while all director positions are held by members of the family. The focus was to preserve the quality of his wines while also diversifying the portfolio, which led to the exploration of new terroirs, most notably an estate in coastal Leyda Valley. Since 2010, LFE has grown exponentially by increasing vineyard plantings and winemaking and bottling capacities in order to keep up with growing demand, with a particular focus on premium wine grapes.
Today, LFE Wine Group is still family-owned and -managed. Their mission is to be the leading ambassador of Chilean wine across all categories, while also offering exceptional quality at the best value to wine drinkers worldwide. LFE is committed to innovation, sustainability, and biodiversity, while honouring their heritage in every bottle they produce.
LFE Wine Group has several estates and many brands and ranges of wines, and what makes them unique is their exclusive origin and the gentle care in which they are crafted, which gives them their distinctive personalities. All of the company's wines are produced at their Puquillay Estate in the Colchagua Valley and are vegan-friendly. This particular red wine is from LFE's Heritage range of wines. This Cinso and its companion Paí are fresh and unique wines crafted using grapes from small producers in Chile's Itata Valley. These Cinsault and País vines were planted on their own roots more than 30 and 80 years ago, respectively, and are head-trained and traditionally harvested by hand, giving rise to a pair of wines that are a true reflection of their terroir and the history of Chile.
This red wine is crafted with 100% Cinsault that was sourced from small growers located in various areas of the Itata Valley, about 500 km south of Santiago. The vineyards are situated at high altitude on gently rolling terrain approximately 30 km inland from the ocean, while the vines are more than 30 years old and are planted on their own roots, without rootstock. Vineyard work was carried out traditionally, with tillage on horseback and without machinery.
To vinify this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested during the first and third weeks of April, and different winemaking techniques were used to achieve the greatest expression of fruit. Maceration was carried out using both thermo-flash and traditional techniques. Some berries were destemmed, while others remained as whole clusters, and everything underwent a delicate crushing prior to alcoholic fermentation, which was carried out over 10 days with wild and native yeasts. The wine was then macerated for another 15 days on its skins, and was then aged on its fine lees and bottled unfiltered. It had no contact with wood, resulting in a wine of intense colour and spice notes, and a rustic character.
The 2024 growing season in southern Chile began with a wet winter and cool spring due to El Niño. However, this also meant that there were no summer heat spikes, which allowed for slow, even ripening and higher-than-usual acidity levels. Despite some challenges, quality expectations are high. Let's see how this 2024 Cinsault from Chile is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
LUIS FELIPE EDWARDS CINSO RESERVA CINSAULT 2024 - Vegan, Unfiltered, Unoaked, DO Valle del Itata, Chile (#51147) (XD) - $16.95Screw cap. The medium+ to medium-high intensity has engaging aromas of peppery spice, dark red berry, wild berry, and dried herbs with savoury, underbrush, and earthy undertones. The dry, medium+ bodied palate has a nice, weighty mouthfeel with a fine mix of fruity-herbal-earthy notes with dark red berry, mild peppery spice, and earthy mineral flavours. Crisp, citrusy acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins have a slightly chalky textured grip, with good structure. Tangy wild berry and dried herbal notes taper to savoury earth and underbrush on the dusty textured finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts
A couple of other wines by LFE Wine Group are available at the LCBO, while wines from the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Canada.
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