Showing posts with label maipo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maipo. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedSunday, May 7, 2023

Cigar Box Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review



Staying with Wines of Chile, red wine review is a well-made red wine crafted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cigar Box Wines, a brand that was founded in 2011 with the goal of producing straight-forward, flavour-packed wines from the regions of Maipo and Leyda in Chile and the Luján de Cuyo zone in Argentina. The inspiration of the name "Cigar Box" comes from South America's cigar-making traditions in which handmade craftsmanship and adherence to quality is of great importance. To follow these traditions, each Cigar Box wine is handcrafted using grapes only from well-established, carefully managed, low-yielding, and old vine vineyards. The grapes are grown and produced using SVP and Carbon Neutral status, as well as bunch selected and hand-harvested. Cigar Box wines are meant to be enjoyed while celebrating life's everyday moments to memorable revelries, and are complex wines that still remain approachable to the average consumer.

While this wine is typically made with only Cabernet Sauvignon, this particular vintage is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, all grown in Maipo Valley, one of the finest wine producing regions in the world. Maipo Valley is located at the northern end of Chile's vast Central Valley and is often described as the Bordeaux of South America. After high colour extraction, the grapes were fermented with selected yeasts at high controlled temperatures, followed by a fermentation at lower temperature to ensure a different extraction of the skin components. It was aged in a combination of French oak and stainless steel vats, with 60% of the wine aged in French oak for 8 months. From a good-to-excellent vintage, let's see how this 2021 Cabernet-Syrah from Chile is tasting tonight...

Cigar Box Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (87+ pts)

Tasting Note:

CIGAR BOX OLD VINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - DO Valle Maipo, Chile (#25011) (XD) - $14.95
This blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that leads with ripe red and black cherry, followed some funky savoury wet earth aromas, plus hints of cigar box, black plum, olive, and dried herbs emerging with time in the glass. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has ripe red and black cherry, black plum, cigar box, and oak spice flavours. It has fresh acidity and smooth, refined, and lightly chalky textured tannins, while savoury, earthy oak spice notes longer on the finish, with good length. Score: 87+ pts


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  • Date publishedThursday, May 4, 2023

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Syrah Organic 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

red wine review is a delicious organic wine that is a blend of three varieties from Chile that is readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery, one of the leading wine producers in Chile. Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993 with the vision of producing premium, expressive, and innovative wines that convey the spirit of the New World. Quality, innovation, and sustainability are the three core values of Cono Sur. They are orientated towards growing quality grapes in order to produce quality wines, innovating with the creative use of technology, and respect for the environment and people. The company's name "Cono Sur" is translated to "Southern cone" and refers to company's geographic position - wines proudly made in South America's southern cone, on whose western edge lies Chile and its gifted wine valleys.

Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future, while also taking care of the environment without neglecting the aspects of social development and economic growth. In 1998, they switched from conventional agriculture to an integrated vineyard management system that favours natural alternatives to fertilize the soil and to prevent and control pests and disease. Their commitments have led to 17 years of organic certification, 13 years of Carbon Neutral Delivery, and 12 years of Wine Biodiversity and Climate Change. In 2007, Cono Sur became the first winery in the world to receive the CarbonNeutral delivery status, and in 2011 they were awarded Green Company of the Year by British magazine Drinks Business. Today, Cono Sur has over 300 hectares under organic management and they have vineyards in 7 of Chile's wine valleys.

This organic red wine is made with 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenère, and 28% Syrah, with grapes grown in vineyards across Chile in the valleys of Maipo, Maule, Colchagua, and Limarí. Thus, this red wine bears the country of the appellation of Chile. There grapes were grown in a Mediterranean climate on various soil types, but mostly consisted of alluvial and gravelly, pumacita, red clay, and mineral soils. After a combination of hand-picking and mechanically harvesting the grapes, the wine was vinified at their estate in Chimbarongo, about 160 km south of Santiago. It was aged for 12 months, with half aged in French oak barrels and the other half in stainless steel tanks. From an extremely early and hot growing season, and a challenging harvest, let's see how this 2020 Chilean organic red wine is tasting tonight...

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Syrah Organic 2020 (88 pts)

Tasting Note:

CONO SUR CABERNET SAUVIGNON CARMENÈRE SYRAH ORGANIC 2020 - Chile (#553792) (XD) - $16.55
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenère, and 28% Syrah has a medium to medium-high intensity nose that is rich and ripe with red and black cherry, currant, cassis, peppery spice, vanilla, and cedary oak spice aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the dry palate with delicious currant, cassis, dried herbs, herbaceous, peppery spice, and gentle cedary oak flavours supported by fresh acidity and supple, fine-grained tannins. Cedary oak spice and dried herbal notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88 pts


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  • Date publishedWednesday, November 3, 2021

Tarapacá Gran Reserva 145th Anniversary Special Edition 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

I've tasted and enjoyed many wines from Viña Tarapacá over the years, including most recently the 2019 Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère back in March. For wine review, we celebrate 145 years of tradition at Viña Tarapacá with this delicious, new red wine from Chile that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend (should be in stores any day now), as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on .

Founded in the foothills of the Andes mountain range in 1874, Viña Tarapacá developed a reputation for crafting elegant and quality wines to become one of Chile's most traditional and historical wineries, as well as a benchmark for viticulture in Chile. Originally known as "Viña de Rojas" by founder and renowned winemaker Don Francisco de Rojas y Salamanca, the Tarapaca name enters the picture in 1892 when Doña Mercedes, the ex-wife of Don Antonio Zavala, became owner of the property as part of her alimony and renamed the winery to "Viña Tarapacá Ex Zavala" to express her gratitude to "The Lion of Tarapacá", Mr. Don Arturo Alessandri - one of the most influential Chilean politicians of the 20th century. More recently, in 2008 Tarapacá helped form part of VSPT Wine Group to become the second-largest exporter of Chilean wine.

To celebrate Viña Tarapacá's 145 years of tradition in creating wines of exceptional quality, they created this Special Edition wine from the 2019 vintage that reflects Tarapaca Estate's commitment to biodiversity. In 2016, Viña Tarapacá inaugurated their mini hydroelectric plant - a renewable energy project designed to harness the water flow from the irrigation canal that is present on the estate and supplied by the Maipo River and generates up to 60% of the energy consumption at the winery. Energy not used by Viña Tarapacá is fed back into the country's national grid. VSPT Wine Group is also awarded Green Company of the Year at the 2016 Green Awards and is recognized as a leader in Renewable Energy Implementation thanks to its firm commitment to sustainability.

Tarapacá Gran Reserva 145th Anniversary Special Edition 2019 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA 145TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2019 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#21966) (XD) - $20.95
This delicious red wine is composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Syrah, all from vineyards planted in 1990 on the granitic hillsides of their property in Isla de Maipo. The fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose delivers notes of ripe blackberry, black cherry, dried herb, olive, and peppery spice with savoury undertones and a touch of meat. It's medium-full bodied with pleasing dark berry and peppery spice replays, if slightly grapey, on the palate. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the youthful, drying tannins need some time to integrate. More ripe dark berry with savoury earthy notes linger on the dry, chalky finish, with very good length. This recommended buy will be even better in a couple of years and continue to drink well over the next 6-7 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Viña Tarapacá are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.


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  • Date publishedMonday, March 8, 2021

San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

red wine review is a fine Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in 1865 in the Curicó Valley by the Correa brothers, Viña San Pedro is today one of Chile's most important producers. The brothers were pioneers in bringing different varieties from the Old World to the Curicó, exploring the rich and varied soils of Chile, while also welcoming new opportunities to further the progress of Chilean winemaking. Viña San Pedro produces a diverse range of wines of exceptional quality from distinct origins, while also working in harmony with nature and the environment to meet their sustainable goals.

This particular Cabernet Sauvignon is from the 1865 Wines Collection - a distinct set of wines that was created in 1997 to honour the founding of San Pedro in 1865 and highlights the unique regions and styles. Each bottle of 1865 wine is the product of careful selection of emblematic varietals from Chile's most recognized wine regions. The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon come from Chile's finest terroir in the Maipo Valley. It was grown mainly in the Los Piedros Vineyard at the foothills of the Andes Mountains where the soils are poor and gravelly. In this vineyard, there is also a second terrace that has alluvial soil from the Maipo River, a terroir that helps produce Chile's best Cabernet Sauvignon.

I have tasted and recommended previous editions of this fine Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see how the 2018 is tasting tonight...

San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#37911) (XD) - $19.95
The medium+ intensity nose offers fresh red and black berry fruit, and cassis with touches of minty herb, wood spice, and a whiff of earthy mineral. The full-bodied, concentrated palate is spicy with more red and black fruit, and savoury oak flavours. It has fresh, lively acidity and refined, structured tannins that have some chalky grip. The minty herbal notes arrive on the mid-palate, joined by savoury oak on the satisfying finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Viña San Pedro can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.


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  • Date publishedThursday, March 4, 2021

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

wine review is a lovely Chilean Carmenère that I've enjoyed and recommended many times over the years. The latest vintage is the 2019 and arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release - with plenty of bottles still available across Ontario.

It is produced by Viña Tarapacá, an historic winery in Chile whose roots go back to 1874 in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Today, Viña Tarapacá forms part of VSPT Wine Group, one of Chile's leading and benchmark wine producers.

Viña Tarapacá is located at the El Rosario Estate in Isla de Maipo, an area considered as the finest and most traditional for producing fine wines in Chile. This particular Carmenère comes from their Gran Reserva range of wines - a line that aims to express the essence of terroir at the El Rosario Estate using Viña Tarapacá's expertise and many years of tradition on this land. The Gran Reserva wines are meticulously crafted, contemporary, and versatile, while striving to faithfully reflect its origin. This Carmenère is a blend of Maipo Valley's best blocks at the El Rosario Estate and was aged in American and French oak barrels for 8 months.

Having enjoyed the 2018 Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon in January, I fully expect this red wine to be just as wonderful. Let's see how the 2019 Carmenère is tasting tonight...

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2019 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2019 - DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $17.95
The medium-high intensity aromatics are fresh with wild herbs mingling with blackberry, black cherry, and spice notes. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with fine herbally, blackberry, black cherry replays joined by savoury oak spice flavours. Acids are fresh and uplifting while the smooth, refined tannins are nicely textured. More savoury and earthy on the juicy finish, with very good length. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Viña Tarapacá also available at the LCBO, while others can be ordered through their Agent - Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, January 9, 2021

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

wine review is this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. This red wine is a frequent visitor to Ontario due to its popularity and I'm delighted to see this particular vintage return to the LCBO today as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

In 2008, Viña Tarapacá merged with Viña San Pedro to form VSPT Wine Group, however, their story actually begins when they were founded at the foothills on the Chilean side of the Andes Mountains in 1874 to become one of Chile's most traditional and historical wineries, as well as a benchmark for Chilean viticulture.

Renowned winemaker Don Francisco de Rojas y Salamanca founded the winery under the name "Viña de Rojas" in the Maipo Valley. In 1892, the winery was acquired by Don Antonio Zavala and became "Viña Zavala". After Zavala's divorce, the winery became the property of his ex-wife, Doña Mercedes, and she renamed the winery to "Viña Tarapacá Ex Zavala" in gratitude to Don Arturo Alessandri, one of those most influential Chilean politicians of the 20th century and twice President of the country, whose nickname was "The Lion of Tarapacá". In 1927, the guest house was built in a Tuscan style at Viña Tarapacá and today this casona adorns the labels of all Tarapacá wines, as well as the embossed seal on wines from the Gran Reserva Tarapacá range.

Viña Tarapacá is continually committed to quality winemaking and sustainable practices that cover economic, social, and environmental areas, as well as conserving the biodiversity surrounding their vineyards. Impressively, Viña Tarapacá was the first Chilean winery to have a mini hydroelectric plant to generate 60% of winery's energy consumption, with any electricity not consumed fed into the national grid to provide the country with clean energy.

I've tasted the Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon on numerous occasions over the years, and based on my database records going back to at least the 2005 vintage that I enjoyed in 2010. The grapes for the 2018 vintage are from their 2,600 hectare El Rosario Estate, of which 611 hectares are planted to vine. The estate and winery is located in Isla de Maipo - about 50 km southwest of Santiago - an area surrounded by mountains and the Maipo River and considered the finest and most traditional for the production of fine wines in Chile.

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#18721) (XD) - $17.95
The fragrant nose has a nice mix of spice, dried herb, dark berry, ripe blackberry, and smoky oak aromas with subtle touches of mineral adding further complexity. The full-bodied palate is very ripe with blackberry, spice, herbs, currant, cassis, and oak flavours supported by balanced acidity. The smooth, refined tannins have some structure and a pleasant, chalky texture. Earthy wood spice, cocoa, and mineral notes accented by currant and cassis notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Viña Tarapacá can found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.


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