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 tonight's 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 October 30th.

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.

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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San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the excellent 2018 San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir at the beginning of the year and for tonight's wine review I am delighted to try the next vintage that arrived at the LCBO in the October 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release over the weekend.

The Tayú project celebrates Chile's indigenous roots through an honest collaboration between the Buchahueico community in southern Malleco Valley and San Pedro Winery. The name "Tayú" means "ours" in the Mapudungun language of the local Mapuche peoples in Buchahueico.

Working with San Pedro's winemakers, the Mapuche used their intimate knowledge of the soils to craft a lovely, one-of-a-kind Pinot Noir that truly expresses its origin. The 15 hectares of vineyards are located in the foothills of the Nahuelbuta Mountains in the Purén area of the Malleco Valley in the Araucanía region, approximately 540 km south of Santiago, in south-central Chile. The soils in the vineyard at Buchahueico are very old, red-coloured, and of granitic origin with a clay-loam texture and an abundance quartz and granite. The soils are naturally acidic, which comes through as vibrant acidity in the wine.

The 2018 vintage of this wine was its debut and came from an excellent vintage, while 2019 was a warmer year which produced smaller bunches with concentrated, generous fruit. Although the Malleco Valley is considered a cool-climate winegrowing region, the micro-climate in Buchahueico is considered moderate due to its latitude and because it is protected from coastal influences by the Nahuelbuta Mountains in Traigue, thus allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and later than other regions. The grapes was fermented in a combination of concrete eggs and stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing in French oak foudre, concrete eggs, and used French oak barrels. Let's see how the 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2019 - Buchahueico, DO Valle del Malleco, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $19.95
From a warmer vintage, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely notes of exotic spices, cinnamon, and sweet spice layered over wet earth and dark berry with a hint of minty herb. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it is richly concentrated and slightly warming with move exotic spice, earthy, and tangy dark berry replays on the flavour profile, support by fresh, juicy acidity. Quite chalky on the mid-palate with grainy textured tannins that seem a bit tight and will reward ageing. Earthy with a slight tang on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

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

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

Tonight's red wine review is a fine Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the March 6th 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...

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

Tonight's 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 February 20th 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...

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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San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from the Malleco Valley, Chile's southernmost wine region. This exciting red wine is a new arrival to the LCBO as part of today's LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Tayú, which means "ours" in the Mapudungun language, is the proud result of an honest collaboration between the people of Buchahueico and San Pedro winery to celebrate Chile's indegenous roots. Buchahueico is located in the foothills of the Nahuelbuta Mountains in the Purén area of the Malleco Valley in the Araucanía region, approximately 540 km south of Santiago, in south-central Chile. The families of the Buchahueico community, known as Mapuche - meaning "people of the land" - have a deep connection to the earth that goes beyond what can be understood oenologically.

The Mapuche worked together with San Pedro's winemakers, to harness their intimate knowledge of the soils and craft a Pinot Noir that truly expresses its origin. The vineyard in Buchahueico is divided into two 2.5 hectare sites that have very old, red-coloured soils of granitic origin with a clay-loam texture and abundant quartz and granite. The soils are quite acidic and corrected with agricultural lime to make them neutral, thus lending itself to create wines with vibrant acidity. Due to the site's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the microclimate of the Nahuelbuta Mountains, and it's latitude of 38° South, the temperature in this area is considered moderate, ranging from 4.2°C from to 27.8°C during the growing season, thus allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and later than other regions.

The Pinot Noir in this wine is made using Clones 115, 777, and 828, with each contributing its own unique characteristics. Clone 115 imparts spicy and herbal tones, while Clone 777 provides fresh red fruit and floral notes. Lastly, Clone 828 contributes black fruit and earthy aromas, as well as adding structure to the wine. After manually harvesting and sorting the grapes, 15% was fermented in concrete eggs with the remainder in stainless steel tanks. It was aged in a combination of concrete eggs (15%), untoasted French oak foudres (40%), and the rest in used French oak barrels. Let's see how this red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2018 - Buchahueico, DO Malleco Valley, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $19.95
With an eye-catching label on the outside, this Pinot Noir is very impressive on the inside as well with its fresh, medium-high intensity, and complex aromas of wet earth and bright red fruits, and wild herb flecked with minerals, raspberry, spice, and touches of floral. It's light-to-mid-weighted on the palate with lovely sour cherry, raspberry, red fruit tones, spice, wet earth, and hints of tea leaf flavours. It gains weight in the mouth with its fresh, citrusy acidity, and lightly structured, fine tannins that have a touch of pleasant grip towards the back palate. Nicely balanced throughout with some interesting salty notes joining the wet earth characters on the long, succulent, minerally finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

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

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