Corralillo Winemaker’s Blend 2009 by Matetic Vineyards

IMG_0721 Grape Varieties: 63% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec, 4% Merlot.

Very good wine with red plums, currents and black raspberries over baking spice and cacao with a floral note. The medium tannins are ripe and round balancing the medium minus acidity. The wine has good complexity. The finish is medium plus and sweet. Drink now and for 3-4 years.

http://matetic.com/en/vino/corralillo-winemakers-blend-2009-en/

Oveja Negra Rose 2012 by Oveja Negra

Ovejas Rose Grape Variety: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Syrah

Good plus wine with lots of strawberries and red currents over a floral note. The medium plus acidity give outstanding freshness to the wine. The fruit is medium plus in concentration and intensity. The finish is medium plus. Drink now and for a year or two.

http://www.ovejanegra.com/ing/download/ON%20RORS12e.pdf

Corralillo Sauvignon Blanc 2011 by Matetic Vineyards

IMG_0722 Grape Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Very good plus wine with soft citrus and ripe passion fruit over fresh sweet herbs with a mineral note. The fruit has medium plus intensity and balances the medium plus acid. The wine has a medium plus finish. Drink now and for 1-2 years.

http://matetic.com/es/vino/corralillo-sauvignon-blanc-2011/

Suyai 2007 by Terra Andino

IMG_0697 Grape variety: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 13% Carignan, 7% Carmenère.

Outstanding wine with ripe black plums and black cherries over baking spice and anise with a mineral note. The medium plus tannins are ripe and balance the medium acidity giving good structure. The fruit concentration and intensity are both medium plus. The wine has good complexity and a long minus sweet finish. Drinking well now and will for 5-6 more years.

http://world.terraandina.com/suyai.html

Trio Merlot Reserva 2011 by Concha y Toro

IMG_0693 Grape Variety: 70% Merlot, 15% Carmenere, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Good plus wine with black fruit and dried herbs. The medium minus tannins are grippy. The wine has good balance and is structured. The finish is medium minus and sweet. Drink now and for 1-2 years.

http://www.trioconchaytoro.com/our-wines-and-style/our-wines/merlot-en/

Winemaker’s Lot 148 Carmenere 2010 by Concha y Toro

IMG_0689 Grape Variety: 100% Carmenere

Very good plus wine with black plums/cherries and chocolate over rich baking spice and an earthy minty dried herb note. The medium plus tannins are rounded and mature, building good balance with the medium minus acidity. The wine has good complexity and a medium plus finish. Drink now and for 5-6 years.

No website the Winemaker’s Lot is in some markets instead of the Gran Reserva mark.

Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 by Concha y Toro

IMG_0685 Grape Variety: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc

Very good plus wine showing black cherry and plums, with dried figs loaded over sweet bakers spices and a savoury black olive note. The wine has good complexity and medium plus fruit concentration. The medium tannins are rounded and give good structure with the medium minus acidity. The finish is long. Drink now will improve for 2-3 years and drink for 6-7 years.

http://www.conchaytoro.com/web/our-wines/terrunyo/

Viejas Tinajas Cinsault 2012 by De Martino

IMG_0686 Grape Variety: 100% Cinsault

Very good wine with lush black berries over both fresh and dried herbs with notes of violets. The medium tannins are mature but grippy. The fruit has good concentration and medium intensity. The wine is balanced, with fine structure and good complexity. Drink now and for 3-4 years.

http://www.demartino.cl/pag_vinos_linea.php?cat=6&sin=S

Gran Reserva Syrah 2008 by Viña Tarapacá

IMG_0584 Grape variety: 100% Syrah

Very good wine with mixed black and red cherries over floral note with violets, sweet green herbs and lastly pepper and anise on the finish, the wine has good complexity. Fruit concentration and intensity is medium plus. The medium tannins are grippy but well integrated. The finish is medium plus and sweet. Drinking well now and for the next 4-5 years.

http://www.tarapaca.cl/our_wines/gran_reserva/syrah.html

Chilean Wine Terroirs: The New D.O. system

Official Denominación de Origen or D.O.

The primary Difference in the new system besides the recognition of Zones within some Sub-Regions is the designation of each Area into one of three categories from the Pacific to the Andes. This will give hints to the style of the wine, be it from cool coastal areas or the equally cool but high altitude areas of the Andes. Though not very large the Chileans have a great diversity of topography within some Sub-Region to work with, may we see cool climate Syrah from both the Coast and the Andes growing 30 km apart though showing decidedly different styles?

I can only hope. .

In this list I use these underscored letters to designate the different areas.

C    Costa (Coastal Areas)

E    Entre Cordilleras (Between the Mountains Areas )

A    Andes (Andean Areas)

The system came into effect in May 2011 it goes from largest area to smallest:

Region>Sub-Region>Zone>Area

An Example would be:

Region Central Valley

Sub-Region Rapel Valley

Zone Colchagua Valley

Area Lolol Costa

Note Only some Sub-Regions have Zones. A Sub-Region or Zone may contain all three areas from Costa through the Entre Cordilleras into the Andes.

This system will give unique terriors in Chile the ability to promote their specific styles as has been done for many years in areas such as the Pirque area in the Maipo Valley Sub-Region of the Central Valley Region. Many don’t see the need for this complex system of unrecognizable names, but will realize the value of the system in years to come. I believe this is a very good start and new Areas will be added as they prove thier unique character to the world.

The links I have included take you to excellent information on the Wines of Chile website.

 

From North to South

Atacama Region

    Sub-Region Copiapo Valley

    Sub-Region Huasco Valley

Coquimbo Region

Sub-Region Elqui Valley

Area

A Vicuna

A Paiguano

   Sub-Region Limari Valley

Area

C Ovalle

E Punitaqui

A Monte Patria

A Rio Hurtado

    Sub-Region Choapa Valley

Area

A Salamanca

A Illapel

Aconcaqua Region

    Sub-Region Aconcagua Valley

Area

E Panquehue

    Sub-Region Casablanca Valley

Area

C Casablanca

Central Valley Region

   Sub-Region San Antonio Valley

Zone Leyda

Area

C San Juan

C Marga Marga Valley

    Sub-Region Maipo Valley

Area

E Isla de Maipo

E Talagante

E Melipilla

E Alhue

E Maria Pinto

A Santiago

A Pirque

A Puente Alto

A Buin

   Sub-Region Rapel Valley

Zone Colchagua Valley

Area

C LoLol

E Nancahua

E Santa Cruz

E Palmilla

E Peralillo

E Marchigue

A San Fernando

A Chimbarongo

Zone Cachapoal Valley

Area

E Rancagua

E Peumo

A Requinoa

A Rengo

   Sub-Region Curico Valley

Zone Teno  Valley

Area

E Rauco  

E Romeral

Zone Lontue Valley

          Area

E Sagrada Familia

A Molina

   Sub-Region Maule Valley

Zone Claro Valley

Area

E Talca

E Pencahue

E San Rafael

A San Clemente

Zone Locomilla Valley

          Area

E San Javier

E Villa Alegre        

E Parral

E Linares

Zone Tutuven Valley

Area

E Cauquenes

Southern Region

    Sub-Region Itata Valley

Area

C Coelemu

C Portezuelo

E Chillan

E Quillon

 

    Sub-Region Bio Bio Valley

Area

E Yubel

E Mulchen

Sub-Region Malleco Valley

Area

E Traiguen

For a comprehensive map see:

http://www.winesofchile.org/chilean-wine/wine-regions/