The Pequeñas Chile Tasting: Boutique Wineries of Chile - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (08/06/2011)

Table 1: Vina Arboleda

Arboleda is Eduardo Chadwick's personal project in the Aconcagua Valley, which he started in 1999.

• 2009 Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  Bright, clean, asparagussy, sauvignon blanc nose tamed with good minerality. Good clean palate. All correct. (88 pts.)
• 2009 Arboleda White Rhône Blend - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  42% Marsanne; 33% Viognier; 25% Roussanne
  An attractive nose that (unsurprisingly) you could be forgiven for assuming was a white Rhône blend from the Rhône. Very good palate. Rather impressive. Definitely worth buying if the price is right. (91 pts.)
• 2008 Arboleda Merlot - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  There's an interesting scented note on a nose of perfumed black fruit. Quite a moreish palate. Good balance and feel on the palate. The downside is in some rather austere tannins. (87 pts.)
  
• 2008 Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  Quite a smoky, toasty nose with plush fruit. On the palate, it's a big, mouthfilling wine: full and designed to impress. Which it does ... to a point. (87 pts.)
  
• 2007 V.E.S.A. Seña - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  Very interesting nose - full and plush. Elegant, silky black fruit coats every surface of the mouth. Genuinely impressive wine. (90 pts.)
  
• 2007 V.E.S.A. Seña - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  57% cabernet sauvignon, 20% carmenère, 12% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 5% petit verdot.
  A very interesting nose - full and plush. Elegant, silky black fruit coat every surface of the mouth. Generally impressive. (90 pts.)

Table 2: Botalcura Winery

Botalcura came out of a collaboration between Jan Fernando Waidele, a Chilean entrepreneur, and French winemaker Philippe Debrus.

• 2009 Botalcura Chardonnay Viognier Reserve El Delirio - Chile, Maule Valley
  62% chardonnay; 38% viognier.
  A fairly simple, straightforward nose. Light and fresh, belying its 13% abv. But a bit dull. (86 pts.)
  
• 2008 Botalcura Cabernet Sauvignon Corinto Reserve - Chile, Central Valley
  Murky black fruit on the nose. Good palate. Works well. Nothing brilliant though. (86 pts.)
• 2009 Botalcura Syrah Malbec Reserve El Delirio - Chile, Central Valley
  Funky black fruit on the nose. A nice, straightforward wine on the palate. Good balance. (86 pts.)
  
• 2009 Botalcura Sauvignon Blanc Corinto - Chile, Central Valley
  A fairly delicate, gently floral nose with a touch of cheesy feet. Bright, clean and fresh on the palate. But unfortunately, it's just very ordinary. (84 pts.)
• 2006 Botalcura Nebbiolo - Chile, Maule Valley
  A lovely vibrant nose with a touch of volatility. A charming, elegant palate. A nice, direct nebbiolo. (89 pts.)
  

Table 3: Viña Dalbosco

Viña Dalbosco was founded by the Dalbosco Cazzanelli brothers in 2008 to exploit the vines planted years before by their father in rural Punitaqui, after he had arrived in Chile in 1952 from Trento in northern Italy. 

• 2009 Dalbosco Viognier - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A rather slight nose. Good, attractive palate. A lighter style of viognier. (87 pts.)
• 2009 Dalbosco Syrah Carmenère Merlot - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A very poised, elegant nose. Very good palate. Sweet, black fruit, nice depth. Finishes well. Good structure. Great, powerful length. (89 pts.)
• 2010 Dalbosco Syrah - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Gorgeous nose: fresh black fruits, raw lamb, rosemary, chocolate. Very good palate, with really lovely flavours. Nice, fresh, gently perfumed in the palate. (90 pts.)

Table 4: Domaine de Manson

Domaine de Manson is apparently one of the smallest commercial vineyards in Chile.  It was established in 2000 by George Manson, who planted around 4 hectares of vines on the south bank of teh River Choapa, about 25 kilometres upstream from Salamanca.

The vineyard is at an altitude of 900 metres above sea level, which combines with cooling winds blowing up the valley.  The vines are farmed organically.

• 2011 Domaine de Manson Viognier Coironino Blanco de Oro - Chile, Choapa Valley
  Lovely, very attractive, clean nose. This has all the fragrance and pleasantness of viognier with none of the faults. A little disjointed on the palate, maybe, but it is very young. (87 pts.)
• 2010 Domaine de Manson Coironino Turca - Chile, Choapa Valley
  81% carmenère, 19% syrah.
  An attractive, perfumed nose with cherry fruit and peach kernels. Interesting nose. A good balance of flavours and of fruit and structure. (87 pts.)
• 2009 Domaine de Manson Torontella - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A vin doux naturel made from 100% Torontel.
  It has a rather weird nose, with stale nuts and peachy fruit. A much nicer palate, thankfully. Really not bad. There's a bit of a kick from spirit on the finish. (86 pts.)

Table 5: Viña El Principal

Viña El Principal is situated in the Maipo Valley close to the Chilean capital, Santiago.  The vineyards are at an altitude of around 900 metres above sea level.  All the vines are harvested by hand and the winery relies on gravity for moving the wines from press to barrel. 

• 2009 Vina el Principal Calicanto - Chile, Maipo Valley
  56% cabernet sauvignn, 42% carmenère,1% petit verdot, 1% cabernet franc
  The nose has nicely perfumed sweetish black fruit. Quite leafy. Very good palate, and it has a very silky mouthfeel. Layers of flavours reveal themselves slowly. (90 pts.)
  
• 2006 Vina el Principal Memorias Cabernet Sauvignon e Carménère - Chile, Maipo Valley
  A precise nose with finely cut fruit. Like a classical statue, and equally lifeless. Pleasant palate, but not in the same league as the Calicanto. But it works well enough. (86 pts.)
• 2006 Vina el Principal - Chile, Maipo Valley
  83% cabernet sauvignon, 17% carmenère
  A rather deep, brooding nose with deep, black fruit and some salinity.
  Very good palate. Initially it seems very safe, but it really opens up explosively in the mouth. There are fascinating layers of flavours which fill the mouth. Lovely. (91 pts.)
  

Table 6: Francisco de Aguirre

The Viña Francisco de Aguirre vineyards are located in the Limari Valley, planted from 100 to 2000 metres above sea level. 

• 2008 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Merlot Prologo Reserva - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A savoury, slightly cheesy, woody nose with some black fruit. Quite good on the palate: not without interest. There's a good balance of riper and unriper notes. (87 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Syrah Prologo Reserva - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A bloody nose with some (slight) black fruit. Sweet, generally pleasant fruit on the palate. But it doesn't develop much. (85 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Cabernet Sauvignon Prologo Reserva - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Toasty oak, green pepper and some blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Decent enough. Feels rather straightforward and a bit commercial/industrial, though. (84 pts.)
• 2009 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Muscat of Alexandria Late Harvest - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Perfumed, grapey muscat nose. Nothing remarkable here, just a very pleasant late harvest muscat. (89 pts.)
• 2010 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Muscat of Alexandria Supra - Chile, Limarí Valley
  6.5% abv
  A light, crisp muscat nose. A pleasant moscato d'Asti style wine. (86 pts.)
• 2010 Viña Francisco de Aguirre Brut - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A very light, crisp nose. Absolutely bone dry, spumante muscat. Very good, if that's what you want. Does what it says on the tin. (86 pts.)

Table 7: Loma Larga Estate, Lomas del Valle

The wines of Lomas del Valle are produced in the maritime-influenced Casablanca Valley.  All the wines are fermented in 15,000 litre tanks and very little oak is used.

• 2010 Loma Larga Sauvignon Blanc Lomas del Valle - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  A fairly vibrant asparagus nose. Nice palate with good green fruit flavours. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Loma Larga Chardonnay Lomas del Valle - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Slightly spirity peach fruit on the nose. A bit disjointed and chunky on the palate. Probably better on its than with food. (84 pts.)
• 2010 Loma Larga Pinot Noir Lomas del Valle - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Very pleasant, sweetish red fruits on the nose. Lovely, plush palate. Lots of silky fruit and a good, subtle structure. (89 pts.)
• 2010 Loma Larga Malbec Lomas del Valle - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Big, sweaty black fruit nose. Very good palate. Really good balance. A very elegant wine with some nice spicy tannins on the finish. (89 pts.)
  

Table 8: Viña Hacienda Araucano, François Lurton

The ubiquitous Lurton came across Lolol in Chile's Colchagua Valley in 1996, and was the first to plant vines in the valley, which runs east-west and funnels cool air in from the Pacific, which lies a mere 40km away.  He now has some 26 hectares of vineyards, mainly planted with cool climate varieties such as sauvignon blanc and pinot noir.  In 2007 Hacienda Araucano converted to biodynamics.

• 2011 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Sauvignon Blanc Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Lolol
  Very fresh, green fruits, gooseberry on the nose. Very good, clean, bright, precise palate. Good acidity. But a very nice balance. Impressive. (90 pts.)
  
• 2010 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Quite a muted nose. Simple, easy palate. (85 pts.)
• 2010 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Carménère - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A pretty correct carmenère nose. Attractive. Good palate. Good, uncomplicated expression. (86 pts.)
• 2010 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Syrah - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A straightforward nose, though there's some good, open, juicy black fruit. Not bad on the palate. Nicely handled, nicely together and well balanced. (86 pts.)
• 2008 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Pinot Noir Humo Blanco - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A delightful, perfumed nose. Lovely palate: this works very well. Silky, elegant pinot noir fruit. Marred a little by very obvious spicy tannins on the finish. (88 pts.)
  
• 2008 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Clos de Lolol - Chile
  38% carmenère, 28% cabernet sauvignon, 20% syrah, 14% cabernet franc
  A rather muted nose. Lotes of juiciness on the pleasant palate. But overall it feels a bit straightforward and a bit safe. (86 pts.)
  

Table 9: Viña Maquis & Calcu Vineyards

The Hurtado family planted the vineyards at the Viña Maquis estate in the Colchagua Valley during the early 20th Century.  The original winery was built in 1927 by owner and engineer, Ignacio Hurtado, when he was just 23 years old.  For nearly 60 years, Viña Maquis grew grapes that were sold to nighbouring wineries.  But in 1999, the Hurtado family invested in replanting their vineyards and, in 2002, began to make their own wine. 

• 2009 Viña Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Sweet blackcurrant and tobacco on the nose. Fullish, slightly jammy fruit on the palate. Fine, I suppose. (85 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viña Maquis Carménère - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Greenish black fruit on the nose. A fair palate, but a bit dull overall. (84 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Maquis Lien - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  25% shiraz, 25% carmenère, 20% petit verdot, 15% malbec, 15% cabernet franc
  Weedy black fruit on the nose. Very firmly structured on the palate. Unfortunately - for the moment at least - the structure outweighs some pleasant fruit. (83 pts.)
  
• 2010 Calcu - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  50% malbec, 40% syrah, 10% petit verdot
  Sweet strawberry fruit on the nose. Decent palate. Definitely not aggressively dry. A really good garden wine should we ever see sunshine again. (88 pts.)
  
• 2009 Calcu Malbec - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A decent nose with sweet, very concentrated fruit and an interesting savoury note.
  Rather odd palate. It almost feels a bit like Ribena with added tannins. There's not much about this that says malbec to me. (82 pts.)
  
  
• 2009 Calcu Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  80% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, 10% carmenère
  Unexceptional nose.
  Soft, fairly gentle fruit on the palate. Nothing to criticise. But nothing to praise or to interest, let alone excite me. (85 pts.)
  

Table 10: Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle: Viñedos Marchigüe

• 2005 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Syrah Marchigüe Private Collection - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Precise black fruit fills the hole of a slightly raw, unripe doughnut of fruit and astringency.
  It's clearly serious stuff. Nicely made with precisely balanced fruit and structure with sweet tannins.
  But it doesn't thrill me or even interest me much. (87 pts.)
  
• 2005 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Carménère Marchigüe Private Collection - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Intense meaty, dusty, black fruit.
  Nicely poised palate. Quite an astringent, sour streak. (85 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Syrah Reserva Viñedos Marchigüe - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  There's a solid, slightly unripe black fruit feel to the nose.
  Plush, silky palate. But not quite for me. (87 pts.)
• 2009 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Tricyclo Marchigüe - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  70% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, 15% malbec
  There are decent black fruits with a touch of raw oak on the nose.
  It's pleasant enough on the palate.
  Maybe a little easier for drinking now than the malbec version. Though how ridiculous is it that a producer should give exactly the same name to two completely different blends, even if they're both from three grapes? (86 pts.)
• 2009 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Tricyclo Marchigüe - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  70% malbec, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 15% syrah
  A simple, subdued nose. Nice palate. Light, fresh, very pleasant. Some depth, and some spicy tannins on the finish. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Viñedos Errázuriz Ovalle Cabernet Sauvignon VEO Grande - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  The nose is a bit unexceptional: lots of wood and some rather simple fruit.
  Pleasant, very fruit forward simplicity on the palate.
  Obviously made to be impressive. But I find it untaxing, pleasant and easy. (86 pts.)
  

Table 11: Matetic Vineyards

Matetic Vineyards is a modern winery, pioneering organic and biodynamic viticulture in the cool-climate, coastal region of San Antonio, just south of Casablanca. 

• 2010 Matetic Sauvignon Blanc Corralillo - Chile, San Antonio Valley
  An intense New Zealand style sauvignon blanc nose. Lots of peas, beans, pea shoots and a touch of asparagus.
  Very forward palate. Big sauvignon fruit with notable acidity. (86 pts.)
• 2010 Matetic Sauvignon Blanc EQ Coastal - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Quite a subtle cats' pee and green fruit nose.
  Fairly ordinary palate. Well made. All very correct. But there's nothing to excite me. (85 pts.)
  
• 2010 Matetic Pinot Noir Corralillo - Chile, San Antonio Valley
  Attractive roasted red fruit nose. Good, pleasant palate. Quite a meaty style. I like this. (88 pts.)
  
• 2009 Matetic Syrah Corralillo - Chile, San Antonio Valley
  Remarkably similar to the pinot noir on the nose, though slightly smokier/oakier.
  Fine. There's a touch of astringency on the finish, and spicy tannins provide some interest. (85 pts.)
  

Table 12: Viña Miravalle

Viña Miravalle has 35 hectares of vineyards near Pelequen in the High Cachapoal region, where the Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys meet.  They are planted predominantly with a range of classic Bordeaux varieties.

• 2004 Viña Miravalle Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  50% merlot, 50% cabernet sauvignon
  A rather fruity, sweaty-horse, black fruit nose with some green peppers.
  Rather fine palate. Very elegant, not overworked. Very delicate femininity. Lovely. (90 pts.)
• 2004 Viña Miravalle Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Reserva Privada - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  60% cabernet sauvignon, 40% syrah.
  More bretty funkiness here initially, though it blows off in the glass leaving a somewhat ordinary, though undeniably attractive cinammon-spiced black fruit. Very good palate. Good drinking but with plenty of interest. (91 pts.)
• 2007 Viña Miravalle Cabernet Sauvignon Premium - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  A rather flat nose with dullish black fruit.
  A decent palate. But it's got a rather straightforward, anonymous new world feel. (83 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Miravalle Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Gran Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  An interesting nose laden with dukka spices in front of ripe black fruit.
  Good palate. Nice depth and some interest. (88 pts.)

Table 13: Nativa Eco Wines

Nativa was the first company to produce wines in Chile with grapes that were certified as grown organically.  It was originally launched in 1995 under the Viña Carmen label.

• 2009 Nativa Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva - Chile, Maipo Valley
  A subdued nose with very elegant blackcurrant fruit. Lovely palate. Easy. Very fresh for something called a gran reserva. Very bright, attractive fruit. (89 pts.)
• 2009 Nativa Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Reserva - Chile, Central Valley
  90% cabernet sauvignon, 5% carmenère, 5% syrah
  A rather reticent nose, that reminds me somewhat of a rainy garden.
  Nice, poised palate. Elegant fruit. Pretty straightforward, but very pleasant. (89 pts.)
• 2009 Nativa Carménère Terra Reserva - Chile, Curico Valley
  90% carmenère, 5% syrah, 5% caberet sauvignon
  Good, straightforward black fruits on the nose. Forward fruit on the palate. Easy drinking. Nice character. Very pleasant. (87 pts.)
  

Table 14: Viña Ochotierras

Ocho Tierras is a boutique winery, founded in 1996 and situated in the heart of the Limari Valley.  

• 2009 Viña Ochotierras Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 22 Barricas - Chile, Limarí Valley
  94% cabernet sauvignon, 3% malbec, 3% carmenere.
  Forward, sweet blackcurrant fruit, verging on the very intense.
  Sweet, very powerful confected fruit, yet also some astringent notes. Ugh. This is horrid. I really don't like this. A waste of good sealing wax. (79 pts.)
• 2009 Viña Ochotierras Syrah Reserva Single Vineyard - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Quite a green grassy herbaceousness with red fruit.
  There's something a bit odd on the palate. But it's packed full of character, just not one I get on with. (85 pts.)

Table 15: Quebrada de Macul

Clos Quebrada de Macul is a single hillside, family-owned vineyard in the upper Maipo Valley.  It was planted in 1970, when it was pretty much unheard of in Chile to plant vines on low-yielding hillside sites that were difficult to farm.  That have 30 hectares of vines, 80% of which are cabernet sauvignon, with the rest being planted with merlot, petit verdot and cabernet franc.  

Originally the grapes had been sold to other wineries, but in 1996, the owners Isabelle and Ricardo Peña started to producing their own wines under the Domus Aurea label.

• 2007 Viña Quebrada de Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Domus Aurea Clos Quebrada de Macul - Chile, Maipo Valley
  86% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 4% cabernet franc. 18 months in French oak.
  Greenish black fruit and green (bell) peppers.
  Very intense fruits on the palate. Powerful stuff, yet it has a nice elegance too. Good structure. (88 pts.)
  
• 2007 Viña Quebrada de Macul Pargua - Chile, Maipo Valley
  38% carmenere, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc, 6% syrah, 6% merlot.
  Rather relaxed black and red fruit on the nose, with a hint of soupiness.
  Immediately impressive. Concentrated fruit, not oversweet or overdone. Nice balance. (88 pts.)
• 2009 Viña Quebrada de Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Penalolen Clos Quebrada de Macul - Chile, Maipo Valley
  Lifted black fruit on the nose, with vaguely menthol notes, like a pack of chewing gum that you've found in the pocket of a jacket you've not worn for a year. Bit of an odd, slightly savoury note on the palate. Fairly light and pleasant. (88 pts.)

Table 16: Quintay

Quintay was established in 2005 by a group of producers who aimed to exploit the potential of Casablanca and Leyda valleys.

• 2010 Viña Quintay Sauvignon Blanc Q - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Very attractive, subtly floral nose, indicating a nice, understated style. On the palate, there's the same understated, elegant style. (89 pts.)
• 2010 Viña Quintay Chardonnay Q - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  This spent 10 months in French oak, of which you notice a subtle hint on the nose, with some hints of pear. A pretty subtle palate. A very pleasant wine. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Viña Quintay Pinot Noir Q - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Attractive, sweetish rich fruit on the nose. But the palate is rather flat. Lacks depth and interest. (84 pts.)
• 2010 Viña Quintay Pinot Noir Q - Chile, Casablanca Valley
  Very perfumed stawberry and raspberry fruit on the nose. Sweet, perfumed red fruit on the palate. Very floral and feminine. (87 pts.)

Table 17: Viña Santa Cruz

Viña Santa Cruz was established in 2003 close to the city of Santa Cruz in Colchagua.  They have 160 hectares of vineyards planted with cabernet sauvignon, carmenère, syrah, malbec, merlot and petit verdot.

• 2007 Viña Santa Cruz Malbec Chaman Gran Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  90% malbec, 10% cabernet sauvignon
  Fairly intense, somewhat leafy black fruit on the nose.
  Good, fresh palate. Nicely balanced. Good, interesting fruit flavours with nice character. (88 pts.)
  
• 2007 Viña Santa Cruz Carménère Chaman Gran Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A very attractive nose with fairly cocoa-rich black fruit.
  Remarkably fresh palate. Lovely poised, almost crisp red fruit. (88 pts.)
• 2007 Viña Santa Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Chaman Gran Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  88% cabernet sauvignon, 12% carmenere
  Good, precise blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Lots of juicy fruit on the palate with just enough structure to balance it. Very pleasant if not thrilling. (88 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Santa Cruz Tupu Edicion Limitada - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  28% syrah, 26% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 20% malbec
  Sweet, clean oak combines with sweet black fruit on the nose.
  Pretty decent stuff with superficial impressiveness. (86 pts.)

Table 18: Viña Tamaya

Tamaya are based in the Limari Valley, 400km north of Santiago and just 20km from the Pacific.  The name "Tamaya" apparently comes from the Diaguita Indians who inhabited the region between the 8th and 15th centuries, and means 'highest look out point.'

Tamaya was founded in 2001 and currently has 160 hectares of vineyards.

• 2010 Tamaya Chardonnay Reserva - Chile, Limarí Valley
  A rather light nose. Well-balanced, easy drinking chardonnay. (86 pts.)
  
• 2009 Tamaya Chardonnay Winemaker's Selection - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Slightly spirity, pear-y nose. Decent palate. Very good balance. Works well. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Tamaya Sauvignon Blanc - Chile, Limarí Valley
  Strong minerality on the nose with some green vegetal notes - not over-impressive. Straightforward palate. Doesn't interest me. (84 pts.)
• 2008 Tamaya Viognier/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc - Chile, Limarí Valley
  50% viognier, 35% chardonnay, 15% sauvignon blanc
  A slightly odd spirity nose with fruit that feels a bit extracted, and with viognier's bad points dominating.
  OK. Doesn't do it for me. Quite full flavoured and full-bodied. (84 pts.)
  
  
• 2009 Tamaya Muscat of Alexandria Sweet Goat - Chile, Limarí Valley
  From late harvested grapes. It has an intense muscat nose, tending towards being a bit syrup. Quite a plush mouthfeel, but on the palate, it's just a touch hard and has a slightly bitter finish. (83 pts.)
  

Table 19: Viña Tamm

The Tamm family have been involved in winemaking and viticulture since their ancestors arrived from Germany in 1884.

• 2008 Viña Tamm Cabernet Sauvignon Selection - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Very attractive, youthful bright red fruits on the nose.
  Tasty, clean, fresh fruit on the palate. A nice, light wine. (90 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Tamm Carménère Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  Lovely, deep, black fruit on the nose, but without the dusty notes that I often find on carmenere.
  Fairly forward, sweetish red and black fruit on the palate, with a nice lift. Very elegant, with floral notes after. Very fine. Good structure with spicy tannins, but they're overtaken by floral fruit on the finish. (91 pts.)
• 2008 Viña Tamm Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Negro Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
  A cedary, oddly perfumed nose. Seems very straightforward on the palate. Absolutely fine. (86 pts.)

Table 20: Valle Secreto

Viña Valle Secreto is situated in the high Cachapoal Valley.

• 2009 Viña y Cava Valle Secreto S.A. Carménère First Edition - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  A lovely, perfumed blackberry and bilberry nose. Very nice palate. Elegant, poised fruit. There's a slightly chocolatey feel on the finish. Impresive. (91 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viña y Cava Valle Secreto S.A. Cabernet Sauvignon First Edition - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  Rich, but not especially full black fruit on the nose. Lovely palate. Quite easy and a bit juicy. But very well made and nicely delicious. (91 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viña y Cava Valle Secreto S.A. Syrah First Edition - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  Sweet, slightly bloody blackberry fruit on the nose with a certain creaminess too. A rather good, serious feel on the palate. There are some signivicant tannins, but it feels a little more mainstream than the carmenère and cabernet sauvignon. (87 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viña y Cava Valle Secreto S.A. Private Edition - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  34% syrah, 33% carmenere, 33% cabernet sauvignon; 18 months in new French oak.
  Slightly smoky, dusty, dusky red and black fruit on the nose. The oak is very neatly handled on the palate, with some sweetish fruit showing through. It has a firm structure with a spicy note from the tannins on the finish. (88 pts.)
  

Table 21: Viña von Siebenthal

Viña von Siebenthal was established in 1998 when a Swiss lawyer and wine-lover, Mauro von Siebenthal, obtained the financial support of four friends to turn his dream of owning his own winery into reality.

• 2008 Viña von Siebenthal Parcela #7 - Chile, Aconcagua Valley, Panquehue
  59% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 15% cabernet franc
  A Gran Reserva apparently, whatever that might mean in terms of Chilean wine.
  Very sweet, very jammy blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Sweet fruit on the palate too, with a decent structure. A rather ordinary, straightforward feel. (86 pts.)
  
• 2009 Viña von Siebenthal Carménère Gran Reserva - Chile, Aconcagua Valley, Panquehue
  85% carmenère, 15% cabernet sauvignon
  Saw dust and vacuum cleaner dust on the nose, with black fruit behind. Firm, slightly astringent black fruit on the palate. This has lots of character in the mouth. (89 pts.)
• 2008 Viña von Siebenthal Syrah Carabantes - Chile, Aconcagua Valley, Panquehue
  85% syrah, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot
  Fresh black fruit on the nose with a violet, floral lift.
  Good palate. Nicely balanced. But a little uninteresting. (87 pts.)
  
• 2006 Viña von Siebenthal Montelìg - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
  80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% petit verdot, 5% carmenere. 9212 bottles produced.
  The nose has chocolate-caramel notes, with sweet black fruit.
  An interesting palate. Nicely layered fruit with a firm structure. (89 pts.)
  

Table 22: Pisco Capel

• NV Capel Muscat of Alexandria Pisco Reservado Double Distilled - Chile
  Definitely muscat on the nose. Good clean flavour, but a big hit on the back of the nose.
  
• NV Capel Pisco Moai Reservado - Chile
  A fuller, more rounded nose, with clear hints of muscat.
  A truly hideous bottle. Has a nice rustic character, but also very smooth and rounded.
  

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Last updated: 9 February 2013