(2022) This is made by Viña Ventisquero who are based in Maipo, but the 'Kalfu' labelling indicates that this range comes from their vineyards in the more northerly, coastal Leyda Valley, more recently put on the map for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and other cooler climate varieties. It's a Pinot from granite soils, matured in oak barrels - 10% new barrels - for 12 months. It wears its cooler climate credentials aromatically, with herbs and beetroot notes to savoury red fruit. In the mouth the sweetness and ripeness of the fruit does emerge, but it maintains that savoury, roasted chestnut and herb-touched sense of cool. Acids are bright and cherry-ripe, and tannins smooth and chocolaty, in a wine that will complement well-roasted poultry, but could take on beef too.
(2021) I've been a fan of Viña Leyda for many years, cemented by a visit to the estate many years ago where the attention to detail in their genuinely cool-climate, coastal vineyards was obvious. This has that Northern Rhône-ish, slightly herbal character, schisty and smoky, olive and blackberry fruit. The palate is savoury and juicy, a wine that is more about lean, slightly meaty and tight black fruit rather than sweetness, with gastronomic appeal. On offer at £8.25 from 3rd March 2021. Watch the video for more information.
(2017) 'Boya' is the Spanish of buoy, reflecting the vineyards proximity to the ocean in the Leyda Valley. It's a Pinot with a distinctly meaty and stemmy character, lots of chestnut and highly aromatic, almost liniment characters, before a palate with good fruit and a certain earthiness and smokiness, a fresh raspberry brightness to the acidity and infill of creamy oak adding height and depth to the profile. The lovely sweetness at the core of this asserts in the finish. £9.99 when you buy a mixed six from Majestic. Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.
(2016) Leyda is a coastal vineyard area in Chile, part of a move away from the original central valleys, as producers seek a range of cooler growing areas, using elevation, latitude, and proximity to the ocean as the tools to do so. This has a really fragrant appeal, loads of high, tomato leaf and cherry character, herbs and flowers, and a gamy and peppery quality that speaks of cool climate Syrah. In the mouth it is beautifully black-fruited, with the fleshy density of black plums, but also the tartness of the fresh acidity and tannin, just supported nicely by creamy oak. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
(2016) A soft edge to the colour and touches of beetrooty character though majoring on ripe fruit and a certain swirling smokiness. Juicy palte, the ripeness of the plummy fruit with a little chestnut. Quite a powerful Pinot, but not without finesse.
(2016) Huge perfume here, lots of smoky bacon and floral lift comnbining to give aromatic fireworks. Lovely palate with black fruits and some sweet smoky oak, but it is the gaminess and earthiness that comes through in a very northern Rhone style. Price quoted is for the 2012 vintage
(2016) Made with 5% whole bunches there's a nice hint of spices and earthiness, those little touches of truffle, big juicy palate of bright cherry fruit. Full fruited on the palate, dry tannins to acid some grip and lemony acids. In Ireland and US, but not UK at time of writing.
(2013) >From granite soils mixed with a little clay, 1200 GDD and a diurnal range of 12.3ºC. 14.1% ABV. This is made in open fermenters, with maturation in oak, one third new. It has a medium ruby/purple colour that is youthful and vivid. Spices and clove at first, quite full on the nose, with lots of juicy kirsch coming through. Lovely sweet fruit on the palate, a medium-bodied texture and again that cherry brightness to the fruit. It is smooth and silky, touched by espresso, with a nice freshness to the finish.
(2010) Leyda fruit, cropped low on a gravel and clay soil over fractured rock. Matured in 15% new French oak, the balance in older oak. Nicely gravelly, lightly roasted quality to this, with a touch of earthy beetroot and savoury red berry fruit. Has a nice edge of acidity on the palate, with lots of crisp, quite lean and juicy acidity. Tannins are fine, and the smoky warmth of the oak comes through, but this is perhaps just a touch angular.
(2010) Fine, smoky, lightly forest floor nose with good red berry fruit. The palate has fine freshness, with really nice, concentrated fruit and fine, spicy, backbone. Tangy and fresh.
