Villard, Expresion Reserva Syrah 2013, Chile
With the vast majority of its vineyards originally planted on the fertile Central Valleys south of Santiago, the past decade or so for Chile has been about exploration, moving out to the coast,north to the desert and south towards Patagonia in search of cooler and more interesting terroirs. One of the first and most prominent coastal areas to give a new expression was Casablanca, where the Pacific influence means cooler climate varieties thrive. This Syrah has such a beautiful fruit profile, as svelte, silky and deep as you like, filled with summery fruit, but also a glimpse of balsamic character and a crack of black pepper. On the palate the silkiness continues, crammed with fruit but rounded by cocoa and fudge, ripe, smooth tannins and unruffled acidity. Watch the video for more information, maps and food-matching ideas. 89/100, 8.25, The Wine Society
