(2021) Festooned with certificates on the back label to prove this is organic, Fairtrade, vegan-friendly, carbon-neutral and more, this is a wine from the eco-minded Emiliana in Rapel Valley, Chile, and more importantly perhaps, it is delicious. Around 20% was aged in oak barrels to add an extra layer of creamy vanilla on top of the deep, brightly cherry-fruited aromas and flavours, silky on the palate with creamy tannins and moderate acidity, it does have some depth, hints of mocha, and is a cracking little wine for under £9. Watch the video for food-matching suggestions and more information.
(2020) The Gran Reserva designation is not legally defined in Chile, but here it signals a heavily oaked, ripe and rich wine, complete with super heavyweight, ostentatious bottle. The nose is laden with chocolate, coffee and plum, with a bitter cherry edge. Slick and supple in the mouth, creamy oak and plush, smooth and super-ripe black fruit floods the palate. Spicy too, tannins are sweet and don't disrupt the picture, but balance is good overall if you are a fan of the 'blockbuster' style.
(2010) A careful vineyard selection from Rapel, closer to the ocean. From stony soils. There is 8% Syrah and 3% Cabernet in the blend, and 80% was aged in new and second use barrels. Big, deep, chocolate and smoky nose, with some pepper and spice and a meaty note, as well as a plummy touch. The palate has very ripe, sweet fruit, much more chocolaty and svelte than the Reserva, with good, tight tannins and beautifully integrated with the fruit, acidity and the warming spice of the oak.
(2010) Alluvial stony soils in Rapel, with 7% Syrah and a couple of percent each of Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. It was oak aged in a mix of new and older barrels. The nose has some deep-set black berry fruit set against a certain earthiness and a touch of gravelly minerality. The oak is quite subtle and fragrant, giving a delicate spice. On the palate the fruit Is good - this is a smooth, dense wine with good, tight structure.
(2010) From Rapel. Very sweet, dark, juicy and fat berry fruit. There's a touch of leather and some tiny gamy notes. The palate has a plushness of black fruit, but the drying, peppery and earthy spice of the Carmenère fills in, with a fairly lean but juicy cherry finish.
(2010) From the Peumo Vineyard, Rapel. Very sweet fruit here, a bold, juicy red cherry and ripe plum fruit with lots of creaminess: there are some dark, espresso and chocolaty nuance here too, but it is fresh. The palate maintains an edge, the fruit very sweet and juicy, with a lot of spice and some more of those chocolate hints. Sweet and attractively full and ripe.
(2010) From the Peumo Vineyard, Rapel. Eleventh vintage from this block in Peumo. A touch of Cabernet Franc in this. Dense and glossy quality to this, with a muscular, tightly-wound character. There is a bittersweet dark chocolate edge. On the palate the fruit is super-sweet, filling the mouth with lots of sweetness, but is maintains an edge of clean, tight, racy tannin and good acidity. Fine Carmenère with real structure.
(2010) From Rapel, with a dash of Semillon from 80-year-old vines. Tight, apple and green fruit, a hint of spice. On the palate quite fleshy and full, but vibrant too, with a great sweet core of tropical fruit, but that apple acidity and bit of grapefruit kicking in on a food friendly style. The Casa whites are all price
(2010) Rapel Valley. 20% barrel ferment, but back to stainless steel after one month. Lovely nose, which Gonzalo says is achieved with a lot of work on the canopy and generally keeping on top of the vineyard to make sure no bitter phenolics develop. Ripe, rich, dried apricot nose with a touch of fleshy yellow plum and a little spice. Lovely fruit sweetness.
(2010) Rapel. Nicely dense and dusty black fruited nose, with plenty of sweet, plumy fruit and a touch of liquorice. The palate has good fruit and that dry, plum skin and dusty cherry fruit, very nice tannins and a warming hint of pepper and spice in the finish.
