This week we are taking your Wine Journey to CHILE, one of the most unique countries in the world for making wine, thanks to the diversity of its geography. Its sprawling coastline, rolling plains, mountainous regions, and glaciers that border its southern tip make Chile one of the most interesting places to make wine.

Much of Chile west coast benefits from a Mediterranean climate - the optimal zone for where the vinifera grape thrives. Here, the Humboldt Current cools down the coastline and the Andes mountain range provides ventilation and control cloud formation. It's these factors that bring to life those standout varieties we know and love - such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and yes, Carmenère. It's also the only major wine 'island' which was never impacted by the phylloxera epidemic - making it remarkable in terms of un-grafted rootstock and true old vines!

With that, this week we bring you five beautiful wines from Chile which punch way above their weight class. We continue scratching our heads with envy, as we enjoy comparing these New World offerings with those that compete head to head with Old World examples - but at a fraction of the price.

The $22 tasting flight of FIVE wines begins with two balanced whites, a refreshing Pinot Noir, then Carmenère (a varietal now almost exclusively grown in Chile) and finishes with a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rothschild's now three decades of experience in Chile!

I hope you are able to join us this week as we venture to the Southern Hemisphere to showcase a sampling of perfectly delightful Chilean wines. We think you will be pleasantly surprised and scratching your head too! And if you're not scratching your head, we know your palate will be happy.

For more information about our tasting room hours, a Chile overview, and additional information on the featured wines, please read on and see y'all soon.

Salud!

Mark

CHILE

Chile is located on the western coast of South America, but its topography creates something akin to a pseudo-island, isolating its vineyards from the elements. Bordered by the cool Pacific Ocean to the west and the snow-capped Andes to the east, by the Atacama Desert to the north, and the far reaches of Patagonia to the south, Chile is naturally protected on all sides.

As a result of this protection, phylloxera, the vineyard pest that decimated most of the world’s vineyards in the 1800s, never touched Chilean vines. In fact, Chile is the only major wine-producing country free of phylloxera. The country is thus home to some of the world’s oldest vines, many of which are ungrafted, or planted on their own rootstocks, to this day. As a grapevine grows older, the grapes it produces become more concentrated and nuanced, making these pre-phylloxera vines such an asset to Chilean winemakers.



Chile is the world’s narrowest country, averaging just 110 miles in width, but its coastline stretches nearly 2,600 miles — farther than the distance from New York to Los Angeles. The climate in the country’s wine regions therefore varies dramatically, but all benefit from abundant sunshine and dry conditions, which handily combat disease. Although the lack of water can be challenging for winemakers, Chile’s dry climate makes it a natural hub for organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wine production. 

Chile uses a Denomination of Origin (D.O.) system to designate specific regions throughout the country. These main viticultural regions (Central Valley, for example) are broken down into subregions (such as the Rapel Valley), and then can be defined further by a zone (like the Colchagua Valley). These subregions or zones are often marked on the label, providing a snapshot of the wine’s terroir.

In addition to the D.O. system, Chile also classifies its wine by highlighting the type of terrain the grapes are grown in. These three designations, Costa (coastal), Entre Cordilleras (mid-mountain range), and Andes (Andes mountains) each complement the D.O. system by providing more information on elevation and atmospheric tendencies of the areas, and are indicators of quality. 

Key Grape Varieties

If other countries hinge their wine industries on one or two grape varieties, Chile is quite the opposite. Warm, inland regions provide excellent conditions to ripen powerful grapes, while cool pockets of coastal or high-elevation vineyards are found in both the north and the south, focusing on more delicate varieties. Many Chilean winemakers conduct rigorous soil studies to determine the best grape varieties for their vineyard sites.

While many associate sunny Chile with rich red wine, white grapes have garnered quite a bit of attention over the past decade. The northerly Limarí Valley, Casablanca Valley, and San Antonio Valley, and the Pacific-perched Leyda Valley specialize in Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes. These Sauvignon Blancs tend to be bright, citrusy, and fruit-forward, with plenty of acidity and undertones of fresh grass. Chilean Chardonnay, on the other hand, can be made in a range of styles but is typically well balanced, with both roundness and fresh acidity.

For many, Cabernet Sauvignon is king in Chile. It occupies top plots in warmer regions like the Maipo Valley, Rapel’s Colchagua Valley and Cachapoal Valley, and the Aconcagua Valley. Produced either as a varietal wine or the majority component of a blend, Chilean Cabernets tend to be rich and cherry-fruited, with earth, spice, and the potential to age for decades.

Cabernet Sauvignon might be Chile’s most important red variety, but Carménère is the country’s niche grape. Considered the “lost” sixth grape of Bordeaux, it reappeared when much of the country’s Merlot vines were genetically identified as Carménère in the 1990s. Its green edge distinguishes it from the former, though they share the same smooth red fruit. As winemakers continue to learn the ins and outs of their adopted variety, more intriguing Carménère wines appear in the U.S. each year.

Pinot Noir is also a new favorite in Chile, gaining traction with juicy, fresh Casablanca and San Antonio wines. And deeply colored Syrah is finding ground in both cool regions like Elqui and warmer regions like Colchagua. Though Chile has become known for producing quality varietal wines, many of Chile’s top wines are red blends, made from Bordeaux varieties, Rhône varieties, or other creative combinations.

Considered the “lost” sixth grape of Bordeaux, Carménère, thrives in Chile and winemakers are producing some of the best expressions of this iconic grape.

>> Tasting Flight Hours:

MYERS PARK:

4:30 - 7:30pm Thursday & Friday

1:00 - 7:30pm Saturday 

SOUTH END: 

5:30 - 9:00pm Thurs & Friday

1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday

1:00 - 5:30pm Sunday

>> Tasting Flight Offerings:

Montes

Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Aconcagua Costa, CH

$20 btl/retail

In the areas of the Aconcagua Costa, all less than two hours driving from Santiago, The Montes vineyards all have a prime location. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes develop under the influence of the sea, with cold breezes from the Pacific Ocean, which allow the vines to develop a unique elegance and character... clearly evident in this 2021 vintage.

VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

TASTING NOTES: The intense and very cheerful nose offers aromas of lime and grapefruit accompanied by attractive notes of fresh pineapple, passion fruit, and orange blossom, while a light touch of green lends complexity to the coastal aromatic profile. The palate is very much in line with the nose-juicy and balanced with accentuated natural acidity that results in a fresh and well-structured wine with a persistent finish.

PAIRING: Does well with salads that use arugula as a base, and sushi rolls that have some spice thanks to the refreshing palate and notes of citrus.

Miguel Torres

"Cordillera de los Andes"

Chardonnay 2021

Valle de Limarí, CH

$25 btl/retail

The Limarí Valley's cool climate & calcareous soils produce Chile’s finest Chardonnays. Miguel Torres "Cordillera" Chardonnay from Limarí displays a nose of great aromatic complexity that is also fresh on the palate with juicy acidity, and a briny streak.

VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 100% Chardonnay from from the Talinay vineyard in the Limarí Valley. 50% was aged in French barrels (23% New) for 10 months.

TASTING NOTES: Yellow with a greenish sheen in the glass. The nose offers green apple notes with hints of pear, acacia, hazelnuts and a whiff of praline over a bed of oak. In the mouth it has a saline feel with a slightly creamy flow and pert freshness. A long-lasting wine.

PAIRING: Pairs with your cream based pasta sauces such as alfredo, and cacio e pepe. Can also stand up to your classic pesto & ricotta raviolis thanks to barrel aging.

Kingston Family Vineyards

"Tobiano" Pinot Noir 2018

Valle de Casa Blanca, CH

$25 btl/retail

The Tobiano Pinot Noir is reminiscent of an Oregon Pinot Noir in the aromas. On the palate it is juicy and taut with a nice core of red fruit. It has lots of energy thanks to it's Casablanca Valley origins.

VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 100% Pinot Noir from Casablanca Valley vineyards that were originally founded by Carl Kingston in 1918. Aged for 8-months in oak.

TASTING NOTE: Dried rose petals, orange blossom, fresh citrus and spices on the nose. Light to medium body. On the palate it is juicy and taut with a nice core of red fruit that becomes more apparent with air. Delicious, juicy tannins and a fine finish.

PAIRING: This is the one to pair with your appetizer spread when a red is desired... The Tobiano has an easy charm that shines with all sort of light dishes, and preparations.

Lapostolle

"Cuvée Alexandre" Carmenere 2021

Valle de Apalta, CH

$33 btl/retail

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and husband Cyril de Bournet upon their discovery of a unique Clos in the Apalta Valley sheltering 100 year-old pre-phylloxera vines.

VARIETAL/WINEMAKING:  97% Carmenere, 3% Syrah. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged for 12-months in French oak (15% new).

TASTING NOTE: An intense purple red color in the glass that reveals a complex nose of red and black fruit such as maqui berry and spices (red pepper, vanilla and dill). On the palate there is a wide spectrum of medium acidity and round tannins with fruit such as sarsaparilla and maqui berry. Medium long finish.

PAIRING: Best to decant for 45-mins and serve with a slight chill at 60 degrees. Does well with all dishes that feature mushrooms as a main ingredient. Can also be enjoyed a variety of grilled vegetables/proteins that are served with a chimichurri.

Escudo Rojo

"Origine" Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Valle del Guapo, CH

$35 btl/retail

Escudo Rojo is the Spanish translation of the German " Rote Schild" which means red shield. By giving her name to the project, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild showed that the Family had to Chile to stay & persevere.

VARIETAL/WINEMAKING:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipu Valley that is nestled at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Aged for 14-months in 20% new oak.

TASTING NOTE: Refined and complex, with intense fruit notes, the nose reveals wild strawberry, cherry and blackcurrant aromas mingled with delicate notes of vanilla. Excellent attack on the palate with a concentration and balanced acidity, on silky and refined tannins. The wine goes on to reveal its distinctiveness and aromatic complexity on ripe black fruit and Morello cherry flavors followed by notes of vanilla, mocha and toasted hazelnuts on the finish, demonstrating all the power and complexity of Baron Philippe de Rothschild's selection of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

PAIRING: A nice complement to aged-hard cheeses or your hearty rich pasta dishes. Think Nonna's spaghetti & meatballs.

We Will Have Your Order Ready for Pick-up at either Myers Park, or South End Store Locations!

 704.332.9910 (Myers Park) | 704.332.9913 (South End)

 mark@petitphilippe.com | www.petitphilippe.com

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