10ª Reunião – Grandes Vinhos Chilenos

Cada vez mais os confrades tem procurado estudar os vinhos antes das reuniões, a fim de não fazer feio nas degustações às cegas.

Nesse espírito, publico hoje, duas semanas antes da próxima reunião, a lista dos vinhos a serem degustados no próximo dia 21/07/2011.

São eles:

ALMAVIVA 2006 - 63% Cabernet Sauvignon,26% Carmenère, 9% Cabernet Franc e 2% Merlot -  17 meses em carvalho francês novo – 14,5 % - 93 Pontos Wine Spectator – 92 Pontos Robert Parker

Muscular and broad-shouldered, with lots of bittersweet cocoa, dark currant and braised fig notes, followed by a long, loam- and coffee-filled finish. There's also plenty of iron-tinged grip for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2010 through 2015. 12,500 cases made. (WS)

The 2006 Almaviva continues a series of successful vintages for this Chilean icon. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits an expressive bouquet of wood smoke, pencil lead, blackcurrant, and blackberry. Elegantly styled and impeccably balanced, it will evolve for several more years and drink well through 2021 at the least. (RP)

ERRAZURIZ VINEDO CHADWICK 2006 – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon – 18 meses em carvalho francês novo – 14,5 % - 97 Pontos Robert Parker – 93 Pontos Wine Spectator

The deep crimson-colored 2006 Vinedo Chadwick is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee aged for 18 months in new French oak. It offers up an ethereal bouquet of toasty oak, scorched earth, incense, spice box, blackcurrant and blackberry reminiscent of a great vintage of Chateau Palmer (think 1961, 1966, 1970). On the palate it is silky, elegant, concentrated and already complex. With superb depth and grip, this succulent, plush effort will evolve for at least 10-15 years and offer prime-time drinking from 2020 to 2046.
The vineyard for Eduardo Chadwick's namesake Vinedo Chadwick is located next to the Almaviva estate. This 32 acre hillside property in the foothills of the Andes is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon with just a bit of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (RP)

A big, dense wine, especially for the vintage, with an impressive core of loam, melted black licorice and macerated currant fruit supported by ripe, well-embedded tannins and a long, polished finish that drips with fruit and minerality. Back on form after the subpar 2005. Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2013. 820 cases made. (WS)

ERRAZURIZ DON MAXIMIANO FOUNDER’S RESERVE 2006 – 85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot e 2% Syrah - 18 meses em carvalho francês novo - 14% - 94 Pontos Robert Parker – 91 Pontos Wine Spectator

The 2006 Founder's Reserve Don Maximiano is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Syrah. It spent 18 months in mostly new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, Asian spices, incense, and blackcurrant are reminiscent of a classified growth Pauillac. Medium- to full-bodied in the mouth, the wine has a plush texture, plenty of ripe tannin, layers of spicy fruit, and outstanding concentration. This impeccably balanced wine will benefit from 5-7 years of additional cellaring and have a prime drinking window extending from 2015 to 2031.
Errazuriz has been making impressive strides under the inspired leadership of the soft-spoken Eduardo Chadwick. He has gathered a superb team of viticultural and winemaking talent for Errazuriz as well as his luxury wines, Sena and Vinedo Chadwick. (RP)

Muscular and grippy, but also polished and pure, with a solid beam of red and black currant fruit laced with mocha, tobacco and mineral notes. Bacony toast emerges on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Shiraz. Best from 2010 through 2013. 6,000 cases made. (WS)

DON MELCHOR 2006 – 96% Cabernet Sauvignon e 4% Cabernet Franc – 15 meses em carvalho francês novo - 14,5% - 95 Pontos Robert Parker – 94 Pontos Wine Spectator

The 2006 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is a glass-coating opaque purple with an alluring bouquet of toast, tobacco, cedar, leather, mocha, and blackcurrant. Sweet, voluptuous (but not in a fruit bomb kind of way), layered, and complex already, its superb balance will ensure at least a decade of evolution and it should drink well through 2036.
Don Melchor is the flagship wine of Concha y Toro, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee that was started in 1987, making it Chile’s senior icon. I feel confident about this because the winery kindly sent along a 1993 and a 1995 Don Melchor to provide context. The 1993 (94 points) reveals the nuance of a well-aged wine but with the balance to provide pleasure for another 10-15 years. The 1995 (95 points) is a bit rounder and more elegant, also with another 10-15 years of prime drinking ahead. (RP)

A dark, muscular style, with black currant, braised fig, maduro tobacco, bittersweet cocoa and loam notes that all roll together through the dense but polished finish. There's impressive power for the vintage, along with precision and balance. Drink now through 2018. 20,000 cases made. (WS)

Bons estudos até a reunião.

Abraços.