As Jancis Robinson MW says, “some truly magnificent wines are now emerging from Chile”. The country is indeed producing exciting and character-filled wines, the quality exceptional, the price still incredibly low.
Chile's beautiful Elqui Valley boasts some of the world’s highest vineyards, as well as clear skies, ultra-bright sunshine, and pure snowmelt from the Andes providing plentiful water.
As the World Atlas of Wine says, it produces “some particularly gutsy Syrah at altitudes of over 2,000 metres”. The Carménère, like this powerfully rich example, is equally robust.
It comes from Viña Falernia, built in the valley in the late 1990s by Italian Giorgio Flessati. He recognised the quality conditions from the beginning, and indeed, the winery won a Trophy in its very first vintage.
It’s still impressing the show judges today, the Antakari Carménère Reserva 2023 picking up Gold from the Gilbert & Gaillard Competition:
“Intense garnet red colour. The nose is expressive and intriguing for its aromatic variety … eucalyptus, mint and blackberries. A firm structure … Spicy aromas” (Gilbert & Gaillard Competition)
It’s a really delicious red, the kind that will match any grilled or barbecued meats beautifully – sizzling beef and lamb, of course, but also duck and pork. The ripe berry, delicious spice and gently smoky notes are a winning partner.
This plump, juicy-fruit Merlot is made by Trophy-winning winemaker Nicolas Bizzarri. He heads the cellar team at the family-owned Luis Felipe Edwards estate, four-time winner of ‘Chilean Winery of the Year’. The Don Cayetano Merlot is full of fruit and silky smooth – a luscious velvety mouthful you will adore.
Chile's Elqui Valley boasts some of the world’s highest vineyards, as well as clear skies and purest sunshine. Today, thanks to the vision of Italian Giorgio Flessati, it makes great wines too, like this silky, peppery, black fruit Carmenère red.
