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.
However, a down draught from the Andes and the Pacific’s Humboldt Current both help to moderate temperatures by day and ensure very cold nights.
In addition, the sunlight is exceptionally bright and snowmelt from the Andes provides all the irrigation water required.
Viña Falernia, one of only two wineries in the valley, was built in the late 1990s by Italian Giorgio Flessati and won a Trophy with its first vintage. Elqui produces “some particularly gutsy Syrah at altitudes of over 2,000 metres” (World Atlas of Wine), and the Carmenère is equally robust.
Deep bramble, cassis and spice character, it's great with lamb. Best decanted.
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.
Lovers of fine Italian whites don’t miss this dazzling star from the third-generation Antonio Federici family estate near Rome.
Bursting with white peach and orange blossom notes on a mouth-watering citrus-crisp finish, it’s the ultimate in refreshment.
And guess what? The prestigious Luca Maroni Wine Guide has rated it 99 points out of a possible 99. Yes, that’s a perfect score!
It’s made from Malvasia Puntinata, and if you haven’t heard of this delicious grape, we’re not surprised. It’s a native grape of Lazio, near Rome, so you may have tasted it in that beautiful, chaotic city if you’ve visited, but limited quantities mean not much of it leaves Italy. Actually, not much of it leaves Rome! The Romans know what’s good and this wine usually goes to the top restaurants. We were lucky enough to get some of the red during that infamous period in 2020 when restaurants were closed, and our good connections mean we’ve remained on the list to get the white as well.
And we are so glad we did because this is SO delicious! It’s beautifully aromatic and elegant, with wonderful apricot, orange blossom, and herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied, it has a lipsmacking freshness, with gorgeous minerality and a crisp, citrus finish. It’s the perfect seafood partner – though you can easily just sip on it solo too.
We love it. Luca Maroni loves it. (As that 99/99 score shows!) And we think you will love it too!
Lovers of fine Italian whites don’t miss this dazzling star from the third-generation Antonio Federici family estate near Rome.
Bursting with white peach and orange blossom notes on a mouth-watering citrus-crisp finish, it’s the ultimate in refreshment.
And guess what? The prestigious Luca Maroni Wine Guide has rated it 99 points out of a possible 99. Yes, that’s a perfect score!
It’s made from Malvasia Puntinata, and if you haven’t heard of this delicious grape, we’re not surprised. It’s a native grape of Lazio, near Rome, so you may have tasted it in that beautiful, chaotic city if you’ve visited, but limited quantities mean not much of it leaves Italy. Actually, not much of it leaves Rome! The Romans know what’s good and this wine usually goes to the top restaurants. We were lucky enough to get some of the red during that infamous period in 2020 when restaurants were closed, and our good connections mean we’ve remained on the list to get the white as well.
And we are so glad we did because this is SO delicious! It’s beautifully aromatic and elegant, with wonderful apricot, orange blossom, and herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied, it has a lipsmacking freshness, with gorgeous minerality and a crisp, citrus finish. It’s the perfect seafood partner – though you can easily just sip on it solo too.
We love it. Luca Maroni loves it. (As that 99/99 score shows!) And we think you will love it too!
Antonio Federici is a small, 3rd-generation cellar in Lazio, just south of Rome. As you'll taste here, its wines are both authentic and delicious. Normally, they only supply their meagre output to top restaurants in Rome.
But with most shut in 2020, we managed to gain a small allocation of this superb, cherry-scented red. And again, the following year. On fine limestone soils (the rocks of which were used to build some of Rome's most famous buildings) they grow some of Italy's most characterful native grapes.
From these they make a small range of award-winning wines. No doubt the skill of top Italian consultant Franco and Matteo Bernabei comes into play, as well as the commitment and passion of the family.
A silky, smooth, easy red.
Antonio Federici is a small, 3rd-generation cellar in Lazio, just south of Rome. As you'll taste here, its wines are both authentic and exceptionally delicious.
Normally, they only supply their meagre output to top restaurants in Rome. But with most shut in 2020 and 2021, we managed to gain a small allocation of this superb, cherry-scented red.
On fine limestone soils (the rocks of which were used to build some of Rome's most famous buildings) they grow some of Italy's most characterful native grapes. From these they make a small range of highly awarded, rule-breaking wines.
No doubt the skill of top Italian consultant Franco and Matteo Bernabei come into play, as well as the commitment and passion of the family.
A great pizza or pasta red.
