Behind the Cork™ - TerraNoble Gran Reserve Carmenere

2018 TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carménère, ($18)

The TerraNoble winery was founded in 1993, and has produced high quality wines that have been recognized and awarded. The winery is located in the Maule Valley of Chile and the vineyards are in the Maule, Colchagua and Casablanca valleys. Their philosophy is to produce elegant, noble and pleasant drinking wines, with fruit-bearing flavors and aromas that maintain the characteristics of each variety.

This Gran Reserva Carménère, (kar-men-nair) is produced from 100% Carménère grapes that were placed in stainless steel tanks for a cold maceration of 4 to 5 days. Fermentation took place for between 8 and 12 days. After that, the wine had a post-fermentation maceration of one to two weeks, depending on each lot
and on daily tastings. Once the vatting process was finished, it was racked directly into French oak barrels and foudre where it underwent malolactic fermentation. It was then aged for up to 12 months with 70% of the wine being aged in previously used (2 or 3 times) French oak barrels and 30% in un-toasted foudre for 12 months. It was then bottle aged for at least six months before being released.

This wine is deep ruby in color with medium aromas of plum and black berry with peppery notes. On the palate this full-bodied wine has good flavors of black cherry and black plum with peppercorn. It is medium in tannin and medium in acidity and exhibits just a hint of oak.


This TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carménère is a really nice wine at a terrific price. Keep an eye out for this one as well as their Cabernet Sauvignon that was featured earlier this year. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by TerraNoble Winery (via Creative Palate)

Behind the Cork™ - Chile's Coastal Sauvignon Blancs (Part 2)

Chile’s Coastal Sauvignon Blancs

Chile’s Sauvignon Blancs are notably diverse, with the finest identified with the country’s coastal and cool-climate regions.

These are not standard supermarket Sauvignon Blancs by any measure, but wines of personality and nuance. More reasons to take a new look at Chilean Sauvignon Blanc include the rapid advances in the country’s winemaking culture during the past decade, and expansion into a growing number of new regions and terroirs.

Here are four more excellent examples of Chile’s coastal Sauvignon Blancs:

2020 Casas del Bosque La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

La Cantera is from the Casablanca Valley of Chile. The grapes come from “La Cantera” or “The Quarry” on an east-facing hillside with plenty of exposure to the sun and the marine breezes that characterizes the Casablanca Valley. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts. It was then left for a few weeks on its gross lees (without stirring) before being blended, clarified and filtered. This wine is straw in color with aromas of citrus, green apple and grass. On the palate it has bright flavors of pineapple and citrus with good acidity.

2020 Viña Garcés Silva Amayna Sauvignon Blanc ($25)

This wine is from the Leyda Valley which is just 8.6 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It was fermented for 10 to 15 days in stainless steel and kept on lees for six months. It is straw in color with very light citrus and herbal aromas. On the palate it is bright with grapefruit flavor and subtle herbal notes and finishes with a very slight hint of salinity. The six months on lees makes for a smooth mouthfeel and additional richness.

2021 Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

This Koyle Costa La Flor is from the Leyda Valley of Chile from slopes located just 5.6 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The winemaker finds these slopes uniquely situated to catch all the saltiness from the sea and unique minerals from the ancient coastal soils. It is straw in color with delicate aromas of pear and green vegetables. On the palate it has pear, pineapple and citrus notes and a bright acidic finish.

2021 Viña Tabalí Talinay Sauvignon Blanc ($24)

This wine from the Limarí Valley just 7.5 miles from the coast next to the Fray Jorge National Park which is an area that UNESCO has declared a World Biosphere Reserve. It was fermented in stainless steel then subjected to daily stirring to bring out the full character of the wine. It is straw in color with delicate aromas of pear and green vegetables. It has bright acidity, subtle notes of citrus and a hint of tartness.

These are all wonderful Sauvignon Blanc wines from the coast of Chile as were those featured in Part 1. Look for these and other super Sauvignon Blanc wines widely available from Chile’s coastal region. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by the Wines of Chile (WOC) -- Vinos de Chile -- a non-profit, private organization of Chilean wine producers and the noted wineries of Chile via Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Ritual Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Ritual Sauvignon Blanc ($20.99)

This organic Sauvignon Blanc is from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. This cool climate area is located on the northwestern side of Chile’s coastal range that is less than 30 km from the Pacific Ocean.

This wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon blanc grapes that are whole-cluster pressed and allowed to sit for 36 hours. It is then divided and fermented in 30% concrete eggs, 30% neutral oak and 40% stainless steel. By doing this, the winemaker is able to create different components each with varying aromatics, flavor and textures. The wine is then aged for eight to ten months with the lees being stirred every other week, based on the fruit days of the bio-dynamic calendar.

This 2019 Ritual Sauvignon Blanc is medium gold in color and has aromas of citrus, tropical fruit and melon. On the palate it has bright fruit flavors of grapefruit and lemon, nice acidity and a smooth mouth-feel due to being aged on lees. The finish is long and refreshing.

This wine from Ritual is not your typical Sauvignon Blanc. The concrete and oak fermentation, along with the time on lees, definitely adds some wonderful texture and smoothness to this wine. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by González Byass (via Donna White Communications)

Behind the Cork™ - Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Maipo Valley

Maipo Valley

Chile’s Maipo Valley is located in the Central Valley near Santiago, and just north of the Colchagua Valley. The Coastal Range separates the Maipo Valley from the Pacific coast on the west and in the east, the Andes Mountains separate Maipo from the Argentinean region of Mendoza.

The first grape vines were planted around Santiago in the 1540s but it wasn't until the 1800s that viticulture really began to expand in Chile.

The Maipo Valley is known for fine wines. It is said that Maipo is known for Cabernet Sauvignons with prominent black fruit flavors, spicy undertones, and bright acidity, while Colchagua Cabernet Sauvignons are more full-bodied with structured tannins.

Here are three fine examples of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley:

  • 2016 Echeverria Limited Edition ($25)

This Echeverria is produced from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%Syrah and 5% Carménère grapes. It was fermented in stainless steel vats for 8-10 days with an extended skin maceration for additional 10-15 days. It then underwent malolactic fermentation before being aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The wines were blended and returned to barrels for an additional six months.

This wine is medium ruby in color with light aromas of red fruits and spicy herbal notes. On the palate this wine is medium-to-full bodied with spicy, peppery notes, medium tannin and medium acidity that finishes easy.

  • 2018 Miguel Torres Reserva Especial Cordillera ($25)

The Miguel Torres Reserva Especial Cordillera is from the area of Pirque, a mountainous area of the Maipo Valley. The growing season include the influence of the La Niña phenomenon that resulted in a cooling of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in somewhat lower temperatures than normal prior to harvest.

This Miguel Torres Cordillera is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. They were fermented in stainless steel tanks for 14 days and then underwent malolactic fermentation in 100% French oak. It was then aged for 12 months in French oak, 20% new and 80% second use, before bottling.

This wine is deep ruby in color with aromas of black cherry and blackberries, with a touch of bell pepper notes. On the palate it is medium bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a light finish.

  • 2017 Vina Aquitania Lazuli ($45)

This Vina Aquitania Lazuli Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that range in age from 25 to 30 years old. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks with four days of cold soaking and six days of fermentation with pumpovers. It then underwent six additional days of post-fermentation maceration before malolactic fermentation in barrels. Aging occurred in French oak barrels (30% new) for 16 months.

This wine is medium ruby in color with aromas of black cherry and black fruit with light herbal notes. On the palate it is full-bodied and smooth with low acidity, light tannin and some spiciness on the finish.

Each of these Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Chile’s Maipo Valley are affordable and attainable and fit right in as Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by the featured wineries of Chile (via Creative Palate)

Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile - The Maipo Valley

Last time we explored Chile’s Colchagua Valley that is located in the southern part of the Central Valley.

Now, let’s explore one of Chile's most important wine-producing regions, the Maipo Valley that is located just south of the capital, Santiago where Cabernet Sauvignon is its most celebrated wine.

The Maipo Valley was first planted around Santiago in the 1540s, but it wasn't until the 1800s that viticulture really began to expand significantly.

Maipo Valley Climate

Maipo is in the very northern part of Chile's Central Valley. On the west, the Coastal range of mountains separates the Maipo Valley from the Pacific coast, and on the eastern side, the Andes Mountains separate Maipo from the Argentinean region of Mendoza.

Daytime temperatures can be high but the higher altitudes (up to 2500 feet) ensure cooler night-time temperatures. These difference between daytime and night-time temperatures slows down the ripening process, resulting in higher quality grapes and higher quality wines.

The soil also creates challenging growing conditions for the vines, which have to struggle to get to a water source. As a result, the grapes provide concentrated and intense flavors.

Maipo Valley Terroir

The Maipo Valley is divided into the sub-regions of Alto Maipo, Central Maipo, and Pacific Maipo.

  • Alto Maipo sub-region is in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The sub-region has a mountainous climate and extremely porous and rocky soil. These conditions place stress on the vines, which results in the production of elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Central Maipo is located along the Maipo River and is one of the oldest winemaking regions of Chile. In Central Maipo, Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant varietal but more recently, winemakers in the region have also begun producing Carmenere wines.

  • Pacific Maipo is the youngest of the sub-regions in the Maipo Valley. This sub-region has only a few vineyards along the banks of the Maipo River. The grapes grown here benefit from the influence of the Pacific Ocean and the local alluvial soils.

Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cabernet Sauvignon of the Maipo Valley are of high quality and offer tremendous values. They tend to be medium-full to full-bodied with herbal notes and moderate tannin. If you are looking for a Cabernet Sauvignon with red fruit flavors and more delicate notes than the ‘big’ Cabs from Napa, give the wines of the Maipo Valley a try.

Cheers!