Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon – Why pay for Napa Valley when Colchagua Valley will do?

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley, Chile.

SRP of $19 and available for as low as $17. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

“The label depicts a piece of silver jewelry previously used as an adornment by the Mapuches, who are indigenous Chileans.

This wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown between the Chimbarongo Creek and the Tinguiririca River on the Maquis Estate in central Colchagua Valley.

The two-meter-deep alluvial soil contains 25% clay, which produces Cabernet Sauvignon that is ripe and elegant and has extraordinary complexity.

The grapes were picked during the last week in March due to a long, dry summer with temperatures almost 3C higher than average, allowing for an earlier harvest. The grapes show good concentration and black fruit aromas.

13.5% Alcohol”

Here in Minnesota we’ve been listening for years to the tagline of Second Wind exercise equipment, as stated by their owner Dick Enrico, “Why buy new when slightly used will do?” There’s even a bobblehead doll of Mr. Enrico stating the tagline in multiple languages. (Trust me, I should know…I “won” it in the office white elephant gift pool a few years ago.) The implication of course being that most exercise equipment is never actually used by the original purchaser so you are able to pick up like new equipment at big discounts — basically getting the same quality for less. I couldn’t help thinking of this tagline when tasting today’s wine from Colchagua Valley, Chile.

We’re big fans of Chilean wine here at The Reverse Wine Snob, previously covering many different Carmenere as well as a series on Coastal Whites. One area where we’ve been lacking; however, is Cabernet which might be Chile’s strength. Over the next few weeks we’ll try to fill in that gap with a few of our favorites, starting with today’s wine.

The 2010 Vina Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon begins with big, deep, thick aromas of black currant, plum, blackberry, lots of cola and a little cedar. It’s a very enticing bouquet. The wine tastes big and dry with tart blackberry, more cola and a really nice, almost chewy, mouthfeel. Like many wines, this one needs some time to open up — it’s a bit oaky after popping and pouring, but some time in the glass does wonders. Interesting iron-like mineral notes reveal themselves on the long finish and add another layer of complexity. Delicious!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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