CHRDAG01
£16.95
6 years is, by anyone’s standards, a long apprenticeship but having graduated as an oenologist in 1992, Marco Puyo then worked both within Chile and internationally before bringing all of that experience to bear in setting up his own winery in partnership with cork producer, Patricio Gomez-Barris in 2015; 3 years later he gave up his various other commitments to dedicate himself entirely to Dagaz Wines. This is really classy and a measure as to how far the Chilean industry has come over the past 25 years or so. Oozing elegance and balance it marries red fruit flavours of raspberry and cherry with cedar and spice. Add 10 months of ageing in French oak and you have one of the best value reds I’ve tasted all year
£15.95
Arboleda is a relative newcomer to the Chilean wine market but its founder, Eduardo Chadwick, has been around for a while as the fifth generation of the family behind the Errazuriz label. With the confidence that comes of so much experience and a multi-million dollar bank account he set up Arboleda as more of a niche producer, crafting vineyard specific wines from sustainable vineyards. Syrah probably isn’t the first variety you think of when considering Chilean wine but I think it’s got a great future here, particularly at the mid to higher end of the market. This is gloriously full with ripe, soft tannins but still retains a classic Syrah acidity on the finish to add freshness.
£35.30
£18.25
£19.75
100% País, from dry farmed vines which are estimated to be over 150 years old. Grapes are hand picked and destemmed and put in to open top wooden tanks where slow alcoholic fermentation takes place over 18 days with soft pump overs to avoid extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place and the wine is aged in concrete eggs and old French oak barrels for 18 months. Red fruit aromas such as cherries and wild herbs, with an earthy hint. The palate shows firm and gentle tannins, structured and balanced, an elegant and complex wine that is reminiscent of Chile´s native forest.