Miguel Torres Cordillera de Los Andes Vigno Carignan 2018 Maule Valley 750ml

An easygoing carignan with classic, Chilean, red-wine aromatics. Medium-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of blackberry, black cherry, green-pepper leaf, strawberry, green olive and black plum. On the palate the dry, medium-bodied carignan has medium-intensity, black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and soft, medium tannin. While the wine is mostly straightforward, there are some punctuated herbal moments that give the wine added oomph. A good red that could be served at a party due to its gentle tannin structure and accessibility.

More Information: It lays claim to the local variety, Pais (synonymous with Tinta Pais, which is actually Tempranillo), which has dominated much of the region’s area under vine until the recent past. Now many growers, not confined by the tradition and regulations of the Old World, also successfully grow Cabernet Sauvignon.

While Maule’s total area under vine remains relatively static, its old Carignan vineyards are undergoing a great revival. The VIGNO (Vignadores del Carignan Vintners) group, an association in charge of promoting this long-forgotten variety, is getting fantastic results from the old vines in its dry-farmed coastal zones.

The Maule includes the subregions of Talca, San Clemente, San Javier, Parral, Linares and Cauquenes.

93pts Vinous
The 2018 Carignan VIGNO is 100% Carignan from old vines from a dry-farmed vineyard in Huerta de Maule. Overseen by oenologist Eduardo Jordán, it is aged for 12 months in Italian foudres and then for another year in bottle. Bright reddish-purple in the glass. The ripe nose includes blackberry and wildflowers plus jasmine, black tea and balsamic notes. In the mouth, it’s relaxed with fine, juicy but reactive tannins.