2020-05-31_Wine_Spectator

MAY 31, 2020 • WINE SPECTATOR 77

A wealth of terroirs drives the diversity of

Chilean wine, from world-class Cabernets

to distinctive values

By Kim Marcus

CONTRASTS

OF

L

AND

Vik, located north of the

Apalta district, emphasizes

sustainable farming

practices across its 1 , 000

acres under vine.

B

ig, powerful and richly flavored red wines

have long been the force behind Chile’s suc-

cess. Deeply rooted in the country’s wine-

making culture, these are the bottlings that

dominate the ranks of my annual reviews.

Yet over the past decade or so, there has

been a push to expand the geographic boundaries

for grapegrowing and to broaden the varietal mix

of the wines. The goal is to recast the image of

Chile in a crowded winemaking world.

These efforts have yielded a number of outstand-

ing wines that offer something different. One ex-

ample is the Concha y Toro Pinot Noir Limarí Val-

ley Marqués de Casa Concha 2018 (91 points, $25),

a lusciously spicy mix of red fruit and berry flavors.

Located at the northern end of the country, Limarí

is a relatively new winemaking district that is rich

with limestone soils, a rarity for Chile. Coastal fogs

issuing from the cool waters of the Pacific make

quality grapegrowing possible in a desert climate.

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