Deep ruby color; red fruits, blackcurrant, plum, oak, leather, mint on the nose plum, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry, oak spice, chocolate on the palate.
Dry; fine, soft tannins embrace bracing acidity (3.56 pH). Significant ripe fruits and accompanying alcohol—15.4% ABV, but smooth enough mouthfeel that you don’t experience anticipated burn. Blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 4% petit verdot, 2% cabernet franc. Consider decanting, but the wine also evolves nicely in a large glass.
Slow, long extraction. Juice spent a month macerating, then wines were racked to their own barrels, although cab clearly was the dominant approach this vintage. Other vintages of this included significantly more merlot. The winery’s aim is to preserve the identity of the Alto Macul terroir.
Wine spend 12-18 months in French oak second and third use barrels with medium and light toast, thus the somewhat subdued oak influence. Soft fining with egg whites, followed by light filtration. The soft, delicious mouthfeel dominates the overall impression of the wine. Very smooth, easy drinker.
The Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous wine region. Located in the country’s central valley, it is warm and dry. Irrigation supplements rainfall shortcomings. Alluvial soils predominate, loam and clay also appear. The climate and and soil mix enhances full-bodied cabs and other Bordeaux reds that constitute this effort.
This is Macul’s entry-level red blend. It comes from a vineyard at lower elevation than grapes for their more expensive Domus. The soils are more fertile, which means this wine is less concentrated and less complex, but this remains a delicious expression of Macul’s Maipo Vally terroir.
Owners Isabelle and Ricardo Peña first sold their fruit to winemakers. Later, they joined forces with winemaker Ignacio Recabarren and a U.S. investor to build their own winery. The result, in 1996, was Vina Quebrada de Macul, a star in the site-specific, low yield, non-interventionist winemaking in Chile.
Vina Quebrada de Macul Alba de Domus, Maipo Valley, Chile 2018 is delicious take on cab-dominated blend. Very smooth, easy drinker with intriguing complexity. Good length. Excellent Maipo Valley wine punches above it weight. Pair with red meats—steak, the obvious; beef short ribs; slow-braised beef or venison; roast or grilled lamb; portabello mushrooms. Cheese—aged cheddar, gouda, blue cheese, gruyere. $35-44
