Medium copper color; strawberry, raspberry, cherry on the nose; ripe strawberry, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, pear, citrus on the palate.
Brut, approaching extra dry (10.0 g/L). Racy acidity (3.3 pH). Very vigorous bubbles on opening, but those tame down and soften. Made from 100% pinot noir from the Bío Bío Valley, one of Chile’s southernmost wine regions. This is cold-climate area with temperatures seldom rising past the mid-80s, which engenders the excellent acidity. 12% ABV
Fermented in stainless steel tanks using the Charmat process (no secondary fermentation in the bottle). This is how prosecco is made and accounts for its superb pricing. Tangy and refreshing crowd pleaser. The winemaking team includes Matías Ríos, winemaking director; Guillermo Sanchez, senior winemaker; Carol Koch, winemaker overseeing cellar and aging; Mauricio Valderas, winemaker overseeing vinification and harvest planning.
Viña Cono Sur is a Concha y Toro brand. Concha y Toro is a major player in Chilean wine, indeed the world. Many Cono Sur vineyards have earned organic certification, and it is clear the company strives to earn certification for all. In 2010, they were the first winery in the Americas and third in the world to be ISO 14064-1 certified through CEMARS. Certified by Ecocert—a certification that addresses recycling, in part. Cono Sur labels are made from recycled paper. They have earned additional prestige certifications since, including certifications for the health and safety of the vineyard workers.
With Concha y Toro and its Cono Sur and several other brands, Chile is a significant force in the global wine world. Concha y Toro wine operations consistently punch above their price points, even among their premium wines. This is absolutely no exception. Like Portugal and Argentina, Chilean wines offer some of the best QPR (quality-price ratio) wines in the world.
Cono Sur Sparkling Wine Rosé, Bío-Bío Valley, Chile NV is a simple but pleasing pure pinot noir play. Strawberries dominate, but other red fruits flirt with your palate in the background. Exuberant bubbles. Fun to drink. As a sparkling rosé, it works as an aperitif or simply as a felicitous sipping wine on a summer day. Pair with a range of fish, seafood, and shellfish dishes; grilled shrimp would be especially nice; appetizers; vegetarian fare. $12-13
