Pale-plus ruby color; raspberry, cherry, strawberry, earth on the nose; tart cherry, raspberry, strawberry, plum, cola, oak, vanilla on the palate.
Dry; ripe, laid-back tannins and good balancing acidity (3.45 pH). Light-medium body, good texture with a wee bit of drama supplied by the tart cherry. Some oak from 14 months in French barrels, 25% first use, 35% second use, 40% third use. Six months of bottle aging before release. The Pacific Ocean 20 miles away cools the vineyard and, along with granitic clay soil gives this wine hints of minerality. 13.5% ABV
The Herú name comes from a red-hatted elf—thus the hat on the label—who secretly lives in and protects the vineyard. The grapes come from a small—2.5-acre—hillside plot, the Tapihue Vineyard, Block 34. The 2016 vintage saw moderate temperatures, slow grape development. Cold maceration for a week, followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled, open tanks.
Ventisquero has imagined and made ground-breaking wines since 1999. The effort is dream of Chilean businessman Gonzalo Vial. The “Ventisquero” name pays homage to the glaciers of Chilean Patagonia. The winey’s motto, “Challenging Spirit”, reflects the adventurous nature of the enterprise. In 2020, Viña Ventisquero became “Ventisquero Wine Estates”, a conglomerate that exports 1.5 million cases of Chilean wine around the world. It is the first winery to receive the “Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile” seal with certification of 100% of its vineyards.
Viña Ventisquero Herú Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 2016 delivers rich red fruit flavors clothed in subdued tannin and enough acidity to be interesting and work well with food. Some complexity, but the vivid red fruit is the attraction here, especially with juxtaposition of tart cherry, strawberry, and raspberry and impressive backbone of 3.45 pH acidity, more intense than many a pinot. Deft oak regime—various ages and sizes—allows wood to be a subtle supporting player to the red grape ensemble. Pair with grilled lamb chops; beef and veal; wild game, including quail; baked and broiled chicken; oily fish; salmon; pasta dishes. Cheese—fresh cheeses, mixed milk cheeses, soft goat cheeses; burrata, mozzarella, feta, mascarpone, rocchetta. $41-45
Link to panorama photo of Vina Ventisquero tasting room
