A big hitter vintage, and boy can you tell. I love how these differ, blowing away the idea that Chile doesn't see vintage effect. Wonderful levels of spice here, and a great sense of lift that balances the high alcohol. Luscious mocha and cassis flavours mingle with deeply concentrated liquorice root and coffee. Full of pleasure. (JA)

Dark purple. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola, pipe tobacco, cedary oak and vanilla, along with smoke and floral topnotes. Smooth, broad, appealingly sweet blackcurrant and cherry flavors show outstanding depth and energy, with a suave spicecake note coming up with aeration. The smoke and floral notes resonate on a strikingly long, seamless finish that features fine-grained tannins and sappy dark fruit character. This flamboyantly aromatic wine was aged in 100% new French oak. (JR)

The blend in 2012 was 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carménère, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% /Merlot. The grapes are never pumped, and fermented in stainless steel vats with a total cuvaison of three to four weeks. The wine matured in 78% new French oak barrels for 19 months. As almost 90% of the grapes were picked at cooler temperatures, the wine does not really show in excess the heat of the vintage, certainly less than in other warm vintages in the past. There are notes of Mediterranean herbs and hints of tree bark over a core of ripe berries. The particularity of this terroir is to be able to achieve freshness because of its proximity to the mountains, and the ripening is slow. Winemaker Michel Friou tells me that 2012 is somehow similar to 2015, where the record temperatures in March were again surpassed. This 2012 is quite approachable, with its round and abundant tannins and soft acidity, flavors of ripe berries, good freshness and balance. (LG)