Concha y Toro, a renowned winery in Chile, has been recognized as one of the most awarded wineries by the prestigious Chilean wine guide Descorchados, authored by journalist Patricio Tapia. The Luxury Brands portfolio of the winery received a score of 94+ points, and one of its wines was awarded first place. Marcelo Papa, the winemaker and Technical Director of the winery, was honored as the Winemaker of the Year 2024 for his valuable contribution to the Chilean winemaking industry throughout his career.
The great winner
Carmín de Peumo 2021: Chosen The Best Carmenere in Chile
Concha y Toro’s iconic wine, Carmín de Peumo, made by winemaker Marcio Ramírez, has been crowned Chile’s Best Carmenere for the seventh time in the 26 years of the Descorchados guide. Being the first icon Carmenere of Chilean history, this wine received a remarkable score of 97 points in its 15th vintage. In addition, the wine is included in the Best of Cachapoal Entre Cordilleras ranking and the Top Ten Reds of Chile.
Carmín de Peumo 2021 is a wine that is made with 95% Carmenere and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is a wine that genuinely reflects its origin, the terroir of Peumo in the Cachapoal Valley. This place is known for its particular climate and soil conditions, making it the best origin in Chile for producing this variety.
The wine aged 14 months in French oak barrels, with 80% new barrels. As a result, it has abundant notes of dark spices, cassis, cherries, cocoa powder, and dried rose petals. It is savory, fresh, and precise on the palate, with layers of fruit and impressive concentration. This wine is a beautiful and fresh expression of Peumo Carmenere.
Recognition for D.O. Limarí wines
Marcelo Papa, the winemaker, is the mastermind behind the Amelia line. This line encourages you to explore new horizons and push the boundaries. It showcases the unique freshness and minerality of the Limarí terroir, the country’s best origin for producing exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The line’s sense of heritage is evident in every bottle, making it a must-try for wine enthusiasts.
Amelia Chardonnay 2022 has been awarded 96 points, placing it among the Top Ten Whites of Chile and ranking it among the Best Whites, Best Wine of Northern Chile, and Best Chardonnay. The 2022 harvest was one of the freshest in the last decade, for that reason this Chardonnay stands out as a more austere wine, with exceptional freshness, minerality, and elegance. Sourced from the Quebrada Seca vineyard in D.O. Limarí, and receiving 97 points, Amelia Chardonnay 2018 was chosen as the Best White and Best Chardonnay of Chile in Descorchados 2020.
Amelia Pinot Noir 2022 has received a remarkable score of 95 points and has been recognized as one of the Best Pinot Noir and Best Wines of Northern Chile. The grapes used to make this wine were sourced from blocks 5 and 15 of the Quebrada Seca vineyard. The 2022 vintage of this wine truly reflects its origin, with a mineral personality and a freshness typical of the variety.
Recognition for D.O. Maipo Andes wines
Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a wine crafted by Marcio Ramírez. It has been awarded 96 points and highlighted in the Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Chile and Best Wines of Maipo Andes rankings. The grapes for this wine are sourced from the Pirque vineyard, one of Concha y Toro’s oldest vineyards. This Cabernet Sauvignon with Pirque appellation has been consistently awarded notable scores and mentions in this guide for 18 consecutive vintages.
Marques de Casa Concha Heritage 2021, led by Marcelo Papa, is the most significant label in the Marques de Casa Concha portfolio, and its second vintage scored an impressive 95 points. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with Bordeaux carácter is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc, representing the origin and tradition of Concha y Toro. It is produced in the exclusive terroir of Puente Alto, which has played a fundamental role in Chile’s modern history of wine.
Concha y Toro The Master 2021 is a Cabernet Sauvignon that was crafted by winemakers Isabel Mitarakis and Marcelo Papa. It was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels and received a score of 94 points in its fourth vintage. This wine results from the combination of two origins, two vineyards over a century old, located on the north (El Mariscal) and south (Pirque) banks of the Maipo River. This results in a wine with an exquisite aromatic expression and complexity.
Recognition for D.O. Casablanca and D.O. Peumo wines
Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc 2023. This wine, produced by winemaker Marcio Ramírez from the Los Boldos vineyard in the Casablanca appellation, has received numerous accolades. It scored 96 points and was included in the Top Ten Whites of Chile and the Best Whites, Best Wines of Casablanca, and Best Sauvignon Blanc of Chile rankings. Additionally, it has been chosen twice as the Best Sauvignon Blanc of Chile by Descorchados in 2020 and 2021.
Terrunyo Carmenere 2022, also lead by Marcio Ramírez’s team, has been awarded 94 points in the guide and included in the Best Wines of Cachapoal Entre Cordilleras list. This wine comes from the Peumo vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley and has been chosen as the Best Carmenere of Chile seven times by Descorchados. Additionally, it has received excellent scores (91+ pts) for 18 of its 24 vintages in this magazine.
Descorchados is a comprehensive guide to the wine industry in Chile, written by Patricio Tapia, the country’s most prominent wine journalist. With extensive experience in Chilean and foreign media, including Wine & Spirits, Decanter, and Adega, Tapia provides a complete overview of the Chilean wine industry. For the 2024 edition of Descorchados, there were tasted around 2,000 wines from approximately 300 Chilean wineries.
