Wine Spectator’s most recent report on Chilean wines, published in May, recognized Carmín de Peumo and Terrunyo among Chile’s best wines from more than 250 national samples.
The publication scored the 2013 Carmín de Peumo at 93 points, the highest score for a Carmenere in this report and included it in the list of Top Wines, once again affirming the wine as the best Carmenere of Chile and the world.
The 2013 Terrunyo Carmenere followed close behind with 92 points and was also included in the list of Top Wines.
In its Cabernet Sauvignon category, the influential magazine gave the 2013 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 91 points, positioning it among the report’s best of the variety’s 2013 vintage, marking an extraordinary participation of the wines by the talented winemaker Ignacio Recabarren.
The importance of origin
Both the Carmín de Peumo and Terrunyo Carmeneres come from the Peumo Vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley, one of Chile’s oldest viticultural areas.
This vineyard constitutes the terroir where Carmenere has been grown for more than 100 years, making it the most recognized origin for the variety because it has the ideal conditions for producing grapes with the best degree of ripening and obtaining concentrated wines with deep flavors and smooth, elegant tannins.
Made under the watchful eye of winemaker Ignacio Recabarren, the successful history of these two Concha y Toro Carmeneres has strengthened the appreciation of the variety worldwide. For Recabarren, “the objective is to obtain a wine that shows the exuberant fruit that this variety expresses in its origin, the unparalleled Peumo terroir.”
The Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Las Terrazas block in the Pirque Viejo Vineyard in the Maipo Valley, one of Concha y Toro’s oldest vineyards.
This sector is strongly influenced by the Andes Mountains and extends along the Maipo River on soils that produce vines with little vigor, which forces the plants to focus on fruit production.
The broad oscillation between daytime and nighttime temperatures also enables the grapes to ripen slowly and reach harvest with good fruit concentration and aromatic intensity.
These conditions produce well-structured Cabernet Sauvignons with a very expressive nose, firm tannins, muscle, and persistence.
Carmín de Peumo 2013
93 pts.
Top Wine
“Elegant and powerful, with loads of dark berry, cherry and currant flavors, featuring notes of dark olive and allspice. The leafy finish is long and rich, showing some creamy hints to the dark chocolate accents.”
Kim Marcus
Terrunyo Carmenere 2013
92 pts.
Top Wine
“A rich and well-sculpted red, bursting with fresh flavors of dark plum, cherry tart and dried blackberry. Asian spice notes fill in midpalate. The complex finish balances savory and dark chocolate notes.”
Kim Marcus
Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
91 pts.
“Focused and featuring concentrated flavors of dark plum, roasted cherry and dried blackberry, supported by zesty acidity. Shows enticing pepper and mineral notes, which linger on the finish.”
Kim Marcus