Viña Tabalí is the most renowned producer in the Limarí wine region of Northern Chile and winemaker Felipe Müller knows this exceptional terroir better than almost anyone. In this Terroir Talk, Amanda Barnes interviews Felipe all about the terroir of Limarí and what influences the different sub-regions of Limarí and makes it coastal wines so distinctive.
Felipe Müller discusses the differences between the river terraces of the main Limarí wine region compared to the limestone seabed of their famed Talinay vineyard. He also delves into the mountainous wine region of Río Hurtado on the boarder of Elqui and explains why the wines from this Andes wine region are totally different to the coastal wine regions of Limarí.
They also taste through four key wines for Viña Tabalí in a tale of different terroirs: their Talinay Chardonnay and their new Pai Pinot Noir from Talinay vineyard, and the Barranco Viognier and Roca Madre Malbec from Rio Hurtado. If you love Chilean wine, this is an interview not to miss.
Interview with winemaker Felipe Müller of Viña Tabalí: Terroir Talk Limarí
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Wine tasting notes for Viña Tabalí wines
Viña Tabalí Talinay Chardonnay
This has long been one of my favourite Chardonnay wines in South America. Lean and long with bracing minerality and seaside freshness, it has a saline and tangy finish with notes of oyster shell with just a touch of lemon and blossom. It’s a mouthfilling and sophisticated Chardonnay which really shows the great purity and tension that wines from this special Talinay vineyard can have.
Viña Tabalí Pai Pinot Noir
This was my first taste of the new Tabalí Pai Pinot Noir and it did not disappoint! Coming from a very steep site with 30% incline and on fractured limestone soils, this is a new vineyard which was planted with perhaps the highest density of vines in Chile, with 12,500 vines per hectare. The vines Felipe picked are also quite unique, being masal selections from Vosne Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin in Burgundy. It was a risk, planting a new and extreme site with never-used before clones in Chile, but it paid off. The resulting wine is very savoury with a nose of gun flint and earth, with a touch of tart red berry, and a long, linear finish and slightly grippy finish.
Viña Tabali Barranco Viognier
Viognier was the only variety that Felipe thought could really work in this extreme mountain vineyard where days are hot and sunny, and nights are intensely cool. The wine shows off this contrast with a full body and a creamy, voluptuous finish, but also with fresh white blossom, pepper and cool white peach notes. It’s a food worthy Viognier!
Viña Tabali Roca Madre Malbec
If you think that Chile doesn’t make great Malbec, you need to taste Roca Madre. A rich and bold Malbec but with freshness and touch of wild herbs and flowers and a definite savoury note, it’s a truly mountain-style Malbec coming from their extreme, high-altitude Rio Hurtado vineyard. Concentrated black berries complement notes of graphite. This is a wine to age and enjoy with richer meat and game dishes.
Read more about Viña Tabalí in our winery guide
Limari wine region map
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