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Carmen Delanz wine tasting note by Amanda Barnes
Cabernet SauvignonMaipo WinesMerlot

Viña Carmen Delanz

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

More about the wine

This beautiful blend shows a juicy, vibrant and modern style of Maipo Alto with glorious forest berry fruit and fresh violet notes, polished tannins and a refreshing but supple finish carefully balancing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Delanz is delish!

More about the winery

Viña Carmen is Chile’s first winery, founded in 1850, but also one of the most forward-thinking and contemporary in its wine style. The name comes from the original founder’s wife but it is perhaps serendipitous that almost 150 years later Carmenére was first discovered in their vineyards, becoming an emblematic variety not only for Carmen but Chile ever since. Carmen winery produces a huge range of varieties today though, including top Cabernet Sauvignon (Gold is an emerging icon), fantastic old vine Semillon, juicy Cinsault, racy Sauvignon Blanc and, of course, spicy Carmenere. Young winemaker Emily Faulconer is one of the most exciting of her generation, and oversees all the ranges from their easy-to-drink everyday lines up to top level premium wines from all over Chile’s main valleys.

Read more about Viña Carmen

 

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Carmen DO Florillon wine tasting note by Amanda Barnes
ChileFruityFresh

Viña Carmen DO Florillón #2

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

More about the wine

One of Chile’s most promising young winemakers, Emily Faulconer kicked off a bit of a movement with this flor-aged wine. It’s easy to see why — this old-vine Semillon has complex aromas of chamomile, orchard fruits and Parmesan with a mouth-wateringly delicious saline finish. Sold out, but worth recommending on the off-chance you find some!

More about the winery

Viña Carmen is Chile’s first winery, founded in 1850, but also one of the most forward-thinking and contemporary in its wine style. The name comes from the original founder’s wife but it is perhaps serendipitous that almost 150 years later Carmenére was first discovered in their vineyards, becoming an emblematic variety not only for Carmen but Chile ever since. Carmen winery produces a huge range of varieties today though, including top Cabernet Sauvignon (Gold is an emerging icon), fantastic old vine Semillon, juicy Cinsault, racy Sauvignon Blanc and, of course, spicy Carmenere. Young winemaker Emily Faulconer is one of the most exciting of her generation, and oversees all the ranges from their easy-to-drink everyday lines up to top level premium wines from all over Chile’s main valleys.

Read more about Viña Carmen

 

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Masterclass on the old vines of South America
Wine

Sommelier Masterclass: The old vines of South America

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

South America is home to some of the oldest productive vines in the wine world and has a wealth of vineyards over 100 years old. In this Sommelier Masterclass on the Old Vines of South America presented at the Somm Con Virtual Summit 2021, Amanda Barnes interviews a panel of expert winemakers and agronomists on the value of old vines in Latin America and specifically focuses on Torrontés, País, Semillon, Carignan and Malbec.

In this hour-long masterclass, the panel guide us through some of the key varieties and old vine terroirs of Chile and Argentina:

  • Overview of South American wine and old vines in Bolivia, Peru and beyond with Amanda Barnes
  • Old vines and Torrontés in Cafayate with Francisco Tellechea of El Esteco
  • País – the first vine of South America and its role in Maule, Itata and Bio Bio with Julio Bouchon of Bouchon Family Wines
  • Field blends and old vines of Semillon, Cinsault and other varieties with Emily Faulconer of Viña Carmen
  • Old vine Malbec and other old vine Bordeaux Varieties in Mendoza with Andrés Vignoni of Viña Cobos
  • Carignan and VIGNO – an appellation for old vines with President of Vigno, Julio Bouchon
  • Q & A and the challenges of protecting old vines in South America with the panel

 

 

Sommelier masterclass speakers

 

Julio Bouchon, owner at Bouchon Family Wines & President at VIGNO

Julio Bouchon owner at Bouchon Family Wines, masterclass on Pais and old vines in ChileFourth-generation vigneron in Maule, Julio Bouchon, of Bouchon Family Wines, has been leading the País renaissance in Chile and is President of VIGNO, an old vine Carignan association in Chile’s Secano Interior.

With his exciting portfolio of wines at Bouchon Family Wines as well as his personal project with South African winemaker David Niewoudt, Longavi Wines, Julio has been instrumental in putting País – the first planted in the Americas in the 1500s – back on the map for quality wine, as well as championing old vine Semillon, Chenin Blanc and Cinsault. Today he is also leading Chile’s old vine Carignan association, VIGNO, which has 16 member wineries and is the closest to an Old World appellation or DOC in Chile.

 

Emily Faulconer, Winemaker at Viña Carmen

Emily Faulconer, winemaker at Vina Carmen on old vines of South AmericaOne of the leading and most innovative winemakers of her generation, Emily Faulconer is the Chief Winemaker of Viña Carmen.

Born in Temuco, in southern Chile, Emily studied winemaking in Santiago and has extensive experience across Chile having worked as the winemaker for Viña Arboleda in Aconcagua, Viñedos de Alcohuaz in Elqui and Maquis in Colchagua. Today she specialises in driving forward Viña Carmen’s extensive portfolio with a special emphasis on old vine field blends in southern Chile as well as premium Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo valley.

 

Andrés Vignoni, Viña Cobos

Andrés Vignoni winemaker at Viña Cobos and masterclass on old vine MalbecA sixth-generation wine grower in Mendoza, Andrés Vignoni is today one of the leading winemakers of the new generation and a specialist in working with old vine Malbec as winemaker of Viña Cobos.

Having grown up among the vines in Mendoza, after graduating from university as a winemaker Andrés worked vintages abroad in New Zealand and Italy before coming back to Mendoza where he has forged his way as one of the most promising winemakers of his generation. Working with Paul Hobbs, Andrés is winemaker for Hobbs’ winery in Cahors, France, and also in Galicia, Spain, as well as leading production at Viña Cobos in Mendoza where the single-vineyard portfolio focuses on old vine Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from special plots around Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.

 

Francisco Tellechea, El Esteco

Francisco Tellechea, El Esteco vineyard manager old vines in CafayateBorn in Salta, Francisco is the Vineyard Manager of El Esteco winery which has some really old vines in Cafayate in the Calchaquí Valley.

Having worked in Salta, Catamarca, Mendoza and Peru, he has a wide range of viticultural experience and is passionate about preserving the old vines of northern Argentina to make top quality wines under the El Esteco Old Vines label.

 

Amanda Barnes, South America Wine Guide

Amanda Barnes south america wine guideAmanda Barnes is one of the foremost experts on South American wine having been based in the region since 2009. An award-winning journalist and Master of Wine student, she is author of the South America Wine Guide set to be published in Spring 2021.

A key contributor for Decanter and SevenFifty, she also writes about South America for Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Guide and The World Atlas of Wine, and is Editor of the Circle of Wine Writers’ magazine, The Circular.

 

 

Main photo by Matt Wilson

Find out more about the old vines of South America:

View our old vine register for South America

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Carmen winemaker Emily Faulconer, Viña Carmen of Santa Rita Group in Chile's Maipo valley
MaipoChile FeaturesChile Wine GuideWine

Maipo & Cabernet: Terroir Talk interview with Emily Faulconer

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Maipo has become synonymous with Cabernet, and Maipo Andes (or Alto Maipo) in particular has become synonymous with world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. As part of our Terroir Talk series, we talk with Emily Faulconer, winemaker at Viña Carmen in Alto Jahuel to discuss why the alluvial soils and mountain climate are key to the character of Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon.

In this talk, Emily shares her vision of Maipo and how the winemaking influences have changed over the years, and we taste through two landmark wines for the winery: the Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon which paints a picture of the Alto Jahuel expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, and the delicious Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc-Petit Verdot-Petite Sirah blend Delanz which is her vision of the nuance of Alto Jahuel terroir.

Emily explains the process of Viña Carmen’s replant of an important area of the vineyard and how they planned the plots in terms of exposure, soils, genetic material and trellising system, and they discuss the value of old vines and new for making Cabernet Sauvignon. As Chile’s most-planted variety, Emily also discusses why she thinks it rose to fame and the future of the variety in the region.

 

 

 

Carmen Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

For me, this is a classic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Alto with beautifully fresh red and black forest fruit aromas with layers of cedar, rosehips and graphite. It’s incredible value (around USD$18, £15) and offers a classy and precise expression of this mountainous terroir.

Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Maipo Valley, Alto Jahuel
  • 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Alcohol: 13.5% vol
  • Winemaker: Emily Faulconer
  • Grapes are handpicked from Carmen´s owned vineyards. After alcoholic fermentation the wine is aged in French Oak barrels for 14 months.
  • The wine comes from the Quillayes vineyard in Alto Maipo Chile. This vineyard is planted over alluvial terraces and has a mixture of 20% clay and 80% sand, providing the vines with outstanding drainage balanced with optimum moisture retention. The significant fluctuation between day and night gives the wine balanced acidity and since this variety needs warm temperature, the Maipo valley is perfect for this! The high altitude of the Andes also helps cool down the temperature at night.

 

 

Viña Carmen Delanz 2018

I’m so excited about this blend – it exudes elegance and whispers of the sunny, fragrant days and the cool, crisp nights of Alto Maipo. This seductive blend has notes of juicy red berries, meadow flowers and has fine tannins and a fresh finish that lures you in for another sip.

  • Delanz Viña Carmen blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah from Alto Jahuel. Interview with Emily Faulconer winemaker.Maipo Valley, Alto Jahuel
  • 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Petite Sirah
  • Alcohol: 13.5 % vol
  • Winemaker: Emily Faulconer
  • Total Acidity: 5.1 g/l (expressed in Tartaric Acid)
  • pH: 3.7
  • Residual Sugar: 2.27 g/l
  • Vineyard: This is the first version of Delanz, it is a red blend of our Alto Jahuel vineyard. This vineyard has 600 ha. As expected on a surface like this, there are many different realities. It is surrounded by hills and has different geological formations, slopes, altitudes, soil textures. This is why it has different varieties planted. With Delanz, we seek to reflect the identity of Alto Jahuel through a mixture of specific blocks, which allow us to interpret the territory as a whole.
  • Vinification: The grapes were harvested by hand early in the morning and taken to the cellar in small boxes of 12 kg. They passed through an optical selection before entering the tank. The fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 23 °-28 ° C (73 ° -82 ° F). The maceration period was 24 days. The skins went to a vertical press, using different pressures to obtain the press wine, which was then used in the final blend. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, clarification and stabilization took place naturally during this period.

 

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