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Chono Carmenère, Elqui Valley Syrah
2007
Carmenère
Rich
Chile
Meat
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The Elqui Valley is on the northern frontier of Chilean viticulture, well north of Santiago at the southern end of the Atacama Desert, where vineyards are planted at altitudes of up to 6,500 feet above sea level. Because of the region's low latitude, grapes receive particularly intense sunlight during the day, but the nearby Pacific Ocean keeps temperatures cool. Syrah from this region has shown great potential, and because pest pressures are very low, organic farming is commonplace in the unspoiled Elqui Valley.
Match this wine with red meat--a grilled steak or lamb chop, smoked barbecued pork or beef ribs, brisket, or braised meat seasoned with black pepper, bay leaf, coriander or red wine.
Chono, named for an indigenous tribe of southern Chile, is a venture of Geo Wines, a partnership between Sergio Reyes and second-generation oenologist Alvaro Espinoza with help from winemaker Juan-Carlos Faúndez. Alvaro Espinoza worked for the Chilean winery Carmen and Château Margaux in Bordeaux, as well as Fetzer and Bonterra in northern California. At the latter, Espinoza worked with biodynamic farming expert Alan York, who opened his eyes to the potential of organic and biodynamic viticulture.
Carmenère gives this deep red intense black fruit and tense structure, while Syrah adds generosity on the palate. It shows brambly blackberry, black currant, rose, violet, lead pencil, tar and earth aromas. It has concentrated huckleberry fruit flavors with hints of blood orange, black pepper, cedar, bell pepper and caramel and moderate, polished tannins.