THE TOP 100 WINES OF THE ANDES 2016

THE TOP 100 WINES OF THE ANDES 2016

Written by alex, Nov 22, 2016, 0 Comments

Something extraordinary is happening in the Andes.

We’ve visited the region four times in the last two years, and we’re continually impressed with the reds and whites as they become increasingly refined and stylish. We also can hardly believe how affordable they are, ranging from 90 to 94 points and selling at bargain prices from $15 to $35. These finds would stack up against similar quality wines from France or California that cost two or three times that price.

Chile and Argentina are also making some of the most drinkable wines in the world. We’re happy to see the region move away from an old school style of dense, high-octane reds and embrace a more harmonious approach that emphasizes viticultural areas as well as vineyards. “We make wines that ultimately we want to drink,” says Marcelo Pelleriti, the winemaker of Monteviejo as well as his own brand Abremundos and at Pomerol’s Château Le Gay and Violette in Bordeaux

In Chile, the region’s uniqueness extends to different regions and varietals, though our top Chilean wines were cabernet sauvignons. The country has an exceptional heritage of old dry-farmed vineyards, particularly in the southern regions like Maule and Itata, with carignan, país, cinsault, moscatel and even malbec. But many producers are also grafting other varieties like garnacha (aka grenache) or monastrell (aka mourvedre) to these old vineyards. The wines are produced in a fresh and vivid style, giving them the transparency required to communicate their best microclimates and terriors and signaling a new era of Chilean viticulture.

In fact, some of the most exciting pinot noir outside of France is in Chile. “We have only begun to plant in the right places and with the right plant material,” states Francisco Baettig, technical director of Errázuriz, Viñedo Chadwick, and Seña. The pinots from the coastal area of Casablanca and its surroundings, with its cool yet dry climate and diverse soils, are testament of the qualitative leap that the variety has taken in the region. Syrah is also making a lot of noise in regions like Elqui, Casablanca, and Colchagua.

Perhaps a sign of Chile truly coming of age is our 100-point rating of the 2014 Viñedo Chadwick, a cabernet sauvignon from Valle de Maipo. This is a wine that defines the greatness of Chile with a purity, structure, and finesse that competes with the best reds of the world. “The possibilities are endless here,” says Francois Lurton, who has been making wines in Chile for decades at Hacienda Araucano as well as in Argentina at Bodega Piedra Negra. He was born and raised in Bordeaux and his family still owns some of the best châteaux, but he believes the future in the Andes is endless.

As for Argentina, single-vineyard wines continue to highlight the country’s quality revolution, with malbec leading the way. These are wines that can’t be duplicated. When people ask us about the future of Argentina, we like to tell them “malbec and more malbec.” It remains the ultimate communicator of fine wines in Argentina, despite excellent cabernet sauvignons, cabernet francs, chardonnays and semillons. It’s no surprise either then that the 100-point wine we found in Argentina this year is malbec: the Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Mendoza Fortuna Terrae 2012 from the Catena family. It’s the La Tâche of Argentina and comes on the heels of the first 100-point wine we discovered in the country two years ago, Viña Cobos Malbec Mendoza Cobos 2011.

The Adrianna Vineyard is located in Gualtallary, a region that is very much in vogue. It’s producing some of Mendoza’s most compelling wines, and its vineyards go from 1,100 to 1,400 meters in altitude, where sunlight intensity and temperature affect the behavior of the vines in all the right ways. Other fascinating regions include Altamira, La Consulta, and Vista Flores, all in Valle de Uco, which has become the promise land for a new generation of winemakers set on translating the essence of their land into the bottle.

While Mendoza remains the epicenter of Argentine winemaking, areas like Salta and Patagonia are also establishing themselves as prime winemaking regions. Salta, where some of the highest vineyards in the world are found, produces equally compelling and wild malbecs full of intensity and character. Patagonia offers its own refined and subtle interpretation of malbec as well as pinots from its Rio Negro area, which are generating even more buzz. And even obscure varieties like trousseau have found a home in Argentina.

This unique blend and balance of tradition and progress, old and new, is even evident in the types of producers. We’re seeing an uptick in small producers making better and better wines. But big names do matter, and the absolute best bottles come from talented winemakers who have a long resume of excellence. These two groups, together, represent the future of South America’s bourgeoning wine scene, and especially considering the exceptional value, it’s clear that now is the time to take note of what the Andes has to offer.

The Top 100 Wines of the Andes 2016

Tags: GWA 2016, TOP 100 WINES

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