TABALI DOM CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Tasting notes:

Purity of fruit are hallmarks of all wines from this vineyard, and with Tabali's 'icon' wine from Maipo, there is explosive blackcurrant lift on the nose. Aromas of cedar, rosehip and star anise add complexity. The palate is full bodied and rich, but with a lovely vein of freshness which provides balance. Tannis give enough grip to pull everything together but their fine grain makes for a supple and very long finish.

About the wine:

The vineyard is planted on a gentle, south-facing slope and therefore receives much less sunshine in the summer, making it cooler. The area gets quite windy in the afternoons because of its proximity to the Maipo river gorge. All of these factors make this vineyard a cooler place than the rest of Maipo. The soil on the slope is of colluvial origin broken up by very stony layers. This soil is perfect for planting Cabernet Sauvignon because of its low fertility, which naturally controls the growth and production of grapes, resulting in very high quality. The grapes therefore ripen more slowly, producing fresher and more elegant wines.The grapes were hand-harvested into 20kg-bins to avoid any damage to the fruit. The harvest began in the first week in April, when this variety had reached the optimum phenolic ripeness. The clusters were later very carefully selected, then destemmed and selected one last time. The fermentation took place in small stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The maceration occurred after the alcoholic fermentation. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for ten months.

About the producer:

Established in 2002, Tabalí is a pioneer and iconic winery situated in Limarí, on the edge of the Atacama Desert in one of the northernmost vineyard regions of Chile. They were one of the first wineries to settle in Limarí and their wines faithfully reflect their place of origin in which climate and soils play a fundamental role, and bring out the potential of each of their vineyards.

After years of geological research, Tabalí is the only winery that producers wines that cross Chile from east to west in the same valley (D.O.), from their incredibly high and remote site of Roca Madre (second highest vineyard in Chile) in the Andes Mountains' Rio Hurtado area down to their cool climate, 'Camanchaca' fog blanked vineyards by the Pacific Ocean. In their quest for the perfection, they now also have a site in the renowned Cabernet and Merlot region of Maipo Valley. The result is a range of truly distinctive wines with elegance, restraint and minerality which the dynamic team of Felipe Muller (winemaker) and Hector Rojas (viticulturalist) have attributed to their cabinet full of the wine world’s most prestigious trophies.

In 2014, Felipe Müller was name 'Chilean Young Winemaker of the Year' and acclaimed for his ability to understand Tabali´s distinctive terroir and use it to create remarkable wines, unique to Chile.Tabalí also has the honour of stewardship of the Limarí Valley’s most significant archaeological sites, the mystical ‘Valle del Encanto’ (Enchanted Valley) which borders their vineyards. A sacred site of the ancient Molle and Diaguita culture, the many rock drawings and carved Tacita stones depict an ancient way of life. The Tabalí mask logo has been taken from one of these rock carvings, which can only be seen at certain times of day when the sun’s alignment makes them magically appear.

Food match:

A worthy match to lamb, especially richer dishes like ragout, slow-cooked lamb shanks or casseroles. Also pairs wonderfully with a black olive pizza or creamy porcini mushroom tagliatelle.

This wine is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.