Carmen shines in Tim Atkin MW 2021 Chile Report
In its fifth Chile Report, the British Master of Wine highlighted Carmen DO Florillón #3 with 96 points and Carmen Gold 2018 with 95 points.
London, April 2021.- Launched recently, Tim Atkin’s Chile Report commented on the national wine scene “Tasting and talking remotely wasn’t as much fun as being in Chile, but it still enabled me to acquaint myself with most of the best current releases. It helps that I’ve been visiting Chile since 1990 and can see the latest vintages and wine styles in context. So I feel confident in saying that this was the best line-up of Chilean wines I’ve ever tasted”. He also added “…the outstanding quality of the 2018 vintage, which I mentioned last year. I can’t remember a better year in Chile, especially in the Maipo Valley, which is the home of several of the country’s highest profile wines. 2018 has taken Chilean fine wine to new levels”.
Viña Carmen’s Grand Vin, Carmen Gold 2018, was awarded with 95 points, with Atkin commenting “Gold is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and (for the first time) 9% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from the coldest part of Carmen’s vineyards in the Alto Maipo. Aged in 30% new wood, it’s scented and intense, with blackcurrant leaf and cedar wood aromas, structured tannins, racy acidity and layers of bramble, raspberry and damson fruit. 2023-30”.
The Carmen DO range was once again highlighted for its proposal, with Florillón #3 receiving a score of 96: “Low in alcohol and partly aged under a veil of flor yeast, this is a wonderfully complex, oldvine white from a 63-year-old parcel in the Apalta Valley that wouldn’t look out of place in Jura. Herbal, bready and salty, with beeswax and citrus flavours and a complex, persistent finish. Why don’t more people grow Semillón in Chile? 2021-28”. In addition, Carmen DO Loma Seca 2020 obtained 94 points, while Carmen DO Matorral 2020 and DO Quijada 2019 both achieved 93 points.
Two of Carmen’s latest releases, Delanz Alto Jahuel 2019 and Vintages Blend III, were recognised with 93 points. Of the first, Tim Atkin said “Inky and intense, with floral top notes, fine-grained tannins and a medley of red cherry and blackcurrant fruit. The oak is expertly applied, the finish long and detailed”. He added on Vintages Blend III “Rich, powerful, focused and intense, with the colour and depth you expect from the variety, fennel and cassis flavours, good structure and adroitly handled oak”.
Lastly, the Carmen Gran Reserva range showed great consistency, with 91 points for Gran Reserva Carignan 2019, Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2020, Gran Reserva Petite Sirah 2019, Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2020 and Gran Reserva Syrah 2019. On the other hand, Carmen Gran Reserva Rosé 2020, which is yet to be released in the market, secured 90 points.