Natalia Poblete
Casa Bauzá, Chile
Natalia Poblete is another brilliant young winemaker who cites Marcelo Retamal of De Martino as a formative influence, having worked alongside the Chilean guru for a few months in 2008. Spells at Terrandina and William Cole in Chile and Shaw + Smith in Australia followed, before she landed her current job at boutique producer Casa Bauzá in 2014. ‘Marcelo is continually reinventing himself and questioning what he does,’ she says. ‘That’s something I really admire.’
Like Retamal, her taste is for fresh wines with vibrant acidity, where elegance triumphs over concentration. Working for a winery that’s part of the dynamic MOVI (Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes) group, she’s a passionate believer in the future of smaller bodegas and what they bring to the party. ‘They’re showing another side of Chilean wine,’ she says. ‘Right now, we’re at a crucial stage in the development of the image of our industry.’
Poblete is something of a red wine specialist, making three impressive blends based on much-maligned Carmenere. Presumido benefits from the addition of Syrah and Carignan, Ensamblaje from Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon and (best of all) Isabel has 3% Carignan from Maule.