Get a País of the action: Smith’s 10 to try
1 Ignacio Pino Román, Itata 2020 93
£28 The Finest Wines Available to Humanity
A País from 150-year-old vines on decomposed granite soil. Aged in steel tank, which gives greater fruit purity and linearity. Impressive concentration, even with its gossamer frame. Sweet, softly spiced, red cherry and blackberry fruits, with a fine mineral core and refreshing acidity. One of the most elegant expressions of País that money can buy. Drink 2022-2027 Alcohol 11.5%
2 Roberto Henríquez, País Franco, Bío Bío/Itata 2020 93
£24.70 161 Food & Drink
Beautiful pomegranate colour. Shows the wonderful balsamic herb expression of 200-year-old País on Henríquez’s Santa Juana property in Bío Bío. It has almost Pinot Noir-like fruit, with dried herbs and hints of Negroni spice. Vibrant and juicy, strawberry and cranberry fruit on the palate, and a deliciously tangy mineral finish. Drink 2022-2027 Alc 12%
3 Louis-Antoine Luyt, El País de Quenehuao, Maule 2019 91
louisantoineluyt.cl
País made in a semi-carbonic style similar to Marcel Lapierre’s Morgon. Lapierre helped Louis-Antoine Luyt choose this historic parcel of País because of its similarities with Beaujolais’ famous Côte du Py. Mediumbodied, finely structured and fruit-forward, with intense notes of dark cherry and blackcurrant. Drink 2022-2026 Alc 14%
4 Macatho, Segundo Flores, Maule 2020 91
@agricolamacatho
A País that expresses the soil and minerality of Pilen Alto in Maule. From a cool vineyard plot higher than 350m, 20km from the ocean. The decomposed granite soils here contain the mineral pyrite (fool’s gold), and the wine has a smoky Mezcal-like note to its earthy raspberry and cranberry fruit. Drink 2022-2028 Alc 14%
5 A Los Viñateros Bravos, Granítico, Itata 2021 90
£15.50 Latitude Wine
Evokes the underbrush aromas of Itata’s wild grass. Subtly smoky with bright red fruits, a touch of cassis and a pronounced white pepper note. Fine tannins provide an elegant structure and a lingering, mineral finish. Drink 2022-2028 Alc 11.5%
El Viejo Almacén de Sauzal, Chilena, Maule 2016 90
£27.50 Wine Republic
A País made the traditional way, in raulí wood casks, by viticulturist-turned-winemaker Renán Cancino. From 300-yearold own-rooted País vines. Earthy, rustic and unique, with smoky forest fruits, and a dried and lively acidity. A wine with surprising ageing potential. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 13.5%
Roberto Henríquez, Fundo La Unión, Itata 2020 90
£25 Raw Wine
From a coastal Itata vineyard, with cooler conditions than the interior, this is a delicate, poised País. Soft and feathery but with concentration that comes from the deep-rooted old vines on granitic soils. Subtly smoky, with herbal red cherry, strawberry bootlace and rosehip fruit, and a sappy dry finish. Drink 2022-2027 Alc 11%
González Bastías, Matorral, Maule 2019 89
£18.99-£20.95 Indigo Wine, The Cellar Hand, The Sourcing Table, Thorne Wines
José Luis Gómez Bastías is the fifth generation to make wine from centenarian vines on the south bank of the Maule river. Fermented in large pipas, this País spends 12 months in old oak, bringing a subtle spiciness to the grape’s classic earthy tones and bright red-black fruits. Concentrated in fruit but easy to drink thanks to its refreshing acidity. Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13%
Vinos Mingaco, Maule 2020 89
POA Wines Under the Bonnet
Aromatics of a different order – surely down to the natural farming that Mingaco practises and the microflora in the vineyards. Vivid eucalyptus and blackcurrant leaf, then anise-basil herbal and sweet citrus aromas, combined with gem-like red fruits. Constantly evolving. So lively on the palate, with sappy red berry fruit and a refreshing finish. Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13%
Estación Yumbel, Pipeño, Bío Bío 2021 88
£13.69-£14.95 North & South Wines, Seven Cellars, Sip Wines
Based in Yumbel, Bío Bío, Mauricio Gonzalez Carreño is a winemaker with an uncomporomising commitment to the traditional farming and winemaking of the south of Chile. He makes this País in the light, quaffable ‘pipeño’ style. Combines tart red fruits and the grape’s characteristic earthiness, with subtle cinnamon-type spice. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 12%