Wine & Spirits - Winter 2016 - 111

CHI L E
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
117986

94 | Undurraga

$25

2013 Alto Maipo T.H. Pirque Cabernet
Sauvignon ^ Pirque is one of the highest areas
in the Alto Maipo, rising 2,500 feet above sea
level. Proximity to the cold influence of the
Andes is what winemaker Rafael Urrejola
wanted to show in this cabernet from a cool
year, a wine that delivers elegance and refinement. This has minty and menthol aromas,
fresh herbal notes mingled with red fruit,
while the palate is soft, yet filled with fine
tannins, as sharp and gentle as the claws of a
kitten. (W&S 6/16) § Maritime Wine Trading
Collective, San Francisco, CA

116821

90 | Santa Rita

$13

2013 Maipo Valley Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ^ This ripe cabernet comes the Alto
Jahuel region, one of the warmest spots in
the Alto Maipo, and you can feel that warmth
in its intense red fruit notes. This is a substantial cabernet sauvignon, with a wild texture.
Pour it now with morcilla. (W&S 2/16) § Palm
Bay Int'l., Boca Raton, FL

PINOT NOIR

117159

90 | Viña Leyda

$15

2014 Leyda Valley Pinot Noir ^ Viña Leyda's
basic pinot noir, this comes from young vines
planted on the clay-rich hills of San Antonio.
It's full of red berry and cherry fruit buoyed
by a refreshing acidity, with just enough grip

How We Taste
n Wine & Spirits tastings are a two-step process. First, all wines submitted to
us or purchased are tasted blind by screening panels, who are asked to determine
which wines stand out as being better than average for their variety and appellation. These panels, conducted by W&S staff, are composed of retailers, sommeliers,
winemakers and other wine professionals whom we invite to taste with us.
The goal is to draw on a broad universe of tasters to help us decide which wines
are worth recommending, and to avoid the prejudices any one critic might exercise,
consciously or not, which might prevent certain styles or classes of wine from being
considered.
n The wines recommended by our screening panels-generally between 20
and 30 percent of those originally assessed-are then presented blind at
a later date to our critic, who scores each wine and writes the reviews. A
second, unopened bottle of each is used for this step. The critic's ratings are based
on how well a wine performs within its category as labeled (varietally or regionally).
n Wines rated 95 or higher are superlative, rare finds; wines from 90 to
94 are exceptional examples of their type; from 86 to 89 are highly recommended; and wines from 80 to 85 are recommended as good examples of
their variety or region.

The wines recommended in W&S have been
selected by a broad range of educated palates,
but then rated and described by an individual
critic. Our goal with these ratings is for each critic to
provide a consistent point of view against which you
may measure your own taste over time.
n

n The label reproductions that appear in our tasting reports are a form of
advertising. After our tastings are completed and the results have been recorded, our
marketing team offers wineries the opportunity to draw attention to their reviews with
label reproductions. There is no obligation to advertise, and our scores and reviews
are in no way affected by a winery's decision regarding advertising. Neither does
advertising influence our selection of the wines we taste; our tastings are open to all.
n All bottle reproductions in the magazine are purely editorial art.

WINE & SPIRITS

BUYING GUIDE 2017

111

http://www.santarita.com/international/home/ http://www.leyda.cl/en/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - Winter 2016