Ventisquero Grey Label Named After a Glacier

Photo: https://torresdelpaine.com/

Ventisquero, Grey label is named after the Grey Glacier in Chile’s Patagonia region. The Glacier is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. It is 17 miles long beginning in the Patagonian Andes Mountains and ends in Grey Lake. It is one of the most spectacular glaciers in Chile. Hence the [Glacier] on the label.

Ventisquero has been making wine since 1998. They own vineyards in Chile’s main wine-producing regions: Coastal Maipo, Casablanca, Colchagua, Leyda and Huasco. The Grey label represents single-vineyard wines from the various regions.

They recently released two new vintages, The 2014 Carménére from the Maipo Valley and the 2017 blend of Garnacha, Cariñena and Mataro from the Apalta Vineyard in the Colchagua Valley. Both wines are made under head winemaker Felipe Tasso who joined the winery in 2000. The Carménére has been aged in oak for 18 months, because according to Tosso “When the wine is concentrated, Carménére goes very well with oak. Otherwise, the toast overpowers the fruit.” The decision to age the Carménére in oak is based on the power of the Carménére from vintage to vintage. The Grey GCM doesn’t require as long a time in oak.

2017 Grey [Glacier] Garnacha, Cariñena, Mataro SRP $20

This blend consists of 62% Garnacha, 19% Cariñena and 19% Mataro. The majority of the grapes, Garnacha come from Apalta, Block 28. Here you will find the soil full of colluvial and stones with some clay and orange granite. The wine was aged in fifth use French oak barrels for 6 months. After oak aging the wines were bottled and aged for a month. Although this wine is a great drink now wine, it should age pretty well for the next 3 to 6 years.

Tasting Notes: Lots going on in this complex wine that shows many flavors. Nice notes of red fruit, red raspberry and some black pepper escape the glass with an earthy note. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins and easy drinking. Flavors of red an black fruit with a hint of cocoa. The finish is a beautiful soft black pepper that lingers a bit. Paired well with grilled beef kabobs.

2014 Grey [Glacier] Carménére SRP $20

This wine is 100% Carménére from the Maipo Valley. The soil consists of clay and coarse sand and stones. Malolactic fermentation happens in the barrels. Aging is for 18 months in French oak where 34% were first-use and 66% were second or third-year use. After bottling it is aged in the bottle for 8 months. It can be aged up to 10 years.

Tasting Notes: Lots of black and blue fruit coming from the glass with a hint of green pepper in the distant. The palate is strong and smooth with velvety tannins. Hints of graphite mix in with the black fruit. Paired wonderfully with a flat iron steak.

3 Ways to Enjoy Wines of Chile

Three wines, three memories and that is how wine should be enjoyed. With Chile’s fast growing wine region and we’ll explore two producers Ventisquero, and Valdivieso. We’ll take a look at a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Sparkling Rosé and a Sauvignon Blanc.

We’ll begin with a selection of a 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Ventisquero harvested from their Trinidad Vineyard in the Maipo Valley. The vineyard is 150 to 260 meters above sea level and planted with 377 hectares of vines consisting of Merlot, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, fermented in stainless steel and 70% was aged in French oak for 10 months and then 4 months in the bottle before release. It has a beautiful intense ruby red color. It’s a complex wine with aromas of blueberries, black currants, tart cherry and a hint of green pepper. Soft on the palate it has medium body with flavors of ripe raspberries, strawberries, black current and a hint of cocoa. This wine was enjoyed on the back deck with my husband and later over a steak and roasted cauliflower. SRP $15

Now let’s fast forward to new beginnings. Yes you have to celebrate the couple in love and take them on a boat ride with a bottle of bubbles. Valdivieso Brut Rosé was our choice. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay grown in the Central Valley of Chile at the foothills of the Los Andes mountain range. The wine was made in the Charmat method where the second fermentation happens a tank. A beautiful rose color with nice strong bubbles and had aromas of fresh strawberries shining through on the nose. The palate was fruity with hints of blackberry and red fruit. Delightful on the palate and a grate value at $13.

We head back to the back porch where we create those memorable family moments with close friends and share a bottle of Valdivieso 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserva. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from the valley of Leyda which has a strong maritime influence due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. There wine was left on the lees for 3 months and that contributes to its creaminess, but don’t worry you still get the acidity you get from a Sauvignon Blanc. Lots of lime on the nose accompanied by grapefruit and some fresh cut grass. In your mouth the wine was soft on your palate with white grapefuit and passion fruit and soft acidity. It went very well with salt and vinegar potato chips. At $17, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase.

Coastal Chilean Pinot Noir: Kalfu Sumpai

A couple of weeks back I tasted Kalfu Kuda 2013 Chardonnay and really enjoyed it.  This week I tasted her sister the Kalfu Sumpai 2013 Pinot Noir

This Pinot Noir is from their estate vineyards in the Leyda Valley.  The soil composition is granite and clay and it really comes through in the wine.

Aromas of fresh strawberry and hints of vanilla lead way to a palate of bright red fruit.  Red cherry seemed to dominate my palate with a hint of licorice.

The wine was aged in French oak for 10 months with 20% of the oak being new.  The oak does come through mid palate on the wine.

Kalfu is produced in Chile by Ventisquero Winery.  The wine retails for $23.99