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.