May, 2010.-

This time, the renowned wine-publication highlights on the Buying Guide of its July issue San Pedro’s wine 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, made of grapes grown at the refreshing Leyda Valley, scoring it with 90 points, what is equivalent to qualify this wine as excellent and highly recommendable.

According to the magazine’s review, “nettle, citrus, green herb and mineral aromas announce its coastal SB roots, while the juicy citrus and stony mineral quality are just what they should be. There’s even some tarragon and juniper in the mix. Really good Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that is improving year after year since debuting in 2007.”

This wine is the third vintage since San Pedro’s Premium brand 1865 Single Vineyard began to include a white vine into its range. It is elaborated from the finest Sauvignon Blanc grapes planted in the Leyda Valley, only 4km away from the Pacific Ocean, being one of the vineyards located closest to the sea in Chile, what allows its grapes to ripen very slowly and acquire a notable and unique mineral-salty character and elegance.

Without any doubt, an origin to keep in mind: Las Gaviotas Vineyard!

May 18th, 2010.-

Today, the International Wine Challenge (IWC), one of the most important wine-concourses within the competitive English market, published its results online, just after announcing them during the London International Wine Fair this morning:

Our 2008 Castillo de Molina Shiraz, stemming from Maule Valley, attained a Gold Medal in this competition. This award reinforces San Pedro’s interest in searching for new and better origins for this vine along Chilean valleys, and to produce the best Syrahs in the country.

We are pleased to share this new acknowledgement with you!

May 17^th of 2010.-

Adding recognition to the 90 points and excellent reviews awarded by both most relevant wine-writers from American magazines, WineEnthusiast and Wine Spectator, now, the English Decanter magazine published on its June issue the article entitled “From Zero to Hero” written by renowned wine broadcaster, writer and director of the Winchester Wine School, Peter Richards, who highlighted 1865 Limited Edition Syrah within his list of the best Chilean Syrahs with a maximum score of five Stars.

On his three-page article, Richards tells the story of the first steps, the evolution and exciting present the Syrah is experimenting in Chile, specially focusing on the amazing regional diversity this country is able to deliver, mentioning Colchagua, Leyda, Elqui and other valleys and sub-valleys. In this context, he says “this debut Elqui Syrah from San Pedro is captivating. As with other styles from this region, the emphasis is on a northern Rhone style, especially in the aromatics, with black pepper and charred fruit notes. The palate is oaky in its youth and seriously impressive: savoury, deep, not all that obvious.”

Richards ends his note alluding to another San Pedro’s Syrah which sounded loud at the beginning of this year. “The reality of Syrah in Chile is a fast-evolving one. At the latest Wines of Chile Awards in January, San Pedro won Wine of the Show for its 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah from Cachapoal. It was a reminder, (….) that Syrah and Chile have a long way yet to go together.”

And of course, San Pedro projects to leave several marks more on that road!

May of 2010.-

Wine-critic and journalist Gord Stimmell, published the results of a tasting of 30 white wines from several countries at the largest Canadian newspaper, “Toronto Star”.

Our GatoNegro Sauvignon Blanc 2009 attained 88 points, reaching one of the top three places on the list.

The publication described this Sauvignon Blanc as an easy-sipping white at a swallowable price. Perfect to enjoy with wine poached mussels.

Stimmell highlighted it aromas of mango, grass and lime peel, which lead into mellow lemongrass. Also, he described lime and pineapple flavours, with a green mango finish. “Overall –he said-, the impression is slightly sweet, making this a nice starter white to sip on the summer porch”.

April of 2010.-

The American magazine published a special about Chile, which prestigious wine writer, James Molesworth, entitled “Chile cools off” and where he relates the positive turn of this country towards discovering the cool valleys and their magnificent results with fine wines. Once again, on this review, the Elqui Valley is the star and within this context,   San Pedro is one of the wineries that caught his attention greatly.

Molesworth highlighted our wine 1865 Limited Edition Syrah Elqui Valley 2007, awarding it 90 points, and qualifying it as an outstanding Syrah, crafted from the winery’s cool-climate Elqui vineyards. “…the debut release for one of the new projects under Marco Puyo’s guidance, offers the grape’s typical roasted plum and blackberry fruit, spiked with white pepper and violet hints and a long, rangy finish”, states the expert.

A new recognition from a world-famous critic to our projects at the Elqui Valley, an origin which –be aware!– will very soon come up again with other striking news.

 On the Buying Guide of its May issue, the publication chose to highlight only five Chilean Syrah and Michael Schachner, contributing editor responsible for tasting the Chilean wines, scored it with 90 points what is equivalent to qualify it as an excellent and highly recommendable wine.

 Schachner highlighted its origin at the Elqui Valley, adding “we like its leathery, complex and smoky nose that foretells layered blackberry, chocolate and spice flavors. Fairly thick and modern, but balanced, with a long, lightly minty finish. Interesting and well seasoned with oak.”

This wine is the second one launched within the Limited Edition line of our brand 1865, which aims at giving an even higher relevance to the origin. It is elaborated from a selection of Syrah grapes, planted twelve years ago at the Elqui Valley’s coastal zone, on alluvial soils, near the Elqui River and at 100 meters above the sea level. This area’s lower temperatures than other more traditional Chilean wine-growing regions for this variety, allow obtaining wines with greater fruit expression and softer tannins. This wine is vinified in 15,000 liters vats, specially designed for it and wears its creator’s signature, winemaker Marco Puyo, on its label.

Just as Mr. Schachner said, highly recommendable!

Two of our wines attained excellent scores in this publication. 

 On one hand, 1865 Single Vineyard 2009 stemming from the Leyda Valley was qualified with 92 points. This Sauvignon Blanc was described as a wine of intense flavors, maritime as few, with salty and iodized notes, along a stone-like acidity. Recommended to enjoy chilled, along a seabass sashimi.

 Also, our awarded Castillo de Molina Reserva 2009 from the Elqui Valley reached 90 points, being highlighted its green-chili notes, strong acidity, hard body, great volume and freshness. Ideal to pair with a seabass “tiradito” (kind of ceviche without onion).

Two outstanding options for this Easter Week!!

February, 2010.-

 35°South Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was chosen in blind tastings as one of the top 150 winning wines under US$15 and for this reason, featured in the new edition of the world’s bestselling guide to inexpensive wines, The Wine Trials 2010, from renowned US wine-critics, Robin S. Goldstein and Alexis Herschkowitsch.

 This guide hit the bookstores across the United States last November and was among the top wine guides sold on the American on-line shopping website amazon.com through the month of December as Christmas-gift. It will be circulating all this year 2010.

Last night, Wines of Chile, members of the industry and the eleven Canadian judges celebrated with a gala dinner the closure of three days tasting nearly 500 Chilean wines in 14 varieties and two price categories (US$10 -14.99 and US$15 – 25 ).

The competition was hard, but San Pedro shined with its wines, 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah 2007 being highlighted first as Best Syrah and at the end of the evening, chosen as the best wine in the show.

Canada is Chile’s third largest market and this competition, which invited the most influential wine writers from this country’s three major wine importing regions to be judges, helps to build a clearer picture of their preferences.

These are great news to start this year 2010 with more energy and on the right foot!

The new vintage of our Icon wine, 2006 Cabo de Hornos, has just been rated with 91 points by James Molesworth, wine-writer of the prestigious American magazine, Wine Spectator for its 31st December issue.

Heading the column about the new releases from wineries around the world, our 2006 Cabo de Hornos appears with
the highest score ( the next one attained 89 points).

Molesworth described it as “Dark, but sleek and polished, with chocolate-covered espresso bean and warm fig sauce notes that glide over a loamy but well- integrated undertow. Roasted sage and tobacco chime in on
the long finish.”

This follows the same path as the 91+ points awarded earlier to this wine, at the Chilean wine ranking published in April by The Wine Advocate, the magazine belonging to the famous American wine-critic, Robert Parker.

A wide ranking acknowledgement granted to the oenological work, the dedication to terroirs and the excellent quality of San Pedro wines.

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