October, 2011.-

On a Chilean level, the results of two relevant wine competitions have just been presented to the public, in addition to several tasting panels in local and foreign specialized magazines which have highlighted our wines. Also, the most important competition in China, especially focused on Chinese consumer preferences, revealed its medal standings.

In the competition at the traditional Chilean fair Cata y Vino, Castillo de Molina in its 2011Elqui Sauvignon Blanc and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, obtained a Gold Medal and a BEST VALUE distinction for each, in addition to two more Gold Medals for 2009 1865 Single Vineyard Malbec and 2008 1865 Limited Edition Syrah from Elqui Valley.

In turn, 2010 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was granted a Gold Medal in the national competition Catad’Or W. Whereas, at the other side of the world, the 2011 China Wine Awards, granted a Gold Medal to our 2006 Cabo de Hornos.

As for specialized magazines, local panels of these last few months have highlighted:

+ La Cav Tasting Panel, Syrah and Merlot, July 2011:

- 91pts, 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah 2008

- 89pts, Castillo de Molina Syrah 2009

- 89pts, Castillo de Molina Merlot 2009

+ La Cav Tasting Panel, Malbec and Red Blends, August 2011:

- 90pts, 1865 Single Vineyard Malbec 2008

+ Vinos&Más Tasting Panel, Syrah and Carménère, July-August 2011:

- 90pts, 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah 2007

- 90pts, 1865 Limited Edition Syrah Elqui 2007

+ La Cav Tasting Panel,Carménère under $15,000, September 2011:

- 91pts, 1865 Single Vineyard Carménère 2009

- 89pts, Castillo de Molina Carménère 2009

And on an international level, in the United States, Lisa Carley, wine consultant and critic of The New York Examiner, published a series of reviews on Chilean wines in her weekly column during August, where she recommended her readers to taste our 2009 Castillo de Molina Pinot Noir, highlighting its great price-quality ratio. “… smooth and fruity, with minimal tannins and minimal oak. (…) solid and bright fruit flavors, good focus (meaning the flavors aren’t muddy), good acidity, long length and excellent balance”, the expert described.

Also, the September issue of CasaLife (luxury exclusive magazine of the Casa de Campo Resort&Residence, in La Romana, Dominican Republic, which is distributed among its 1,600 owners and 140thousand guests a year), published an article by expert John Martin about Chilean wine and a selection of what he qualified as the most outstanding wineries in the country, entitled “Nectar of the Americas”, where he described Viña San Pedro by saying: “This winery masters its red blends to perfection. 1865 Limited Edition Blend, 2006 Cabo de Hornos”. And he also published a picture of our Kankana del Elqui.

Certainly not a small accumulation of recognitions, that support the quality and consistency of San Pedro wines,

in Chile and around the world.

June of 2010.-

“Season 2008 was a good one for San Pedro”, states Puyo, “the vineyard’s yields were lower than the previous years, due to climatic factors, what allowed us to obtain much more concentrated and high quality wines.”

This wine is made of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, grown in the Cachapoal Valley. The vineyards are planted on the piedmont of the Andes Mountains, on clay and moderately sloped soils. The vinification starts with a cold maceration, then, alcoholic fermentation takes place with selected yeasts and controlled temperatures, and later on, 100% of the final blend was aged for one year in French oak barrels.

This new Cabernet’s vintage is facing a great challenge, being born within one of the Chilean Reserve wine brands with the largest amount of specialized acknowledgements. Previous harvest, year 2007, set the bar really high by attaining very relevant international reviews and awards, among them, three Gold Medals in the competitions Florida Wine and Food Festival Wine Judging 2009 in the United States, the French Challenge International du Vin 2009 and worldwide prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, on its 2009 edition.  

Castillo de Molina Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from the Cachapoal Valley is ready and available to delight wine lovers all around the world!

We are particularly proud to announce that Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc from the Elqui Valley received the Decanter World Wine Awards 2009 Trophy for Best Chilean Sauvignon Blanc under 10 pounds. This is the second consecutive year that it has earned this prestigious trophy, and one of only six wines to have received consecutive trophies since the British competition began in 2004!

Prior to this achievement, the March edition of Wine Spectator, one of the most important wine magazines in the US, published a list of outstanding Chilean wines under the title “Bold Reds, Crisp Whites”, which gave 87 points to the 2006 Castillo de Molina Cabernet Sauvignon from Cachapoal. We were featured again, when the magazine’s May 31st edition included winewriter James Molesworth´s special on Chile, entitled “Chile’s one-two punch,” in which he commented that “as red wines continue to surge, whites show marked improvement.”

With respect to San Pedro wines, this renowned critic named the 2008 Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc from Elqui among the most interesting examples of Chilean whites and included the 2006 Castillo de Molina Cabernet Sauvignon from Cachapoal among the 18 Top Value wines in the edition (with 87 points), wines highlighted by their excellent quality-price ratio.

Furthermore, in an attached piece entitled the “ABC’s of Chilean Wine” Molesworth presents Chile’s most important wine regions, and in discussing the Elqui Valley he says that “Viña San Pedro has taken the lead in developing vineyards here, notably for Sauvignon Blanc.”

On the European front, both the major French Challenge International du Vin 2009, and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2009, one of the most important wine competitions in the world, have just released their results and coincided completely in their findings. Each competition awarded Gold Medals to both Castillo de Molina Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Castillo de Molina Shiraz 2007.

All of these distinctions recognize, reinforce, and communicate Castillo de Molina’s excellent quality in all its varieties.