Expensive wine 149: Vina Maquis Viola 2014

This Chilean carmenere blend is a stunning addition to the roster of the world’s great wines

One of these wines was impressive enough. Now, we have a second Chilean carmenere blend that left me, well, almost beyond words.

The Vina Maquis Viola 2014 ($50, sample, 13.5%) is a step up from the aformentioned Maquis Lien, which is impressive enough given how accomplished the Lien was. What’s even more impressive is that the Viola is a great wine, one that can stand with any of the world’s more famous and more pricey great wines. So yes, Napa cabernet sauvignon and red Bordeaux.

Or, as I wrote in my notes: “Damn.”

This is a layered and structured – almost subtle – carmenere blend, which isn’t easy to do. Carmenere’s story is here; it’s enough for our purposes to know that the grape makes rough, tannic, and bell pepper-ish wine without any trouble at all. So that this wine is this sophisticated speaks volumes about the quality of the grapes and the care taken with them.

Look for black berry fruit, spices and green herbs (and not bell pepper), and tremendously well-done tannins. The 15 percent cabernet franc in the blend adds structure and helps make the finish — well, finish longer and in a more interesting way.

Highly recommended; a holiday wine for anyone who wants to try a high-end red and doesn’t have preconceived notions about what those wines should taste like.

Imported by Global Vineyard Importers