another Birthday at Vik Chile

Well…

…we got an opportunity to return for another birthday. this time we were given the "F" master suite, delighting in the surrealist and whimsical creations of Piero Fornasetti, and ever watched and smiled upon by the gaze and visage of his muse Lina Cavalieri, "la (donna) più bella (del mondo)"…

…and on that note, seems like multiple painted copies of La Più Belle exist/were commissioned, as we saw them in a tasting room at the vineyard, as well as at the reception desk.

as before, sparkling wine was provided; and again its provenance was neither enquired nor volunteered, but thankfully enjoyed.

• 2016 Viña Vik Milla Cala 92 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  (2/3/2020)

  well aerated and served with the appetiser…
  
  wow! the red fruit and green pepper notes just jump from the glass, followed by pine, tobacco, clove… in softer waves. delicious mouthfeel with fresh-feeling acidity highlighting the fruit's softer attack and leavening the fairly fine tannins. long, long fresh finish.
  
  modern and classic at once, with good purity of fruit, solid structure and evolving layers of complexity.

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• 2013 Viña Vik Millahue 94 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  (2/3/2020)

  fully decanted when served with the main course
  
  big wine, but lighter feeling than the 2012 i had before. rich nose with red berries, plums, herbs, vanilla, cedar and related aromas… just as generous in the mouth, feeling fairly full and rounded. layers peel back slowly, complementing and never overwhelming the accompanying food.
  
  quite likely one of the slowest meals i've had in a long time, as i slowly savoured each bite and sip. i asked for more of the wine to go with the chococalatey dessert…
  
  waiter told us this vintage was a slight change of style in the wine, and it did in fact seem that way (more modern and more in line with the later-vintage Milla Callas and Piu Belles we had drunk and would be tasting)

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as before, the Sauv Blanc was on offer, but we eschewed it in the knowledge that it did not come from estate fruit.

• 2019 Viña Vik La Piu Belle Rosé 91 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  (2/4/2020)

  colour was less intense than the 2018 vintage previously tasted; wine was just as bright, fresh and acidic, and with nice body, as well as being similarly fruity and floral in the nose.
  
  it was an amazing pairing with one of the main courses (the grilled fish of the day, freshly caught near Pichilemu).
  
  waiter said commercial release was nearly imminent pending resolution of some arguments about the bottle art.

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• 2016 Viña Vik La Piu Belle 93 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  (2/4/2020)

  well aerated or decanted when served.
  
  inky dark red colour with purple overtones in the glass. aromas of black cherries and cassis dominate the nose, with hints of mint and lavender coming thru. well textured, balanced and focused in the mouth yielding a long evolving finish.
  
  felt a bit lighter than the 2015 previously sampled; all the same, held very nicely as counterweight to the grilled punta picana it was set against.
  
  while this Piu Belle didn't wow me like the previous one, i think this may have less to do with the Piu Belle itself and more with how the Milla Calla and Vik seemed better than ones previously tasted – or maybe i was already wine-saturated from the night before and the earlier sparkling.

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This time we also enjoyed a slightly different winery tour that included some tasting opportunities. On this opportunity for our barrel tastings we tried two different samples each of Cab Franc and Syrah from different parts of the estate that have different weather. It was illuminating in showing just how rich a palette of flavours for blending the Vik oenologists have at their disposal.