2013 Viña Falernia Syrah Reserva

Community Tasting Note

mjwstickings Likes this wine:

88 Points

Monday, September 5, 2016 - From Elqui Valley in northern Chile's Coquimbo region, a valley in the south of the Atacama Desert with high temperatures and low rainfall but benefitting from moderating winds from the Pacific, this reserve Syrah from Viña Falernia, which states that it is the country's "nothernmost winery estate," offers two complementary layers. The first is the lean, rustic, savoury Syrah one finds in southern France, with characteristic meaty (roasted and smoked), earthy, and black peppery notes. The second is the softer, more pillowy, more outwardly fruity Syrah one finds elsewhere in Chile, with blackberry, blueberry, and dark cherry notes. And these work well in harmony, along with electric acidity that cuts through the density and richness and that seems to reflect the intensity of this remote region. It's rough, to be sure, but it's also great value (less than $16 in Ontario), and very much an intriguing expression of Chilean Syrah from one of the country's more extreme regions.

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3 comments have been posted

Comment posted by Tim Heaton:

9/8/2016 12:25:00 PM - Running into several things from Elqui valley these past few years. Nearly all are winners, and the prices are quite fair. Nice note, thanks
Comment posted by mjwstickings:

9/8/2016 12:31:00 PM - This was my first wine from Elqui, but I'll definitely look for more. I'm a big fan of Chilean Syrah, but I especially liked the balance here. Maybe not as elegant as those from, say, Casablanca, but more, well, out there. And I do like northern Chilean wines generally, especially the whites from Limari.
Comment posted by macaujames:

11/19/2016 11:54:00 PM - This sounds definitely interesting and good perhaps for winter sipping!