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.
1/21/2019 - OscarWineVino wrote: 87 Points
Very meaty, coffee, heavy Syrah. To be Dean with a meat stew.
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9/5/2016 - mjwstickings Likes this wine: 88 Points
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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