2020 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Gran Reserva, Morande. Maipo, Chile

From Morande’s website: “The fruit comes from selected plots of the San Bernardo vineyard in the Maipo Valley, which is famous for the production of great-quality red wines. The loamy-clay soils of alluvial origin also have gravel in the third layer of the profile. The fresh, dry climate provides an ideal terroir for producing structured, elegant red wines with long persistence.”

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured for 18 months in French oak, 80% large old ‘foudres’ and 20% new or 1 year old, small (225l) barrels.

Morandé is a large family-owned winery, founded in 1996. They have always been innovators – the first to plant vines in Casablanca Valley; one of the first to revive interest in old vines in the heartlands of Maule and Itata; and to promote lesser-known varietals found there, like Carignan and Cinsault; early experimenters in high density vineyards and the use of larger oak barrels and concrete eggs; the first winery in Chile to be certified as fully ‘sustainable’.

Chile is too often categorised as cheap and cheerful, when in fact it is as capable as anywhere else of producing wines at all levels of quality. This is seriously good Cabernet at a relatively modest price.