Antiyal, Maipo Valley (Chile) 2012

I believe I’ve tasted every vintage of this terrific wine that’s ever been made, and I cannot recall another vintage that was any better than this one at a comparable stage of development.  Made by the highly respected Alvaro Espinoza, this is comprised of 56% Carmenère, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Syrah.  The fruit was ripened to perfection, which is to say that it provides a plush impression of purity and sweetness while still showing a structured capacity for improvement over time.  Although 70% of the French barriques used in its elevage were new and the remaining portion only one year old, I’d defy anyone to guess that fact without knowing the technical wine-making details, as the marvelous juice has already soaked up all overt wood notes, and shows only the most subtle accents of spices and smoke around the edges.  Generous in both aroma and flavor, with texture that is very soft but still adequately defined, this is one of those rare wines that will be delicious at every stage of its useful life, which will extend for at least a full decade from now.