DeMartino, Choapa Valley (Chile) Syrah 2011

De Martino, one of Chile’s finest producers, is situated in the Maipo region.  The grapes for this wine, however, come from Choapa Valley, 250 miles north of Santiago, from a vineyard almost 2800 feet high in the Andes Mountains.  The wine has a complex aroma of red fruits, fresh fruit preserves, and herbs.  In the mouth, it is dry, lean and nearly full-bodied, with concentrated fruit flavor (dark berry, red plum, red berry) and a considerable amount of tannin.  An attractive juiciness gives the taste freshness.  This is a fairly gutsy, chewy Old World-style red that will drink well for a few years, and represents very good value.