Maquis, Colchagua Valley (Chile) Carménère 2017

 Although it benefits very significantly from aeration and should not be judged right after the cork is pulled, this is an excellent rendition of Carménère from Maquis.  It is a very good buy and an indisputably fine wine if decanted or otherwise aerated and then paired appropriately, which is to say, with foods containing some dietary fat (which need not be confining, as a grilled cheese sandwich or a simple bowl of macaroni and cheese stolen from a distracted child will do the trick).  Although Carménère is usually picked about two weeks later than Cabernet in Chile and needs to be, to get fully ripe, this bottling is actually less meaty and tannic than this excellent producer’s Cabernet from this vintage, and by a wide margin.  This shows the usual black fruit tones, but with some interesting and fresh red berry tones also, and there is a lot to like here.  The brain behind these wines is Ricardo Rivadeneira Hurtado, who is a reserved and modest gentleman but also an exceptional vintner, and if you travel to Chile, you’d be well advised to make an attempt to meet and speak with him.