Photo: https://torresdelpaine.com/
Ventisquero, Grey label is named after the Grey Glacier in Chile’s Patagonia region. The Glacier is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. It is 17 miles long beginning in the Patagonian Andes Mountains and ends in Grey Lake. It is one of the most spectacular glaciers in Chile. Hence the [Glacier] on the label. Ventisquero has been making wine since 1998. They own vineyards in Chile’s main wine-producing regions: Coastal Maipo, Casablanca, Colchagua, Leyda and Huasco. The Grey label represents single-vineyard wines from the various regions.They recently released two new vintages, The 2014 Carménére from the Maipo Valley and the 2017 blend of Garnacha, Cariñena and Mataro from the Apalta Vineyard in the Colchagua Valley. Both wines are made under head winemaker Felipe Tasso who joined the winery in 2000. The Carménére has been aged in oak for 18 months, because according to Tosso “When the wine is concentrated, Carménére goes very well with oak. Otherwise, the toast overpowers the fruit.” The decision to age the Carménére in oak is based on the power of the Carménére from vintage to vintage. The Grey GCM doesn’t require as long a time in oak.
2014 Grey [Glacier] Carménére SRP $20This wine is 100% Carménére from the Maipo Valley. The soil consists of clay and coarse sand and stones. Malolactic fermentation happens in the barrels. Aging is for 18 months in French oak where 34% were first-use and 66% were second or third-year use. After bottling it is aged in the bottle for 8 months. It can be aged up to 10 years.Tasting Notes: Lots of black and blue fruit coming from the glass with a hint of green pepper in the distant. The palate is strong and smooth with velvety tannins. Hints of graphite mix in with the black fruit. Paired wonderfully with a flat iron steak.