Clos des Fous 2016 'Cauquenina' Red Blend, Cauquenes

Clos des Fous 2016 'Cauquenina' Red Blend, Cauquenes

Item Number: 15137

UPC: 7-804640220032

Country: Chile
Region: Central Valley
Sub Region: Maule
Appellation/AVA: Cauquenes
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vintage: 2016
Grape(s): Carignan / Pais / Portugais Bleu / Petite Sirah / Syrah / Malbec / Cinsault
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 13.9
Soil Type: Granite
Elevation: 490 feet

Vineyard Notes: Grapes are sourced from a 4.5-acre, low-yielding vineyard of bush vines in Cauquenes in the Maule Valley. The vines were planted in 1985 at 490 feet above sea level in granite soils. Farmed lutte raisonée .

Winemaking Notes: Each variety is vinified separately in either concrete vats or stainless steel tanks. The wine is left on the lees for 12 months and is bottled lightly filtered.

91pts (2017 Vintage) Wine Advocate 8/31/2021
"The red blend 2017 Cauquenina is approximately of 40% Carignan, 30% País, 20% Cinsault and 10% Carmenere, quite different from previous years and higher in Carignan and with a notable percentage of Cinsault. It fermented at low temperature and matured in concrete and 5,000-liter oak foudre for six months. There is a little more rusticity here, perhaps the higher percentage of Cariñena this year. There is also a smoky and spicy note reminiscent of the Chilean spice mix called merkén, with some notes of graphite too. It's medium-bodied and has some dusty tannins. 9,000 bottles produced."

Reviews

  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 92 (2/28/2020)
    The 2016 Cauquenina is composed of 30% País, 25% Carignan, 22% Syrah, 15% Malbec and 8% Carmenere from small plots of ungrafted vines on red granite soils mostly around the city of Cauquenes in Maule and some in Itata. It had a traditional fermentation and matured exclusively in stainless steel and concrete. The nose seems quite dominated by the Cariñena/Carignan, with a dusty/earthy character, and it is ripe without excess but with a different profile than previous vintages. It's less balsamic and is more serious, with a medium to full-bodied palate with plenty of grainy tannins and good acidity. This needs food.