thewinesociety.com/southamerica

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1 AMFEB16 thewinesociety.com/southamerica

2 NEW FINDS AND OLD FAVOURITES South America continues to reinvent itself, discovering new vineyards, making new wines and producing old favourites differently and better than before. Chile has a lovely 2015 vintage making fresh, vibrant whites and juicy reds. For more mature red wines we include many from the cooler years of 2011 and 2013 that are excellent now. Look out for the outstanding Argentine malbecs from Mendel and Zaha, and Uruguay s tannats which are now no longer to be feared! They are ripe, fresh and friendly with bags of character. CONTENTS: pages Everyday Reds and Whites priced between 5.50 and 9.95 per bottle pages 3, 7 and back page Mixed cases: five careful selections, including the Explore South America Mixed Dozen featuring a saving of 8 Chile: The rise of the Rhône varieties page 5 The greatest discovery on my last trip was the Rhône varieties now being produced in Chile from the southern regions of Alto Colchagua, Maule and Itata. Rich monastrell (mourvèdre), opulent garnacha, fresh cariñena (carignan) and juicy cinsault sometimes blended with the resurgent país, as well as a superb viognierroussanne-marsanne blend from Undurraga, offered at a very reasonable price, add more strings to Chile s bow. The Cream of the Crop: outstanding examples of fine South American winemaking priced between and 21 per bottle Toby Morrhall Society Buyer pages 6-7 The Beautiful South: there s a palpable buzz in the southern regions of Chile where Rhône varieties are all the rage Key - bone dry to intensely sweet screwcap 2 synthetic closure new vintage

3 EVERYDAY REDS Lascar Merlot 2014 Cleverly blended from a number of different vineyards, this ripe, spicy merlot is an unusually polished wine for the money. 13.5% The 2015 follows. ref AM-CE bottle 66 dozen Lascar Carmenère 2014 Ripe, soft and velvety red, like a turbo-charged merlot, and a steal at the price. 13.5% The 2015 follows. ref AM-CE bottle 66 dozen Lascar Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 A round, soft Chilean cabernet sauvignon with plenty of fruit, and a degree of real sophistication. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 66 dozen The Society s Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo is a fine-flavoured, cooler vintage with more intense aromas and a fresher, better-balanced palate than in warmer years. This is an excellent blend of fruit from the Maipo area matured in barrel for eight months. A little extra bottle age has heightened the aromas and rounded out the tannins. The 10 per dozen saving comes courtesy of the supplier. 14.5% ref AM-CE bottle 68 special dozen price 5.67 equivalent bottle price SAVE 10 PER DOZEN Zarcillo Bío-Bío Pinot Noir 2014 Chile is an unrivalled source of inexpensive pinot noir. In the cool south of the country, vineyards overlooking the mighty Bío-Bío river produce this lovely pinot with attractive cherry-fruit aroma and flavour, and a fresh yet smooth palate. 14% ref AM-CE8181 Undurraga Candelabro Reserva Carmenère-Malbec-Carignan 2013 Another success in 2013, this is a fruity and balanced wine. The blend is rich and plummy carmenère (61%), fruity malbec (35%) and a little carignan (4%) for structure and freshness. Delightful. A smarter label now does justice to the wine in the bottle. 14% ref AM-CE bottle 81 dozen NEW Weinert Carrascal Tempranillo 2013 An intriguing Argentine take on the main Rioja grape, combining floral, lavender notes with some leathery undertones. Mature, round, strawberry-fruit palate. 13.5% ref AM-AR3381 Winemaker Hubert Weber of Bodegas Weinert Weinert Carrascal Mendoza 2010 An Argentine blend of 40% malbec, 35% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot aged two years in foudres and six months in vats before bottling. Rich, velvety texture with mature flavours of cedar and leather. 14.5% ref AM-AR bottle 102 dozen Weinert Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Generous old-fashioned Argentine cabernet now round and mellow, with notes of leather and cigar box after ageing in large old wooden casks for four years. 15% ref AM-AR bottle 119 dozen EVERYDAY SOUTH AMERICAN REDS CASE A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following: Lascar Merlot 2014/2015 Lascar Carmenère 2014/2015 Weinert Carrascal Mendoza 2010 The Society s Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo 2013 Zarcillo Bío-Bío Pinot Noir 2014 Weinert Carrascal Tempranillo 2013 ref AM-MX year-old unirrigated cinsault bushvines in the cool, wet and southerly Itata region of Chile, where misty rolling hillsides and trees are evidence of a very different climate to Chile s flat vineyards north of Santiago To order thewinesociety.com/southamerica

4 EVERYDAY WHITES Doña Paulina Valle Central Chardonnay 2014 No-nonsense, straightforward chardonnay, from a warmish climate with aromas of melons and apples. Ripe yet balanced with an appealing freshness. No oak. 13% ref AM-CE bottle 66 dozen Silbador Casablanca Chardonnay 2015 Casablanca chardonnay with ripe melony fruit and full, round palate which nevertheless finishes crisply. The 9 per dozen saving comes courtesy of the supplier. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 69 special dozen price 5.75 equivalent bottle price SAVE 9 PER DOZEN The Society s Chilean Chardonnay, Limarí 2014 The cool Limarí climate and its soils with high limestone content produce a bright and vibrant style of chardonnay with an understated mineral character which stands up to food better than the fruit bomb style. 13.5% The 2015 follows. ref AM-CE5151 Silbador Rapel Gewürztraminer 2014 Fresh, rose-petal-scented Chilean gewürztraminer. 13.5% The 2015 follows. ref AM-CE7891 The Society s Chilean Leyda Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely fresh and vibrant vintage producing an intense wine with attractive aromas of blackcurrant leaves, derived from the cool coastal Leyda climate. Unoaked. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 83 dozen Undurraga Candelabro Leyda Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Another new label that does justice to what s in the bottle. Crisp, mouthwatering sauvignon blanc from a cool area and vintage. Unoaked. 13.5% The 2015 follows. ref AM-CE bottle 83 dozen Winemaker Roberto de la Mota of Mendel Wines. Find our selection of Mendel wines on the opposite page. Faldeos Nevados Torrontés 2014 Torrontés is Argentina s signature white grape, blended here from two regions, Cafayate and Altamira, by leading winemaker Susana Balbo. Typically full and fragrant, with heady, grapy flavour and a fresh palate. Unoaked. A fruitenhanced salad or fragrant Thai dish would be a good match. 14% The 2015 follows. ref AM-AR bottle 90 dozen NEW Tabalí Limarí Reserva Viognier 2014 An excellent-value Chilean viognier whose intense apricot aromas are followed by a fresh and vibrant palate. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 90 dozen Matetic Corralillo San Antonio Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Made 19km from the Pacific in the Rosario Valley. Intense, refreshing and powerful sauvignon blanc. You can taste the concentration that comes from the low yields. 13.5% ref AM-CE8791 Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Casablanca Riesling 2015 A lovely floral riesling with some white-pepper aromas. The palate is medium dry. The refreshing acidity is balanced by a light honeyed character. 12% ref AM-CE bottle 99 dozen NEW Matetic Corralillo San Antonio Gewürztraminer 2015 Intense, cool-climate gewürztraminer with lovely palate weight. Made from two pickings, the earlier one for perfume and the later one for weight. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 102 dozen Undurraga s Cauquenes Estate in Maule, Chile, source of their outstanding Viognier-Roussanne-Marsanne 2015 (see page 7) 4

5 THE CREAM OF THE CROP South America built its reputation on providing great-value everyday drinking; however, as the industry (and vineyards) mature, the top wines are really beginning to shine. This is my pick of a very strong bunch. Do try the ripe and generous Familia Deicas tannat. Uruguayan tannat has moved on and is now ripe and balanced. The elegant Mendel and Zaha wines remain firm favourites from Argentina and there is a special mineral quality to be found in the Limarí chardonnays from Maycas, Chile. REDS Familia Deicas Atlántico Sur Reserva Sierra de Mahoma Tannat 2013 This rich, dense and velvety tannat from the Sierra de Mahoma, aged in barrel for six months, stood out in a line up of tannats from all over Uruguay. It was so good I had to buy it! Now to % ref AM-UR bottle 150 dozen Mendel Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Fine, cedar and violet-scented Argentine cabernet from a 15-year-old vineyard at Perdriel at about 1,100m. Fresh, firm, fine linear cabernet of great class, aged a year in oak barriques. Now to % ref AM-AR bottle 155 dozen Mendel Mendoza Malbec 2013 Made from a vineyard planted in 1928 in the Mayor Drummond area of Mendoza, near Lunlunta was another fine and cool year giving an intense floral, scented nose and a medium-bodied, refreshing elegant palate. Decant half an hour before serving. Now to % ref AM-AR bottle 155 dozen Matetic EQ Syrah San Antonio 2013 Tarry, cool-climate syrah nose backed by a rich and velvety palate which conceals the deep structure of this concentrated, Chilean wine made from small yields. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 198 dozen Mendel Unus Mendoza 2012 This is a blend of 60% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and, for the first time, 10% petit verdot of exceptional quality which gives a little extra density and perfume. The malbec, planted in 1928, and cabernet sauvignon, planted in 1998, comes from Perdriel, whilst the petit verdot comes from the winery vineyard. Now to % ref AM-AR bottle 234 dozen Zaha Mendoza Malbec 2013 This is an intensely aromatic malbec with floral and blackberry notes. The soils in Altamira, predominantly sandy and silty with some limestone, give an exquisite, fine-grained silky texture, especially after a year in barrel. Now to % ref AM-AR bottle 240 dozen Susana Balbo Brioso Mendoza 2011 Superb, cedary, fine-flavoured yet concentrated cabernet-based wine made principally from low-yielding vineyards at Agrelo, at about 990 metres above sea level. The blend is 60% cabernet sauvignon, 20% malbec, 15% cabernet franc and 5% merlot, aged in new French oak for 15 months. Now to % The 2013 follows. ref AM-AR bottle 252 dozen WHITES Mendel Mendoza Semillon 2014 From a 70-year-old vineyard in Paraje Altamira, this has a greengage and light-oak aroma typical of part-wood-aged semillon. 15% barrel fermented and matured in American oak for eight months. Now to % ref AM-AR bottle 131 dozen Maycas del Limarí Chardonnay Reserva Especial 2014 Bright, tense Limarí fruit with a dry minerality from the limestone soil. Fermented briefly in oak, just 20% new, it has a tiny hint of oak that lets the crystalline fruit shine. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 155 dozen Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay 2013 Quebrada Seca, about 25km from the coast on the northern bank of the Limarí river, is a cool spot with a high limestone content in the soil. Barrel fermented with mainly used barrels, this is very fine and mineral, and improves with bottle age. For me, Chile s best chardonnay. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 240 dozen To order thewinesociety.com/southamerica

6 CHILE: THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH THE RISE OF THE RHÔNE VARIETIES Alto Colchagua, Maule, Itata and Bío-Bío A drought in Chile s north has reawakened interest in the viticultural possibilities on offer towards the south. Indeed, in Maule they rediscovered 400ha of unirrigated bush-vine cariñena and in Itata 500ha of unirrigated bush-vine cinsault, both planted in the 1950s. Parts of Rapel, such as Alto Colchagua, and then most of Maule offer enough rainfall for some unirrigated farming. Maule has a warm Mediterranean climate well suited to garnacha, monastrell, cariñena, cinsault, viognier, roussanne and marsanne. Rainfall increases and temperature decreases as one goes down to Itata and Bío-Bío. Once unloved and forgotten, país is now finding its place. It was the variety brought to Chile by the conquistadores in the 16th century when the Spanish stopped over in the Canary Islands, en route for America, and took cuttings of the grape, known there as listán prieto. Santiago, Chile 7254 miles London, England SOUTH AMERICA UNITED KINGDOM SANTIAGO REDS NEW Torres Reserva del Pueblo País 2014 Attractive wine can be made from país as long as the yields are reasonable. This is made from year-old bush vines because yields diminish with vine age. A clever carbonic maceration vinification (the way much Beaujolais is made) helps extract país colour without the rustic tannins. Soft, round, fresh and juicy wine, also delicious served cool. 12% ref AM-CE bottle 87 dozen NEW Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Maule Garnacha-Syrah-Cariñena 2014 Lovely, spicy, black-olive scented blend from the Cauquenes region of Maule, where the Mediterranean climate is ideal for ripening these varieties. Garnacha contributes plummy richness while syrah provides ripe tannins for structure and cariñena grip and freshness. 14.5% ref AM-CE8511 CHILE Cachapoal Valley Colchagua Valley Maule Valley Itata Valley Bío Bío Valley Rapel Valley CONSTITUCIÓN SAN JAVIER CONCEPCIÓN PICHILEMU PAREDONES CAUQUENES CHILLÁN SANTA CRUZ TALCA LINARES RANCAGUA SAN FERNANDO THE ANDES MOUNTAIN RANGE Koyle Alto Colchagua Reserva Carmenère 2014 From a superb new estate in the hills above Los Lingues in Alto Colchagua, this intense and spicy carmenère is one of the most interesting and distinctive examples I have tasted. Grown in a coolish area for this variety, it shows hints of black pepper and cloves, with a full, yet fresh palate. 14% ref AM-CE8581 NEW Clos des Fous PMG País-Cinsault- Cariñena 2014 A soft and fruity alliance of país and cinsault, with a little cariñena for freshness and lift, makes for a lovely, ripe drinkable wine. The owners, soil scientist Pedro Parra and François Massoc, are French. PMG or Pour Ma Gueule literally means for my mouth and refers to, say, an especially good vat of wine or a cut of meat put aside for the owner and on no account to be sold! 14% ref AM-CE bottle 99 dozen BORDER Koyle Don Cande Secano Interior Cinsault 2014 Cinsault is ripe, medium-bodied and very gluggable. This one, from 50-year-old bush vines in the Itata valley, is rich and creamy. 13.5% ref AM-CE bottle 102 dozen 6

7 WHITES Zarcillo Bío-Bío Riesling 2015 The cool vineyards along the banks of the mighty Bío-Bío river in the south of Chile (about 250 miles south of Santiago) are ideal for aromatic grapes such as riesling and gewürztraminer. This is an intensely fresh, mineral, lightly limey riesling. Elegant and pristine. 13.5% ref AM-CE8451 Experimental vineyard in the Southern Chilean Lake District: Chile really is a brave new world of discovery and invention Koyle El Peuco Alto Colchagua Tempranillo-Mourvèdre 2012 Koyle is the territory of a pair of peucos, or Harris hawks, who patrol the property and prey on the smaller grape-eating birds. We took their name for this wine, a fine smoky tempranillo with about 14% monastrell (mourvèdre) for added depth. Aged over 18 months in barrel and concrete eggs to develop aroma and flavour. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 131 dozen Undurraga TH Maule Garnacha- Cariñena-Monastrell 2011 Bewitching blend of 60% garnacha for aroma, body and roundness, 25% cariñena for freshness and 15% monastrell for structure, from Cauquenes in the Maule region. Aged two years in 300 and 400-litre barrels. Soft and fruity, full-bodied and ripe but given lift and backbone by the cariñena and monastrell. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 138 dozen Undurraga TH Maule Carignan 2013 Made from unirrigated old bush-vine carignan from two different vineyards, 52% Loncomilla and 48% Cauquenes, matured 16 months in barrel, 10% new. This is taut and linear carignan, with a refreshing black-fruit character, quite European in style and best enjoyed with food. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 150 dozen NEW Undurraga Vigno Maule Carignan 2013 Ripe carignan from old vines is a delight. It has a lovely black-fruit perfume and firm, but not dry, fruit with an attractive grip and freshness. This comes from unirrigated bush vines, planted in 1956 in Sauzal, Maule. 10% cinsault and 2% garnacha contribute a little sweetness. Matured for 16 months in oak barrels, 12% new, this would be good with a shoulder of lamb or sweetbreads. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 192 dozen NEW Koyle Cerro Basalto Alto Colchagua 2013 Remarkable new wine from a hillside vineyard of decomposed schist. The blend is 45% monastrell (mourvèdre), 25% garnacha, 20% syrah and 10% cariñena (carignan), aged two years in barrel. Rich, spicy, plummy blend yet with good supporting structure from the monastrell, and excellent length. One of the most exciting wines I have tasted from Chile. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 198 dozen De Martino La Aguada Single Vineyard, Maule 2013 La Aguada was planted in 1955 to carignan, with a little malbec and cinsault, in a cool part of Maule. The curved rows follow the contours of the land. It was aged in large foudres to soften the wine without imparting an oak flavour. Fresh, bright, perfumed and taut, its fine tannins are perfect with roast pork and crackling. Now to % ref AM-CE bottle 204 dozen Zarcillo Bío-Bío Gewürztraminer 2015 With a spicy, rose-petal scent and a ripe but balanced palate, this gewürztraminer offers exotic flavours at a down-to-earth price. 13.5% ref AM-CE8471 NEW Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Maule Viognier-Roussanne-Marsanne 2015 Perhaps the find of my last trip. I think this blend of Rhône varieties is outstanding and shows the massive potential for the Cauquenes area. The blend of 60% viognier for peachy perfume and 25% roussanne and 15% marsanne for structure produces a really satisfying wine. A bargain! 14% ref AM-CE bottle 83 dozen Koyle Don Cande Itata Muscat 2015 Lovely dry, intense, aromatic, lowish-alcohol and refreshing muscat from the cool Itata valley. The 2015 has more palate weight and is a step up from the already delicious 2014, the maiden vintage. 12% ref AM-CE8601 EXPLORE CHILE S BEAUTIFUL SOUTH REDS CASE A six-bottle case, including free UK delivery, containing a bottle of each of the following: Torres Reserva del Pueblo País 2014 Koyle Don Cande Secano Interior Cinsault 2014 Undurraga Cauqenes Estate Maule Garnacha-Syrah-Cariñena 2014 Clos des Fous PMG País-Cinsault- Cariñena 2014 Koyle El Peuco Alto Colchagua Tempranillo-Mourvèdre 2012 Undurraga TH Maule Carignan 2013 ref AM-MX To order thewinesociety.com/southamerica

8 EVERYDAY SOUTH AMERICAN WHITES A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following: Doña Paulina Valle Central Chardonnay 2014 The Society s Chilean Leyda Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Faldeos Nevados Torrontés 2014/2015 Silbador Rapel Gewürztraminer 2014/2015 Zarcillo Bío-Bío Riesling 2015 Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Maule Viognier-Roussanne-Marsanne 2015 ref AM-MX THE BEST OF SOUTH AMERICAN REDS A six-bottle case containing a bottle of each of the following: Weinert Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Koyle Cerro Basalto Alto Colchagua 2013 De Martino La Aguada Single Vineyard, Maule 2013 Familia Deicas Atlántico Sur Reserva Sierra de Mahoma Tannat 2013 Mendel Mendoza Malbec 2013 Matetic EQ Syrah San Antonio 2013 ref AM-MX THE EXPLORE SOUTH AMERICA MIXED DOZEN A 12-bottle case containing a bottle of each of the following: Reds Torres Reserva del Pueblo País 2014 Undurraga Candelabro Reserva Carmenère-Malbec-Carignan 2013 Weinert Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Koyle Don Cande Secano Interior Cinsault 2014 Undurraga Cauqenes Estate Maule Garnacha-Syrah-Cariñena 2014 Weinert Carrascal Mendoza 2010 Whites Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Casablanca Riesling 2015 Undurraga Candelabro Leyda Sauvignon Blanc 2014/2015 Faldeos Nevados Torrontés 2014/2015 Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Maule Viognier-Roussanne-Marsanne 2015 Koyle Don Cande Itata Muscat 2015 Silbador Casablanca Chardonnay A OF SAVING 8 ref AM-MX1623 This offer is open until Sunday 13th March, 2016 while stocks last. Uncork with confidence The Wine Society is a mutual organisation, so our members satisfaction is paramount. If, for any reason, you haven t enjoyed a wine we want to hear about it and will happily offer a credit, a replacement or a refund. thewinesociety.com/promise To order thewinesociety.com/southamerica