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BOTALCURA WINERY
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Maule Valley, Chile |
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Botalcura Winery is making fantastic quality wines with great definition, balance and structure, they are miles from the "me-too" bulk of Chilean wine. And we are not alone. Jancis Robinson MW picked out Botalcura as one of her personal favourites at the recent inaugural Wines of Chile Awards.
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The winery is named after the town it is based in, Botalcura, near Talca, about 3 hours south of Santiago, in the coastal mountain range that forms the Maule Valley.
To complement the fruit grown on the company's own vineyards, grapes are sourced from the best areas of Chile, selecting those that fully express the intense, particular characteristics of the soils and climates from which they originate.
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This approach is similar to that taken by some of the most enlightened Australian producers. The three men behind Botalcura include the ex Valdivieso winemaker, Philippe Debrus, who was looking for an opportunity to return to a more hands-on approach to winemaking.
Viña Botalcura is the result of the passion of two men. Juan Fernando Waidele, was seduced by the charm of the town of Botalcura and its environs, and this is where the idea to build a winery started. Juan Fernando then met enologist Philippe Debrus, who had a strong desire to return to a hands-on approach to winemaking, a style he learned in his native France when he was young.
Two men, of two different cultures, have brought technology and stable work to the region. They have been brought together by the magic of a small town, Botalcura—which scarcely appears on the maps—where the dream of making the best wines in Chile has come true.The two ranges produced
El Delirio Reserve and La Porfia Grand Reserve, offer a great opportunity to step above the mass produced and offer something refreshingly exciting.
Click on the link to buy these wines: -
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Chardonnay - Viognier, El Delirio Reserve
A beautifully crafted white with both varieties displaying great varietal character yet integrating beautifully into one delicious, enticing wine. Broad, ripe fruit character back with captivating chunks of pineapple and peach like fruit coming through on the palate. Creamy, yet focussed and well defined. |
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Sauvignon Blanc, El Delirio Reserve
Sourced from cool climate fruit in the Casablanca region of Chile, the wine simply sparkles with vibrant, grassy, slightly tropical fruit. Juicily fresh and enticing on the palate with a crisp yet rounded finish. |
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Merlot Rose, El Delirio Reserve
A rich, complex Rose with touches of rose petal, violet and wild strawberry fruit. Great, creamy texture and a long, enticing finish. |
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Syrah-Malbec, El Delirio Reserve
A deliciously succulent blend using two classic varieties to make one classic blend. Syrah lends deep colour, rich spicy bramble fruit character whilst the malbec add structure, lovely texture and a warm, soothing finish. An exciting new style from one of Chile's most promising newcomers |
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Merlot, El Delirio Reserve
Chile's reputation for Merlot has sometimes clouded the fact that it was often Carmenere! This is no pretender though - it's a full on ripe, soft fleshy merlot with bags of blackberry fruit, well integrated wood and nice texture. |
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Chardonnay, La Porfia Reserve
Produced from fruit grown in the cool Casablanca Valley, famed for the quality of its white wines. rich, apricoty and peachy on the nose with hints of butter and toast. Well balanced, full yet crisp on the palate with bountiful ripe fruit and great length. |
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Carmenere, La Porfia Grand Reserve
The enigmatic variety of Carmenere has become synonymous with Chile though its origins lie in Bordeaux where it is the lost grape variety. This example, produced by Phillipe Debrus of Valdivieso fame, is a rewarding, highly concentrated wine with huge depths of crisp, cassis, bramble and plum fruit overlaid with spicy oak notes. The texture is rich yet supple and the finish is oh so long. Quite a departure from many Chilean's, this is one of the stars of the future. |
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Cabernet Franc, La Porfia Grand Reserve
Famous at Valdivieso for his single vineyard Cabernet Franc, Botalcura winemaker Philippe Debrus now crafts a similarly glorious wine from the same fruit. Rich, ripe red fruit mingle with smokey, vanilla laced oak elements. The palate is full yet elegant with supple tannins and a sensuously smooth finish |
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Malbec, La Porfia Grand Reserve
The Malbec variety has travelled from its historic home in Bordeaux to find fame in fortune on the soils of Chile and Argentina. Grown in the Maipo Valley, this Malbec has been crafted by winemaker Philippe Debus into a stylish and complex wine with mouthfilling red fruit supported by well integrated oak. |
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AWARDS AND REVIEWS FOR BOTALCURA WINERY |
Maule Valley, Chile
Awards
Vinalies Internationales, France
El Delirio Reserva Syrah Malbec 2004 Silver Medal
La Porfia Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2004 Silver Medal
Concours Mundial, Belgium
El Delirio Reserva Chardonnay-Viognier Gold Medal
Catad’Or Grand Hyatt, Chile
La Porfia Gran Reserva Malbec 2004 Gold Medal
La Porfia Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2004 Silver Medal
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2006
Botalcura Chardonnay – Viognier Reserve 2005 Gold Medal
3rd Annual Wines of Chile Awards January 2006
Bronze Award
Vina Botalcura, Botalcura La Porfia, Grand Reserve Carmenere 2003
International Wine Challenge 2005
Bronze Medal
Chardonnay Viognier, El Delirio 2004
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2005
Silver
Botalcura Carmenere La Porfia Grand Reserve 2003 *Best in Class*
Bronze
Botalcura El Delirio Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003
Wines of Chile Awards
January 2005
Silver Medal – Vina Botalcura, La Porfia Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 2003
Botacura Medals 2005
Three Gold Medals for Botalcura Winery Botalcura Winery obtained three gold medals and one silver in two of the most important and prestigious wine contests, this can only confirm the quality and excellence of there wines.
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2005, Belgium Gold Medal Syrah Malbec El Delirio Reserve 2004 Gold Medal Carménère La Porfia Grand Reserve 2003
Vinalies Internationales 2005, France Gold Medal Cabernet Sauvignon El Delirio Reserve 2003 Silver Medal Chardonnay Viognier El Delirio Reserve 2004
Reviews
Decanter
June 2006
By Anthony Rose
Chilean Syrah
‘Non-existent in Chile a decade ago, Syrah has taken off like no other grape and is now responsible for some of the country’s best wines.’
Botalcura, El Delirio, Syrah-Malbec, Reserve, 2004 Recommended***
‘Nose is not the most immediately appealing. Red fruit. Good dark fruit, elegant spice and a pleasant finish. Up to 2 years’.
The Wine Report 2006
By Tom Stevenson
Chile
Greatest Wine Producers
Vina Botalcura
Greatest Quality Wines
Grand Reserve Carmenere La Porfia 2002 Botalcura
Decanter
June 2005
In Focus Maipo Valley by Peter Richards
Best New Releases
Botalcura, La Porfia Malbec Grand Reserve 2003 ***
Decanter
May 2005
Best New Releases
Botalcura La Porfia, Malbec Grand Reserve 2003
'Heady, ripe, complex and savoury, there's no shortage of character here and it's all well integrated. Lovely stuff.'
Wine International
January 2005
First taste – Simon Woods
92 Points
Botalcura La Porfia Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc 2002 Curicó, Chile ‘The town of Botalcura in the Maule Valley is where a trio of wine enthusiasts chose to establish a winery. One of the three was Frenchman Philippe Debrus, former winemaker at Vña Valdivieso. Fresh, smoky, lightly perfumed, packed with chewy blackcurrant and tar flavours, and with a sleek finish, it shows just what Chile can do with this underrated grape.' Drink 2005 – 2007
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