Santa Rita Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Especial 2018

- 98 Punkte DESCORCHADOS, Patricio Tapia: „2018 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2021
Casa Real Reserva Especial es una mezcla de los viñedos más viejos que Santa Rita tiene plantados en las terrazas aluviales de su propiedad en Alto Jahuel, en el Alto Maipo. Carneros, plantado hacia comienzos de los años 70, y Población, plantado hacia comienzos de los años 80, ambos de muy poca producción. Con una crianza de 18 meses en barricas, 70% de madera nueva, este es un clásico en la escena chilena. Desde la añada 2017, sin embargo, ha sufrido cambios importantes, tanto en las fechas de cosecha (más adelantadas) como en la extracción (ahora más suave), lo que ha redundado en un leve cambio de estilo hacia frutas más rojas y cuerpos más delicados. En este 2018, la fuerza de los taninos está contenida, pulida, rodeada de una capa de frutas rojas y notas herbales típicas de la zona. Este vino necesita aún de cinco años para comenzar a mostrar su verdadero potencial.“

- 95 Punkte VINOUS, Joaquín Hidalgo: „The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real is made with grapes from vines planted in Jahuel, Maipo, in the 1950s, and it spent 18 months in 83% new French barrels. Classical in every way, the complex, detailed aromatic profile improves with each layer and includes black currant, herb, graphite, roasted pepper, rose petal and spice notes over a bed of cedar. In the mouth it is full, juicy and extractive - up to 15% is pressed juice - with elegant, fine-grained tannins. Expressive with a lingering aftertaste, this is the very definition of a Cabernet from Maipo.“

- 94 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: „Blackberry, blackcurrant, clove, peppercorn and tobacco-leaf aromas. It’s medium-to full-bodied with rounded, well-integrated tannins. So smooth and creamy with polished spice and chocolate notes to close. Two to three years will really put this in place, but it’s already very attractive.“

- 94 Punkte MARKUS DEL MONEGO MW: „Deep purple colour with violet hue. Expressive nose with aroma reminiscent of fresh blackcurrants and blackcurrant spurs, sweet red peppers, elderberries, vanilla and mild spices, discreet toasting and an almost iodine minerality. On the palate well-structured with ripe fruit flavour reminiscent of ripe blackcurrant and blackberries, in the background elegant spiciness, fine toasting and hints of liquorice. Well-structured with firm yet ripe tannins, fine acidity and convincing length.“

- 94 Punkte DECANTER, Alejandro Iglesias: „This is a surprising new expression for one of the most celebrated wines of Chile. Made by Sebastián Labbé, the excellent 2018 vintage combines aromas of blackcurrant, liquorice, cherries, blackberries and redcurrants with hints of earth and minerals and superb freshness and elegance while the precise ageing lends a silky texture as a rewarding counterpoint. Offers excellent cellaring potential.
Drinking Window 2021 – 2028“

- 92 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Luis Gutiérrez: „I found an unusually modern and fruit-driven 2018 Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that has for a long time been one of the icons of traditionalism in Chile. It's juicy and ripe with a soft palate and round tannins, relatively simple for the price. 14,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2020 after 18 months in barrel, 83% of them new, but the oak is unnoticeable.
Santa Rita is one of the oldest (founded in 1880) and largest (113 million bottles!) producers from Chile. It has 3,827 hectares of vineyards in Limarí, Casablanca, Leyda, Maipo, Colchagua, Curicó and Maule.“