After 18 months from his last article, Luis Gutierrez, (Chile’s taster for Parker), had to taste the wines for this report without visiting the country or meeting with winemakers, given the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with these limitations, he was impressed by Chile’s wines and specifically with Tabali.
Tabali is very proud to be recognized as a Malbec Specialist. Roca Madre 2018, a Malbec coming from the Andes Mountains in the Limarí Valley was chosen Chile’s Best Malbec with 96 points. About this wine Parker’s report says: “I was blown away by the juicy and hedonistic 2018 Roca Madre, a very complete vintage for this unique wine produced with grapes from the Río Hurtado vineyard of Limarí valley at 1,600 meters in altitude.”
But Tabali’s expertise on Malbec was also recognized in Talinay Litico Malbec 2018, also considered remarkable by Parker, chosen as Chile’s second-best Malbec, with 94 points. Originated in the extremely coastal Talinay vineyard, what makes this wine stand out are the distinct and exceptional soils from this vineyard. The vines are planted on specific limestone slopes. This is a place with a geological phenomenon that is unique in Chile and that gives a very particular characteristic to the wines.
Also coming from Talinay vineyard, at only 12km from the Pacific Ocean, is Talinay Pai Pinot Noir 2019. A wine described as impressive by Parker is at the top of Chilean Pinot Noir with 95 points. The high quality of Tabali´s Pinot Noir was also recognized on the Talinay Pinot Noir 2018 with 94 points as well as on Vetas Blancas Pinot Noir 2018 with 92 points. This last wine was described as “Excellent, with a combination of depth and ripeness with freshness” by the Wine Advocate report.
Talinay Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a wine that was also highlighted by Parker with 95 points, the highest score for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. It is described as “a crystalline white with focus and precision, very clean and tasty, with chalky minerality, beautifully textured and very long. An incredible value for its price”.
The Talinay vineyard keeps showing its uniqueness and fantastic combination of limestone soils and extreme cool coastal climate of the Limari Valley on the Talinay Chardonnay 2020, rated with 94 points. “The 2020 Talinay Chardonnay has to be the finest vintage of this bottling to date, showing the elegant and refined side of the variety, pure and mineral and with effervescent acidity that makes you salivate”, says Parker’s review.
Payen 2018, a Syrah with 7% of Cabernet Franc, comes from the Talinay vineyard as well. With 94 points, the Wine Advocate publishes: “It has very much the character of the Syrah in a Northern Rhône style with oily notes of black olives, ripe violets and tar and a peppery and spicy twist from the Cabernet Franc. It has to be the finest vintage for this bottling, which combines good ripeness and weight with elegance and balance.”
DOM Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 was rated with 93 points. This red from the Maipo Valley is described as having elegant tannins with a very fine quality. Transversal 2018 is a unique blend of varieties as well as origins. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Syrah come from the vineyards in Limari Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Maipo Valley. This rare assemblage was rated with 93 points too, as did Barranco Viognier 2020, from the heights of Rio Hurtado Vineyard, described as “a mountain white with subtle varietal expression of flowers and herbs”.
Talud Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is said to have an intense Maipo character, minty and balsamic and with a soft palate with round tannins. This wine was rated with 92 points. Micas Carmenere 2018 got 91 points and is described as intensely varietal.
On the Parker report, the Vetas Bancas line shows its consistency with great accolades. “I love the 2018 Vetas Blancas Malbec-Cabernet Franc” says the taster. This wine, rated with 93 points, combines the floral character from the Malbec and the more austere, herbal and fresher profile of the Cabernet Franc. Vetas Blancas Cabernet Franc 2018, Vetas Blancas Chardonnay 2019, Vetas Blancas Pinot Noir 2018 and Vetas Blancas Sauvignon Blanc 2020 were rated with 92 points, while Vetas Blancas Syrah 2018 was rated with 90 points.
The Pedregoso wines show great quality and really good value for the money. Pedregoso Gran Reserva Malbec 2019 got 90+ points and the Pedregoso Gran Reserva syrah 2019 got 90 points as well as Pedregoso Gran Reserva Rose Pinot Noir 2020, Pedregoso Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2020 and Pedregoso Gran Reserva Merlot 2020, that was described as “quite impressive”.
Felipe Müller, Tabali’s CEO and Chief Winemaker says: “We are very proud of this recognition to Tabali’s wines high quality and consistency, and these accolades give the team energy to keep improving each day”.
We invite you to taste the Tabali Experience!