Wildfires rage on in Chile today. The urban area most affected would seem to be Viña del Mar a coastal resort city on the Pacific northwest of Valparaiso. Over 100 people have perished and hundreds are missing. It is too early to determine damage to viticulture but one should remember while fire is a threat to vines one must additionally fret about smoke giving the juice a smoky flavour hence making it a hard sell as the final product, wine.
Keeping our fingers crossed for the 2024 vintage we try a Leyda Pinot Noir from Valle de Leyda.
Aroma: Trying to veer away from generalizations many Chilean Pinot Noirs have a full bodied if not aggressive edge to them. This is not to detract from their quality as their nature may simply reflect winemaking styles and terroir or my limited Chilean Pinot Noir experience.
In this case this Pinot Noir is no seductive softie or a 99-pound ballerina tip toeing around the stage. Whilst many Pinot Noirs have aromas infused with light notes of raspberry and strawberry this one expresses no such fruit but more of a black cherry and blackberry character with some inference of cherry Jello. But if you decant this Pinot Noir for at least half an hour a bit of raspberry and chocolate peer up at you from the glass.
Palate: Full bodied and a bit brackish. Minimal tannins with disciplined acidity. Short finish lacking serious fruit impact.
Personality: I am wine alright but I am an elusive member of the Pinot Noir family. I am somewhat outside the boundary and at $18 please give a chance! Please!
Cellarbility: Drink by the end of 2024.
Food Match: Beef Bourguignon.
Price: $18. CDN (Ontario).
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 85/100. Joaquín Hidalgo 93.
(Leyda 2022 Las Brisas Pinot Noir, D.O. Valle de Leyda, VPST, Santiago, Chile, 750 mL, 13.5%).
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