Chile
World-class vineyards and grapes perfectly suited to their terroir. Modern technology combined with centuries-tested winemaking traditions. A growing class of young winemakers who have traveled the world, learning from the best in the business. Established producers who have welcomed us into their cellars, allowing us great range in selecting small-batch, character-driven wines. This is what we've discovered in Chile.
Yes, Chile. There is no question that decades of bulk production have damaged the country's young reputation on the world market. But we can say with confidence that this perception is not only outdated, but also ignorant of what's really happening on the ground. Over the past few years, our repeated travels to Chile have proved to us that the potential in Chile for producing high-caliber wines is richer than possibly any other winemaking region in the world today.
What makes Chile so special right now? It is the combination of its frontier spirit and maturing winemaking know-how that has captured our imagination and inspired us to push deeper to select the cream of the crop that less diligent importers are still overlooking. Whether the high-altitude, rust-colored slopes of the Elqui Valley or the sea-cooled valley of Casablanca that reminds us so much of California's Carneros, Chile is a mother lode of rich terroir—and when in the right hands, is producing from them nothing less than excellent and character-rich (yet still stunningly affordable) wines.
Our role in Chile is straightforward and tested. We have adapted our philosophy and practice of “Cuvée Unique”—our selection process that we have cultivated in France for more than 25 years with great success—to Chile's top vineyards and established producers. We are identifying regions where innovative winemakers craft wines that are both unique and true to the nature and character of the land. We are, with the cooperation of local winemakers and growers, selecting wines that represent exactly what we feel is the purest expression of each varietal and vineyard—and bringing the wine to you at a price that still falls leagues under any comparable bottle from Europe or beyond.
Admittedly, we have not “discovered” Chile—dozens of international winemakers have for years been on the ground, taking advantage of the country's great land as well as its low prices. Yet what they've focused on is more of the same—enormous production facilities churning out middling juice. There has been a consistent lack of respect for the country's winemaking potential, and Chile's reputation has soured as a result. For us, however, the choice is clear. With a focus on natural viticulture and traditional winemaking, our selections display the character, balance and elegance expected of the world's finest wines at still more than reasonable prices.