^TM

Cousiño-Macul- a century and half of success

By Darryl Beeson

The Cousiño family's wine estate in Santiago was established in 1856. The Cousiños recently moved many of their vines to a new estate at Buin, and built a new winery there. This move took place five years, ago, and the majority of the 2002 bottling of Cousiño-Macul comes from the Buin Estate. The Cousiño's vineyard and winery in Macul became the proudest achievement of the family. The new vineyard and winery are now in the hands of the sixth generation.

The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère, which is often regarded as perhaps the most suitable grape for the Chilean climate.

In international competitions, Chilean wines have proven to be among the best in the world. For example, in the Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004, 36 European experts blind tasted wines from two vintages each of eight top wines from France, Italy and Chile. The first and second place wines were two Cabernet-based reds from Chile

Cousiño-Macul Sauvignon Gris, Maipo 2006
Price $12
Rating 92
The nose is fragrant with fig, honeysuckle and bright citrus. There are deep mineral flavors in the sip with more fig and ripe melon within the long length.

"We are the largest producer of Sauvignon Gris in the world," boasts wine maker Matias Rivera. The winery has a mere fifteen hectares planted.

Cousiño-Macul "Dona Isidora" Riesling, Maipo 2006
Price $10
Rating 82
Thenose is daffy with taffy and banana, rather than the usual tart green apple and lime. There are floral notes and jasmine in the nose. The sip is the same.

Cousiño-Macul Chardonnay, Maipo 2006
Price $10
Rating 89
This white boasts no oak in its flavor profile. The sip offers concentrated, ripe pear with melon and gentle earth.

Cousiño-Macul "Antiguas" Reservas Chardonnay, Maipo 2005
Price $13
Rating 89
The nose offers subtle nuances of tree fruit, gentle oak and citrus. The sip tastes like taffy and dried apple.

Cousiño-Macul "Antiguas" Reservas Merlot, Maipo 2005
Price $15
Rating 93
The nose is powerful with rich, ripe fruit and brown spice. Bosenberry and mocha lead the way in the flavorful sip. Serve this classic, complex red with flame grilled meats and hearty sausages.

Cousiño-Macul "Antiguas" Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo 2004
Price $20
Rating 93
Spice and black cherry lead the way. The sip is leaner on fruit with leather and mineral in the long length. Serve this classic, complex red wine with all manner of flame grilled meat or sausage.

Cousiño-Macul "Finis Terrae" Maipo 2004
Price $60
Rating 94
The exact blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The nose is packed with ripe, dark fruit. The nose leads with mineral nuances and wild berries.

The sip mirrors the nose.

Learn more at www.cousinomacul.com.

----

Darryl Beeson is an instructor for The International Sommelier Guild www.sommelierguild.com and is the American editor of www.wineontheweb.com.

He reports for www.travellady.com as well.

Back to TravelLady Magazine