Gillmore Mariposa Red Blend 2020
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Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The deepest red hues in the glass hint at abundant aromas of red raspberries and strawberries followed by an elegant dry acidity in the mouth. The wine is fresh, concentrated and well-balanced.
It will be a great dining companion to lean meats, and rich stews.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
What a fragrant nose of crushed raspberries, violets, nutmeg, poached plums, mushrooms and cinnamon stick. Flavorful, bright and juicy, with fine yet firm tannins and a medium body.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Mariposa is a red blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Syrah. The grapes come from old vines on granite soils in San Javier in the Maule. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in used barrels for one winter. It's aromatic, fresh and perfumed, spicy but not green, with 14.4% alcohol and very good freshness and acidity parameters with very fine tannins. Structured without weight. Delicious. Best After 2022
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Vina Gillmore began with a dream. In the late 1980s, Chilean visionary Francisco Gillmore took over operation of the century old Tabontinaja winery and its ancient dry-farmed vineyards planted to the rustic País variety. He took advantage of their healthy, hearty roots and grafted them with fine French varieties.
From the beginning his wines were imbued with the spirit of this unique dry-farmed condition of restriction and resistance in which their rustic personality was expressed with vibrant acidity and tremendous character. The project also includes his daughter, Daniella Gillmore, whose love of the country life guides her in overseeing the vineyards and the collection of native fauna on the farm. Her husband, winemaker Andrés Sánchez, is the talented artisan behind their wines Hacedor de Mundos, Vigno, Mariposa and Cobre, wines crafted to interpret the soul of the sector and its people. Their two children, Martín and Dominga now represent the third generation of the family to stretch their roots deep into the heart of this special zone of Maule.
Vina Gillmore is among the founding members of MOVI (Independent Vintner’s Movement), and Andrés was the driving force behind the recently formed Carignan Club (Vigno).
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Maule is the Central Valley’s most southern and coolest zone, reaching a southern latitude of 35°S, yet it is still warmer and drier than Bío-Bío to its south. The Maule Valley enjoys success with a unique set of grapes.
It lays claim to the local variety, Pais (synonymous with Tinta Pais, which is actually Tempranillo), which has dominated much of the region’s area under vine until the recent past. Now many growers, not confined by the tradition and regulations of the Old World, also successfully grow Cabernet Sauvignon.
While Maule’s total area under vine remains relatively static, its old Carignan vineyards are undergoing a great revival. The VIGNO (Vignadores del Carignan Vintners) group, an association in charge of promoting this long-forgotten variety, is getting fantastic results from the old vines in its dry-farmed coastal zones.
The Maule includes the subregions of Talca, San Clemente, San Javier, Parral, Linares and Cauquenes.