Reta, Romelio 2020

Marcelo Retamal is one of Chile's most influential winemakers, he worked at De Martino for over 20 years, driving quality and a move towards terroir focussed wines. He is a partner and head winemaker at Viñedos de Alcohuaz, a high-altitude project in the Elqui Valley. In 2019, he had the idea for a personal project - Reta - working with his wife and three daughters, and a selection of the best plots he has discovered during his career as a winemaker. Romelio 2020 is made from a blend of 80% Malbec with the other 20% a closely-guarded blend of Pais, Carignan and Semillon. The vines all come from a small granite-based vineyard at the north of the Maule Valley, part of Chile's Coastal Mountain Range, 36 km from the Pacific; the vineyard was planted in 1945. Aromatic with floral and spicy notes, damson, black cherry and blackcurrant. Juicy, pure and precise, with high acidity that makes it vibrant, almost effervescent. Drinking well now, but will really kick on over the next 5 years.