Cabernet Sauvignon
75cl * Vegan * Organic * 14.0% ABV * Curicó Valley, Chile
Situated in Chile’s Curicó Valley, about three hours drive south of Santiago, the Manso vineyard produces a typically full-bodied Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. The Viejas Vinas (Old Vines) wording on this bottle is a serious understatement. The vines are 110 years old and are protected as a national monument! The age of these wines mean they produce just a tiny quantity of top quality fruit.
Manso de Velasco was created in 1985 as the first high-end wine from Miguel Torres Chile, a Vino de Pago (single vineyard wine) that introduced concepts such as aging in new oak barrels and the bottle. Over the years, it has become known as one of the few high-quality Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons produced outside of the Maipo Valley.
Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in Chilean growing conditions, benefitting from the on average extra 50 days of growing season that Chile enjoys over Europe. For the late ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, this aids the ripening of tannins and acidity, which can be fierce in under-ripe Cabernet. Chile’s naturally cool temperatures overnight help retain real intensity of fruit flavour and give a shockingly deep, almost black colour. Manso de Velasco displays all these hallmarks and is further proof that Cabernet Sauvignon is more often Chile’s most successful grape variety for great quality wine.
The wine spends 18 months ageing in French oak from Nevers (13% new barrel, 28% second-use barrel) and German oak foudres (59%). It has an intense dark ruby colour and a luscious nose with the classic aromas of black and red berries, as well as hints of herbs such as lemon verbena and bay leaf. Incredibly elegant on the palate, with enveloping and soft tannins and long notes of fruit and spice complemented toward the end with light touches of wood. Its strength and elegance pairs well with roasted meat and dishes with game.
Drinking window: Now - 2034
"Intense dark ruby color. Exquisite aroma with the classic notes of small black and red fruits. Herbal nuances such as lemon verbena and bay leaf. Palate of great elegance, with enveloping and soft tannins, long fruity and spicy accords that are complemented towards the end with fine notes of wood." 95/100 Points, Tim Atkin ()
"Soft and medicinal, blackcurrant fruit with liquorice and aniseed. Long, supple, drinkable and more savoury than many Chileans." 16 / 20 Points, Richard Hemming MW (Nov 2023)