Carmen DO Florillón #6 is awarded “White Innovation” in Peter Richards and Susie Barrie MW ‘Chile Wines of the Year’ report

With 97 points, this Ultra Premium wine, aged under flor and with minimal winemaking intervention, was hailed as one of Chile’s best wines by the Masters of Wine, who described it as a white that is “brave, bold and breathtaking”.

The first edition of the “Chile Wines of the Year” guide by Peter Richards and Susie Barrie MW, which celebrates and explores the most outstanding Chilean wines, awarded Carmen DO Florillón #6 the title of “White Innovation”. This wine is part of the DO line, which aims to highlight unique and special collaborations with producers from different parts of Chile, resulting in limited editions with traditions and techniques passed down through generations.

Produced in the Apalta Valley, Florillón #6 comes from a Semillon vineyard planted in 1958 on granite soils, meticulously cared for over the years by Don Juan Quijada and his family. Aged under a thin veil of yeast, it stands out for its unique and distinctive character.

According to Peter and Susie, this wine is truly striking: “Now here’s a wine that stops you in your tracks. Ultimately it all comes down to the quality of the wine. And boy does this wine deliver. A lovely lemon-green hue invites you to take a sniff…and then it’s shock and awe on the aromatics front. Showstopping scents of toasted almonds, bruised apple and baked curry leaf assault your senses. Lovers of manzanilla sherry will feel on gloriously familiar territory. The palate is tangy and urgent, savoury and saline.”

The Masters of Wine describe it as “brave, daring, and breathtaking highlighting its singular production process: “The natural acidity, tension and structure of the Semillon is what makes this wine work so well. It’s a great use for a vineyard that is part of Chile’s heritage and Carmen should be congratulated on this (delicious) initiative. Unfined, unfiltered and bottled by hand.”

Additionally, the iconic Carmen Gold 2021 received 94 points, reflecting the essence of Alto Maipo’s terroir, globally recognized for producing the best Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. The critics noted, “What’s impressive here is the balance between freshness, complexity and a sense of tradition.”

The vibrant Carmen DO Matorral Chileno 2022, harvested in the Maule Valley, earned 93 points in the report and was described as a blend that “gives an expressive, ripe-fruited red with floral hints and fine-grained tannin. It’s fairly spicy and jammy, with wild herb notes.”

All of these wines are part of Carmen Legacy, Viña Carmen’s Ultra Premium line, which draws inspiration from the winery’s 170-year winemaking history. Throughout the years, it has carefully selected the finest wine regions in Chile to craft wines that embody an extraordinary legacy of excellence.