Tim Atkin MW names Carmen DO Matorral Chileno as Red Wine Discovery of the Year 2016
Tim Atkin, Master of Wine and considered one of the most influential wine critics in the world, launched his first annual guide to Chile, praising the country as “a success story in South America” and collecting a wide sample of over 700 wines.
The report attempts to classify Chilean wineries according to their quality into six categories, imitating to some extent the Bordeaux Classification: First Growths, Second Growths, Third Growths, Fourth Growths, Fifth Growths and Crus Bourgeois, with Carmen included in the First Growths.
In addition, Atkin elaborated a podium with the nine wines of the year, one of which is Viña Carmen DO Matorral Chileno 2016, a blend of Syrah, Cinsault and Viognier from the valleys of Colchagua and Itata. The Matorral was named as “The Discovery of the Year” in the red wines category.
The wine was also awarded 95 points: “Blending co-fermented Syrah from Apalta with Cinsault from Itata and a splash of Viogner from Manchigue, this is the new Chile in all its glory: creative, imaginative and beautifully balanced, with stony, black-fruited complexity, subtle oak, notes of wild herbs and peach and a long, refreshing finish. 2018-2025.”
The dream behind the Carmen DO wines is to surprise again with simple, different, unique and recognisable wines that stem from a return to the roots of winemaking. The full range of Carmen DO achieved outstanding scores; DO Quijada # 1 Semillon 2016 (94 points), DO Carignan 2016 (93 points), DO Malbec 2016 (93 points), DO Chardonnay 2016 (93 points) and Carmen DO Chenin Blanc 2016 (93 points).
Other winning wines from Carmen included in the report were Carmen Gran Reserva Gran Vidure (93 points), Carmen Gran Reserva Carigan 2014 (91 points) and Carmen Gran Reserva Petite Sirah 2013 (91 points).
About Vina Carmen
Viña Carmen was founded in 1850 and is recognised as Chile’s first winery. Carmen is also renowned as the site that the Carmenere grape variety was rediscovered in its Maipo Alto vineyard in 1994. Regarded as one of the true innovators of Chilean wines, the winery was the first to produce wines made from organic grapes.