There is a lot of critical thinking that goes into everyday life, and every week we hope to make your wine decisions a little easier, whether that is a big decision or a small one for you. Sometimes the decision is easy for us after we taste a wine and the winemaker has made all the right decisions. This week’s wine, Calicanto 2018, is definitely an easy pick. All we have to do is buy a bottle, sip and relax.
Tasting Notes: Calicanto 2018 is a rich and expressive blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Carménère, and small portions of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. While fruit concentration is terrific, the wine maintains a sleek texture and is able to express herbs and menthol, both elegant notes of its homeland. Balance and nuance like this is no easy task!
Enjoy With: Roasted or grilled red meats and game, stews, charcuterie and aged hard cheeses.
Style: A soft, full-bodied, smooth red wine.
Terroir/Region: Calicanto comes from a set of vineyards in the Maipo Valley of Chile just where the land meets the Andes mountains, called ‘Maipo Alto’. This location was specifically chosen in 1999 to plant vineyards that would create a premium expression of Chilean wine and confirm the region’s potential to the wine world. Point made!
Producer: There is an amazing amount of purpose, intent and critical thinking going on at the El Principal winery. It includes the grapes in its blends, the timing of harvest (a little early for Calicanto to express more terroir), and the names used for the winery and wines. El Principal refers to the historic indigenous leader of the region – Picunche Chief Andetelmo, a champion of peace and collaboration, while Calicanto refers to the Can y Canto bridge, where the first Chilean wines were traded in the late 1700s!
Availability: El Principal’s Calicanto 2018 will be available online and in the Vintages section of your local LCBO on Saturday, February 19, but a few stores may already have it on the shelf. Pick up your bottle today – no critical thinking required!
Price: $24.95
LCBO #: 234963
Size: 750 mL
Alcohol Content: 14.5% alc./vol.
