Sol de Andes, Merlot, 2023

Grapes

Merlot

Vintage report

Chile's 2023 vintage arrived after a growing season shaped by unusually high rainfall during winter and spring — a genuine rarity in these parts — followed by a warm, dry summer that allowed growers to exhale. In Casablanca, the cooler maritime conditions kept things ticking along nicely, with slower ripening producing whites and Pinot Noir with real definition and freshness. Maipo's Cabernet Sauvignon benefited from the dry finish to the season, building concentration without losing the structural clarity the valley does best. Colchagua ran warmer, as it tends to, but the preceding moisture meant vines weren't stressed, and the Carménère and Syrah came in with more poise than some recent years.

The overall picture is a vintage of genuine quality rather than sheer power — the wines have fruit, but they're not shouting about it. Casablanca whites are drinking well now and will continue to do so over the next two to three years. The Maipo reds have the bones to reward patience; we'd give the better Cabernets until 2028 or beyond. Colchagua's reds sit somewhere in between — approachable already, but with enough to them that there's no rush.