Sol de Andes, TerraNoble Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage report

The 2022 growing season across Chile's main wine valleys was shaped by persistent drought conditions — a pattern that has become almost a defining feature of the decade — with low rainfall and warm, dry summers pushing vines to work hard for water. In Casablanca and the other coastal valleys, cooling Pacific influence kept things in check and preserved the natural acidity that makes the region's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir so worthwhile. Further inland, Maipo and Colchagua experienced intense summer heat, but the significant diurnal temperature swings that characterise both valleys did their usual job of keeping freshness in the grapes despite the pressure. Yields were generally modest, which concentrated flavour without tipping into overripeness.

The result across the board is wines with real definition and structural grip. Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon in particular shows the firm, mineral-edged character the valley does better than almost anywhere in the New World, while Colchagua's Carménère and Syrah carry genuine depth without the jammy weight that warmer years can bring. Casablanca's whites are precise and taut. Most reds from the top producers are drinking well now but have the structure to reward another three to five years in the cellar, with the better Maipo Cabernets comfortable until 2032 or beyond.