2018 El Principal Andetelmo
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Chile |
| Region | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Grape | , , Petit Verdot, Syrah-Shiraz |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2034 |
In stock
22 items available
Description
ViƱa EL Principal is one of the absolute top from South America - Chile and that is not surprising because the house was founded in 1993 by partners Jorge Fontaine Aldunate, owner of the El Principal estate, and Jean Paul Valette, French winemaker and former owner of the famous Premier Grand Cru ClassĆ© ChĆ¢teau Pavie in Saint-Ćmilion. Today the owner is the Said Sandal Family and the winery is of the most exclusive and premium in Chile with only 4 wines, but a range of wines of the highest quality that captures the spirit and typicity of Chilean terroir. The hand, tradition and experience of the Valette family of ChĆ¢teau Pavie is reflected in every element and the style (and choice of grape variety) has an inextricable Bordelaises St Emillion twist, but that is not surprising given the background.
The terroir of El Principal, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the Alto Maipo Valley (DO Maipo Andes), was perfect for their project; The unique combination of climate, soil type and altitude made it ideal for producing wines with character, unique identity and exceptional quality.
El Principal is the most complex and elegant blend, based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It represents the history and personality and uniqueness of the terroir. It shares the winery's name because both reflect the spirit and nobility of the indigenous leader Andetelmo, whom the Spanish called "El Principal" (the boss), the owner of the lands where the vineyards now grow.
Although the composition of El Principal has varied over the years, the aim has always been to make wine of the highest possible quality, entirely from grapes grown in our own terroir. In recent vintages, small amounts of Petit Verdot have been added to the final blend to give it greater acidity and freshness. Since the launch of the first vintage (1999), El Principal has been internationally recognized as one of Chile's ultra-premium wines, achieving high scores in the main wine press and reinforcing Chile's potential as a designation of origin for high-quality wines.
The vineyard is located 750 m above sea level. A bit comparable to, for example, Nappa Valley. The cold ocean has a very big influence and the vineyards. The winds, the fog, humid air, the protection of the Andes mountains and the altitude ensure large differences between day and night and this partly ensures the extremely high quality of the fruit, which can grow almost without intervention on the sandy loamy soils of alluvial origin.
The El Principal Andetelmo has Maipo character but with a clear Bordeaux twist. So power, tannins, fruit and elegance. On the nose red and dark fruits such as berries and blackberries with a hint of licorice, autumn leaves and a slightly earthy edge. The soft, smooth palate has a ripe, meaty texture and plenty of rich dark berry flavors. The wine has a minty and balsamic twist and a polished taste and is medium to full bodied with fine tannins. It is powerful yet elegant and balanced. Definitely decant in his younger years.
FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send it to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose Collect in the Checkout page. We are almost next to the Rijksweg with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Maipo Valley |
| Winery | ViƱa EL Principal |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah-Shiraz |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| James Suckling rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Open haard |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Luis GutiƩrrez
Drink Date:
2023 - 2030
The very aromatic and bright 2018 El Principal Andetelmo is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with just 4% Petit Verdot with floral and ripe blueberry notes, good ripeness and 14.5% alcohol. It was generously oaked, spending 22 months in French oak barrels, 60% of them new. It's creamy and serious and keeps the poise and balance with good freshness. It's powerful and concentrated but also elegant. It should develop nicely in bottle. 5,000 bottles produced.
ViƱa El Principal is a winery created in Pirque, one of the classical zones of Maipo in 1993. They recently changed winemakers. Gonzalo GuzmĆ”n, who planted grape varieties from Spain (Verdejo, AlbariƱo, Graciano and MencĆa), left (and apparently is planting some vineyards in Itata) and was replaced by Marco PuyĆ³. The winery produces 250,000 bottles from their 86 hectares of vines.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Intense and focused nose, showing ripe currants and currant leaves, together with quince, sundried tomato and chili chocolate. A hint of hazelnut, too. Concentrated flavors and plush, silky tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Juicy and long. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and syrah. Delicious now, but will hold, too.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
ViƱa EL Principal belongs to the absolute top from South America - Chile and that is not surprising because the house was founded in 1993 by partners Jorge Fontaine Aldunate, owner of the El Principal estate, and Jean Paul Valette, French winemaker and former owner of the famous Premier Grand Cru ClassĆ© ChĆ¢teau Pavie in Saint-Ćmilion. Today, the owner is the Said Sandal Family and the winery is of Chile's most exclusive and premium with only 4 wines, but a range of the highest quality wines that reflect the spirit and typicity of Chilean terroir. The hand, tradition and experience of the Valette family of ChĆ¢teau Pavie is reflected in every element and the style (and choice of grape variety) has an inextricable Bordelaises St Emillion twist but in the end that is not surprising given the background. The terroir of El Principal, located at the foot of the Andes mountain range in the Andean part of the Maipo Valley (DO Maipo Andes) was the perfect place for their project.
There are many factors that contribute to the uniqueness of ViƱa El Principal wines, but arguably one of the most important is the exceptional terroir. Today the estate is located in the Valle de Alto Maipo (Maipo Andes) on the slopes of
The oenology of ViƱa El Principal has been developed from the vineyard. These wines are produced with grapes grown exclusively on site where the vineyards are continuously studied and analyzed with regard to plant physiology and their relationship to the terroir in order to identify and perfect the best blocks and in this way the highest quality raw materials. All harvests are done manually, with controlled productions and careful selection of clusters, both in the field and in the warehouse. Later, we undergo a careful process of traditional Bordeaux fermentation and aging in oak barrels, resulting in a unique wine that reflects the elegance and identity of the terroir.
The wines are made exclusively with grapes grown in our own vineyards where we have full control over production, harvesting the grapes by hand and selecting them first in the vineyard and then again in the winery. The wines are carefully crafted using traditional techniques and aged in French oak. This results in wines with unique characteristics that reflect the elegance and identity of El Principal's terroir.
The wine company's name is named after Chief Picunche Andetelmo, "El Principal", the lord of the lands that make up the terroir, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Andes Valley. His visionary and peaceful nature earned him the respect of the Spanish conquerors, initiating a history of openness and exchange that continues to this day. The spirit of Andetelmo lives on in the wines, which express all the nobility and quality of a unique terroir.
The winemaker of ViƱa EL Principal is Marco Puyo. Marco is a household name in international viticulture. He is an agricultural engineer and winemaker, a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad CatĆ³lica de Chile, has worked in major Chilean wineries for 29 years, giving him a detailed knowledge of the different "terroirs" of Chile. At the international level, he harvested grapes in Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy in France, Napa in the United States and the Uco Valley in Argentina. Since December 2020 he is Executive Consultant and Winemaker of ViƱa El Principal.
ViƱa EL Principal is one of the absolute top from South America - Chile and that is not surprising because the house was founded in 1993 by partners Jorge Fontaine Aldunate, owner of the El Principal estate, and Jean Paul Valette, French winemaker and former owner of the famous Premier Grand Cru ClassĆ© ChĆ¢teau Pavie in Saint-Ćmilion. Today the owner is the Said Sandal Family and the winery is of the most exclusive and premium in Chile with only 4 wines, but a range of wines of the highest quality that captures the spirit and typicity of Chilean terroir. The hand, tradition and experience of the Valette family of ChĆ¢teau Pavie is reflected in every element and the style (and choice of grape variety) has an inextricable Bordelaises St Emillion twist, but that is not surprising given the background.
The terroir of El Principal, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the Alto Maipo Valley (DO Maipo Andes), was perfect for their project; The unique combination of climate, soil type and altitude made it ideal for producing wines with character, unique identity and exceptional quality.
El Principal is the most complex and elegant blend, based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It represents the history and personality and uniqueness of the terroir. It shares the winery's name because both reflect the spirit and nobility of the indigenous leader Andetelmo, whom the Spanish called "El Principal" (the boss), the owner of the lands where the vineyards now grow.
Although the composition of El Principal has varied over the years, the aim has always been to make wine of the highest possible quality, entirely from grapes grown in our own terroir. In recent vintages, small amounts of Petit Verdot have been added to the final blend to give it greater acidity and freshness. Since the launch of the first vintage (1999), El Principal has been internationally recognized as one of Chile's ultra-premium wines, achieving high scores in the main wine press and reinforcing Chile's potential as a designation of origin for high-quality wines.
The vineyard is located 750 m above sea level. A bit comparable to, for example, Nappa Valley. The cold ocean has a very big influence and the vineyards. The winds, the fog, humid air, the protection of the Andes mountains and the altitude ensure large differences between day and night and this partly ensures the extremely high quality of the fruit, which can grow almost without intervention on the sandy loamy soils of alluvial origin.
The El Principal Andetelmo has Maipo character but with a clear Bordeaux twist. So power, tannins, fruit and elegance. On the nose red and dark fruits such as berries and blackberries with a hint of licorice, autumn leaves and a slightly earthy edge. The soft, smooth palate has a ripe, meaty texture and plenty of rich dark berry flavors. The wine has a minty and balsamic twist and a polished taste and is medium to full bodied with fine tannins. It is powerful yet elegant and balanced. Definitely decant in his younger years.
FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send it to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose Collect in the Checkout page. We are almost next to the Rijksweg with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Maipo Valley |
| Winery | ViƱa EL Principal |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah-Shiraz |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| James Suckling rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Open haard |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Luis GutiƩrrez
Drink Date:
2023 - 2030
The very aromatic and bright 2018 El Principal Andetelmo is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with just 4% Petit Verdot with floral and ripe blueberry notes, good ripeness and 14.5% alcohol. It was generously oaked, spending 22 months in French oak barrels, 60% of them new. It's creamy and serious and keeps the poise and balance with good freshness. It's powerful and concentrated but also elegant. It should develop nicely in bottle. 5,000 bottles produced.
ViƱa El Principal is a winery created in Pirque, one of the classical zones of Maipo in 1993. They recently changed winemakers. Gonzalo GuzmĆ”n, who planted grape varieties from Spain (Verdejo, AlbariƱo, Graciano and MencĆa), left (and apparently is planting some vineyards in Itata) and was replaced by Marco PuyĆ³. The winery produces 250,000 bottles from their 86 hectares of vines.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Intense and focused nose, showing ripe currants and currant leaves, together with quince, sundried tomato and chili chocolate. A hint of hazelnut, too. Concentrated flavors and plush, silky tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Juicy and long. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and syrah. Delicious now, but will hold, too.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
ViƱa EL Principal belongs to the absolute top from South America - Chile and that is not surprising because the house was founded in 1993 by partners Jorge Fontaine Aldunate, owner of the El Principal estate, and Jean Paul Valette, French winemaker and former owner of the famous Premier Grand Cru ClassĆ© ChĆ¢teau Pavie in Saint-Ćmilion. Today, the owner is the Said Sandal Family and the winery is of Chile's most exclusive and premium with only 4 wines, but a range of the highest quality wines that reflect the spirit and typicity of Chilean terroir. The hand, tradition and experience of the Valette family of ChĆ¢teau Pavie is reflected in every element and the style (and choice of grape variety) has an inextricable Bordelaises St Emillion twist but in the end that is not surprising given the background. The terroir of El Principal, located at the foot of the Andes mountain range in the Andean part of the Maipo Valley (DO Maipo Andes) was the perfect place for their project.
There are many factors that contribute to the uniqueness of ViƱa El Principal wines, but arguably one of the most important is the exceptional terroir. Today the estate is located in the Valle de Alto Maipo (Maipo Andes) on the slopes of
The oenology of ViƱa El Principal has been developed from the vineyard. These wines are produced with grapes grown exclusively on site where the vineyards are continuously studied and analyzed with regard to plant physiology and their relationship to the terroir in order to identify and perfect the best blocks and in this way the highest quality raw materials. All harvests are done manually, with controlled productions and careful selection of clusters, both in the field and in the warehouse. Later, we undergo a careful process of traditional Bordeaux fermentation and aging in oak barrels, resulting in a unique wine that reflects the elegance and identity of the terroir.
The wines are made exclusively with grapes grown in our own vineyards where we have full control over production, harvesting the grapes by hand and selecting them first in the vineyard and then again in the winery. The wines are carefully crafted using traditional techniques and aged in French oak. This results in wines with unique characteristics that reflect the elegance and identity of El Principal's terroir.
The wine company's name is named after Chief Picunche Andetelmo, "El Principal", the lord of the lands that make up the terroir, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Andes Valley. His visionary and peaceful nature earned him the respect of the Spanish conquerors, initiating a history of openness and exchange that continues to this day. The spirit of Andetelmo lives on in the wines, which express all the nobility and quality of a unique terroir.
The winemaker of ViƱa EL Principal is Marco Puyo. Marco is a household name in international viticulture. He is an agricultural engineer and winemaker, a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad CatĆ³lica de Chile, has worked in major Chilean wineries for 29 years, giving him a detailed knowledge of the different "terroirs" of Chile. At the international level, he harvested grapes in Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy in France, Napa in the United States and the Uco Valley in Argentina. Since December 2020 he is Executive Consultant and Winemaker of ViƱa El Principal.