2021 El Principal Calicanto
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Chile |
| Region | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Grape | , , , Syrah-Shiraz |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2028 |
- Buy 6 for 18.95 15.66 each and save 10%
In stock
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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. Since the first vintage of Calicanto in 2007, this red blend from Andetelmo Estate has distinguished itself by its fresh and fruity character, spicy notes and polished, silky tannins. Partly due to the higher altitude Andean vineyards, the Callicanto gets an extra dose of clarity and freshness. Wonderfully fruity with herbal and berry aromas combined with a spicy spicy touch. Medium-bodied with fine and round tannins, a soft texture and good balance, incomparable to the often very fruit-driven wines from Chile. This is not surprising for a Chilean Frenchman as the foundation and training comes from ChĆ¢teau Pavie.
The vineyard is located at 770 m above sea level and consists ofLoam - Colluvial in origin. The vineyard is strongly influenced by the Ocean with a significant influence from the Andes Mountains. The average is between 18Ā°C āāand 22Ā°C. The wine is a blend of the typical French varieties: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmenĆØre, 3% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah which is aged for 12 months in 100% French oak.
Calicanto was named in honor of the first bridge built over the Mapocho River in the city of Santiago between 1767 and 1782. Over time, several shops and businesses grew along its sides, making it one of the first commercial centers for Chilean wine. Like that first bridge, Calicanto symbolizes the union between tradition and modernity and dedication to producing wines of the highest quality that express the soul of the Chilean terroir through the French varieties planted in the vineyards.
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, Carmenere, Syrah-Shiraz |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2028 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | Tier Price |
| Parker rating | 90 |
| James Suckling rating | 91 |
| Vinous rating | 91 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The juicy and fruit-driven 2018 Calicanto, a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmenĆØre, 7% Syrah, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, has the light of the higher-altitude vineyards from Los Andes, a kind of brightness that combines some herbal and wild berry aromas and a spicy touch. This is higher in CarmenĆØre, and it's spicier and peppery, with a medium-bodied palate with fine and round tannins, a gentle texture and good balance.
The creamy 2020 Calicanto was produced with a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Carmenere, 10% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Syrah fermented with selected yeasts with good ripeness but no excess at 14% alcohol. It matured in 225-liter French barriques for a couple of months. It has straightforward notes of berries and herbs, a Bordeaux aromatic profile and a soft palate and texture.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
VIĆA EL PRINCIPAL VALLE DE MAIPO CALICANTO 2020
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
CountryChile
RegionValle Central
Vintage2020
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
91
Fresh and lifted nose with currants, berries and intense chili chocolate. Intense and flavorful on the palate with compact and dusty tannins. Lovely freshness from 2020. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, carmenere and syrah.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
91
Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
From: Chile in Transition (Jun 2022)
The 2018 Red Blend Calicanto is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmĆ©nĆØre, 7% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec that spent 10 months in used barrels. Red with a purple sheen. The markedly fruity, expressive but precise nose offers elderberry, sour cherry and black currant. In the mouth, the tannins are fine, active and a little spiky, while the flow is juicy and finish fruity and refreshing. A Bordelais-style wine with an Italian accent.
- By JoaquĆn Hidalgo on June 2022
Established in 1993 in Pirque, Maipo, El Principal has been owned by businessman Said Handal since 2009, operating out of a 300-hectare estate (of which 92 acres are under vine, half Cabernet Sauvignon). Until 2020, oenology was overseen by Gonzalo GuzmĆ”n, but now itās run by Marco PuyĆ³. The vineyard also produces grapes for several other wineries.
90
Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
From: Chile: A Stylistic Journey From the Andes to the Coastal Ridge (May 2021)
The 2019 Calicanto, from Maipo Andes, is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% CarmĆ©nĆØre, 16% Cabernet Franc and 3% Syrah aged for a year in used French barrels. Bright, intense purple in the glass. The nose features plum, sour cherry, white pepper and a hint of mint. The voluminous palate offers firm tannins with good body and concentration.
- By JoaquĆn Hidalgo on March 2021
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. Since the first vintage of Calicanto in 2007, this red blend from Andetelmo Estate has distinguished itself by its fresh and fruity character, spicy notes and polished, silky tannins. Partly due to the higher altitude Andean vineyards, the Callicanto gets an extra dose of clarity and freshness. Wonderfully fruity with herbal and berry aromas combined with a spicy spicy touch. Medium-bodied with fine and round tannins, a soft texture and good balance, incomparable to the often very fruit-driven wines from Chile. This is not surprising for a Chilean Frenchman as the foundation and training comes from ChĆ¢teau Pavie.
The vineyard is located at 770 m above sea level and consists ofLoam - Colluvial in origin. The vineyard is strongly influenced by the Ocean with a significant influence from the Andes Mountains. The average is between 18Ā°C āāand 22Ā°C. The wine is a blend of the typical French varieties: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmenĆØre, 3% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah which is aged for 12 months in 100% French oak.
Calicanto was named in honor of the first bridge built over the Mapocho River in the city of Santiago between 1767 and 1782. Over time, several shops and businesses grew along its sides, making it one of the first commercial centers for Chilean wine. Like that first bridge, Calicanto symbolizes the union between tradition and modernity and dedication to producing wines of the highest quality that express the soul of the Chilean terroir through the French varieties planted in the vineyards.
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, Carmenere, Syrah-Shiraz |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2028 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | Tier Price |
| Parker rating | 90 |
| James Suckling rating | 91 |
| Vinous rating | 91 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard |
Parker
The juicy and fruit-driven 2018 Calicanto, a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmenĆØre, 7% Syrah, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, has the light of the higher-altitude vineyards from Los Andes, a kind of brightness that combines some herbal and wild berry aromas and a spicy touch. This is higher in CarmenĆØre, and it's spicier and peppery, with a medium-bodied palate with fine and round tannins, a gentle texture and good balance.
The creamy 2020 Calicanto was produced with a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Carmenere, 10% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Syrah fermented with selected yeasts with good ripeness but no excess at 14% alcohol. It matured in 225-liter French barriques for a couple of months. It has straightforward notes of berries and herbs, a Bordeaux aromatic profile and a soft palate and texture.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
VIĆA EL PRINCIPAL VALLE DE MAIPO CALICANTO 2020
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
CountryChile
RegionValle Central
Vintage2020
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
91
Fresh and lifted nose with currants, berries and intense chili chocolate. Intense and flavorful on the palate with compact and dusty tannins. Lovely freshness from 2020. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, carmenere and syrah.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
91
Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
From: Chile in Transition (Jun 2022)
The 2018 Red Blend Calicanto is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% CarmĆ©nĆØre, 7% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec that spent 10 months in used barrels. Red with a purple sheen. The markedly fruity, expressive but precise nose offers elderberry, sour cherry and black currant. In the mouth, the tannins are fine, active and a little spiky, while the flow is juicy and finish fruity and refreshing. A Bordelais-style wine with an Italian accent.
- By JoaquĆn Hidalgo on June 2022
Established in 1993 in Pirque, Maipo, El Principal has been owned by businessman Said Handal since 2009, operating out of a 300-hectare estate (of which 92 acres are under vine, half Cabernet Sauvignon). Until 2020, oenology was overseen by Gonzalo GuzmĆ”n, but now itās run by Marco PuyĆ³. The vineyard also produces grapes for several other wineries.
90
Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
From: Chile: A Stylistic Journey From the Andes to the Coastal Ridge (May 2021)
The 2019 Calicanto, from Maipo Andes, is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% CarmĆ©nĆØre, 16% Cabernet Franc and 3% Syrah aged for a year in used French barrels. Bright, intense purple in the glass. The nose features plum, sour cherry, white pepper and a hint of mint. The voluminous palate offers firm tannins with good body and concentration.
- By JoaquĆn Hidalgo on March 2021
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.