Staff Pick

Vistalago, Red Blend - 2017

Name: Vistalago, Red Blend
Brand: Rafael Tirado
SKU: 39013
Price: 17.96 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Item # 39013 750mL

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah from a granite-rich vineyard. Fermented in concrete and then aged for a year in French casks. Full-bodied and structure and the type of bold wine that will appeal to those who enjoy a Cali Cabernet.

This item is currently out of stock.

Send me an email when this is back in stock.

Notify Me

Free shipping on first web orders over $299

Color

Red

Vintage

2017

Country

Chile

Region

Maule

Producer

Rafael Tirado

Grape Variety

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Syrah

Need Help Deciding? Get personal recommendations from our staff

Staff Pick Notes

Maule Valley was one of the first areas in Chile to be planted to vine, and its viticultural history stretches back to the start of colonization by the Spanish. The region has long been one of Chile's most successful bulk-production wine districts, as evidenced by the large amount of País still found planted here. It has only been in the past few decades that Maule wine growers have made a move towards something new in higher-quality wines. You'll find some old world grapes planted in the area as well. The blend of those grapes makes Vistalago come alive. Earthy, black-fruit aromas open wild and give this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah some teeth. This full, rich blend will nicely pair with anything from the grill with a touch of spice.

- DK

Glossary

Merlot

The next time you hear someone say they never touch Merlot, tell them that it's too bad, because you were just about to open a few bottles of Château Pétrus and Le Pin, and you have no one to share them with. Some wine drinkers are quick to dismiss varieties that become too fashionable, but Merlot is popular for good reason. It has one of the most impressive and distinctive textures of any wine, and has long been prized for the "softening" effect it can have on Cabernet Sauvignon - especially...

Chile

Chilean winemakers are known for opening their arms to forgotten European grape varieties, nursing them back to health, and then releasing them back to the rest of the world - and we can’t thank them enough for it. Chile’s friendly, delicious Carmenères are the best example, but Chile is generally one of the most consistent sources of delicious, ready-to-drink, approachable wines. Cabernet Sauvignons from Chile are just as crowd-pleasing as the Carmenères, and keep an eye out for velvety,...

Syrah

We'd like to clear this up once and for all: the Shiraz grape is genetically identical to Syrah. Australian winemakers put "Shiraz" on the map (and, many would argue, vice versa), and the term is now used throughout much of the New World. Let it never be said, however, that Shiraz and Syrah are the same thing: the region in which the grape is grown determines much about the flavor of the wine it will produce. Typically, New World Shiraz yields bigger, fruitier wines than the the peppery Syrahs...

Cabernet Franc

Relegated to moderate obscurity in modern times, Cabernet Franc is in fact the proud parent of the attention-hogging Cabernet Sauvignon (after an illicit affair with Sauvignon Blanc a hundred-odd years ago). Cabernet Franc has remained close to its roots in France, enjoying small pockets of popularity primarily in the Loire Valley (specifically in Chinon), where it is often bottled as a varietal wine, and in Bordeaux where it is still used in moderate percentages in the typical blends. In fact,...