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Cono Sur
vineyard & winery was founded in 1993, with the specific goal of
producing premium, expressive and innovative wines conveying the
spirit of the new world.
The Cono Sur
name refers to the geographic origin; it denominates wines proudly
made in South America's southern cone, on whose western edge lies
Chile and its gifted wine valleys.
Cono Sur is
the adventure of creating original and distinct wines. Very
new-worldly of them and in that spirit, they've always identified
with a fresh and contemporary approach to viticulture and winemaking.
Not for them the emphasis on ancient family trees or bottles covered
with the dust of time. Quite on the contrary, passion, quality and
innovation are the values that inspire and guide them.
Cono Sur's
manor house, headquarters vineyards and winery are located 150 km.
-93 miles- south of Santiago near the countryside town of
Chimbarongo, right at the heart of the acclaimed Colchagua Valley.
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Winemaker
Adolfo Hurtado arrived at Cono Sur in 1997, when he was only 26 years
old after a successful stint at another prestigious emerging winery.
At that point Adolfo was lured by the challenges of a new project
that showed the makings of a breakthrough in Chilean viticulture. His
post as chief winemaker would give him the chance to handle the
vineyard as well as the winery, an integral experience he couldn't
resist. "everything was at square one, but the
quality-orientation that is the cornerstone of our philosophy was
already there." Soon enough his style became patent in his
wines' character and, since 2000, he also undertook the general
management of the company.
Throughout his
leadership, not only has the Cono Sur family of wines grown and
diversified its exports markets, but also its products have earned
increasingly more praise and awards. In 1999, for example, the
Guía de Vinos de Chile selected three Cono Sur Merlot wines as
the best, second and fourth in its ranking of best exponents of the
variety. In 2003 that same guide chose three of the wines as best in
their categories: Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. |
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In 2002 Cono
Sur merited six gold medals at that year's Challenge International du
Vin and in 2003, collected two citadelles trophies and two excellence
trophies at the notorious Citadelles du vin. These recognitions
touched the full range of Cono Sur varieties. From chardonnay,
viognier and pinot noir to merlot and cabernet sauvignon; each wine
received its vote of confidence and for Adolfo Hurtado personally,
these acknowledgements were taken into consideration for his
designation as winemaker of the year 2002 (a title bestowed by the
Association of Chilean Food and Wine Writers) and Wine Professional
of the Year 2003, by La Cav wine magazine.
After hitting
these significant milestones, Adolfo launched ocio pinot noir, Cono
Sur winery's first ultra premium wine and the first Chilean pinot
noir in this category. In 2004, the Descorchados wine guide appointed
this wine best Chilean pinot noir.
2005 was a
particularly fruitful year for Cono Sur and for Adolfo. The
Guía de Vinos de Chile 2006 included a full third of the Cono
Sur wines it appraised, within the rankings of the best 2005 wines in
their corresponding categories. Ocio, particularly, merited the first
slot and the corresponding best pinot noir of the year award. In view
of these achievements the man behind this wine, Adolfo Hurtado, was
named Winemaker of the Year 2006. The presentation speech declared:
"we are distinguishing creativity, energy, the desire to try new
things and enthusiasm for his trade, which permeates the wines. At
the end of the day we are awarding a winemaker that goes beyond
results and is capable of setting a certain trend in his approach."
Taste
Test :
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Riesling
2006 - 13.5%
Vol - Bio Bio Valley, Chile - yellow-green colour, riesling presents
a very particular nose combining apple and flower notes, often
against a mineral background. These are wines with good acidity,
refreshing and balanced.
Main
descriptors: roses, violets, apple, quince, pear, peach, mineral tones.
Very smooth to
drink and offsets spicy food very well as long as served at the right temperature. |
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Viognier.
Characteristic
golden colour and intense aroma mostly reminiscent of ripe apricots.
A viognier is typically a dry wine, with low natural acidity. Good
body, creamy palate, intense flavour.
Main
descriptors: apricots, peaches, lemon blossom, tropical notes, sweet spices.
Another strong
wine (13.5%) that goes very well with spicy food. We tried both the
Limited Release 2006 and the Grafted Block 2006 and although both
were excellent, the latter was more rounded with hints of apricot,
peach and citrus. |
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Gewürztraminer.
Light yellow
to golden colour. Has good body and is very easy to identify from its
perfumed and exotic aroma -flowers, lychee - and unctuous texture.
Low natural acidity.
Main
descriptors: flowers (roses, gardenias, jasmine), lychee, peach,
mango, exotic spices.
Always seen as
one of the best wines to accompany spicy food, this Gewurztraminer
lives up to its reputation as it is not so strong and aromatic that
it overpowers the food whilst still giving that strong hint of rose water.
Other
varieties yet to be taste tested are the Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot
Noir, Carmenere, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Queen of red
varieties. |
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