Bouchon Pais Viejo 2020

Bouchon Pais Viejo, Secano Interior, Chile, 2020 

Grape: 100% organic Pais, aged 4 months in concrete vats.

Light, crunchy style of red from a variety that was, until recently, Chile’s most widely planted grape. Derided for years as fit for no more than "jug wines" and eschewed by the country’s larger producers, Pais is, at last, emerging from the shadows of its better known cousins as a new generation of growers embrace its idiosyncrasies and recognise the food-friendly charm of their very own Cinderella varietal. Harvested from the surrounding trees that these old vines have adopted as their home, this has a brightness and scimitar-sharp acidity that is the perfect foil for the rich, hearty dishes, shaking the palate back into life and creating a sense of harmony that would have the Beach Boys weeping tears of joy.

"Pale purple. More reductive than their Salvaje Pais, and more peppery than sweet spice. Balanced and refreshing, with the same finely ground, earthy tannic feel. Moderate length." 16.5/20 points, Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com, May 2021

Also rated 91/100 points by Tim Atkin MW, in his "Chile 2021 Special Report"