90POINTS
16½/20
De Martino Gallardia Cinsault 2017
Itata Valley, ChileNow well into its fourth generation with brothers Marco Antonio and Sebastián De Martino, De Martino was founded in 1934. GallardÃa is a tribute to Itata's coastal vineyards, and the home of Chilean viticulture (with vines dating back to 1551). Sustainable agriculture, dry farming, and horse ploughing are used to farm these 35-year-old own-rooted cinsault bush vines from Guarilihue, 22km inland, on gentle granite slopes. This was destemmed and native fermented in stainless, with a 40 day maceration, before 7 months aging in tank. The only additions / deletions are a small amount of SO2 at bottling. Give this pale, cloudy, crimson-hued wine some air time to reveal sapid plum, scrubby herbs, ample rosemary and thyme, pine, and medicinal white cherry, all threaded with resin and kissed with smoke. Tannins are whisper light and acidity is juicy, lofting this lighter wine to a lingering finish. Serve slightly chilled.Tasted: 19 February 2020Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:BC | $28.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Grape: CinsaultUPC: 7804395003027