Laberinto - Trumao Norte 2019

Dubbed Laberinto for the labyrinth-inspired row plantings in his 23 hectares under vine, Rafael Tirado established the winery in 1993 in the easternmost corner of the Maule Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, after previously serving as winemaker for several larger Chilean wineries in the Maipo Valley.

At a time when most wineries were focused on Chile’s warmer Central Valleys, Rafael, or Rafa for short, recognized a unique opportunity and purchased land where he had once spent time as a child in the remote town of Colbún. With a landscape dominated by conifer trees and pristine mountain-fed lakes, this cooler continental climate is home to some of the country’s best skiing, mountain biking, and many of its thermal hot springs.

Rafa is widely considered to be of the most seminal figures in the modern history of Chilean winemaking and younger winemakers across South America, from Pedro Parra to Sebastian Zucciardi, mention his name in reverence. An artisan in the time of bulk production. Despite this recognition as both a pioneering winemaker and now consultant, he remains ever humble, with a charming and candid resolve to continue improving his wines each vintage. Producing wines from only his estate vineyards, he farms organically and allows all his ferments to begin with native yeast. After nearly thirty vintages, his wines’ signature balance of acidity and elegance have cemented them as benchmarks within Chile.

Manually harvested early in the morning, destemming 80% of the grape and fermented in concrete ponds with native yeasts at controlled temperature. Gentle maceration for 22 to 24 days of alcoholic fermentation, then transferred to French barrels of 400 liters for 16 months. Carried out with minimal work intervention and unfiltered bottled.

“Not many producers can take Bordeaux grapes - Cabernet Franc with 35% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in this instance - and turn them into something with the finesse of a great Burgundy. Perfumed, sappy and elegant, with notes of patisserie, bramble and red berries and a bright mineral core, this has just the right amount of wood for balance.” - 95 Points, Tim Atkin

“The red blend 2019 Trumao Norte was produced with 65% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon from north-facing vines on volcanic trumao ash soils. It fermented with 20% full clusters and indigenous yeasts in concrete and matured in 400-liter French oak barrels for 14 months. It's ripe without excess, with 14% alcohol and good balance, with darker fruit than the Mezcla Tinta and a rounder palate with a slightly more voluptuous mouthfeel. The grapes ripen thoroughly in this north-facing exposition. 3,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2022.” - 92 Points, Wine Advocate 

Producer: Laberinto

Country: Chile

Region: Maule Valley

Varietal: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Appellation: Maule Valley

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml