Tremonte Oro de Los Coipos 2010

Smooth, powerful, and packed with flavor the 2010 Tremonte Monte Rekewa Oro de Los Coipos is one fine tasting wine, even in its infancy. And as a world class blend of Malbec (55%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), this big boned beauty could almost be mistaken for classified Bordeaux – except for the fact that it can be enjoyed now, unlike its Bordeaux counterparts. Nearly black and impenetrable in color, the potent 2010 Oro de Los Coipos is faithful to its varietal composition as well as Monte Rekewa’s supreme terroir. Nevertheless, it already offers up an enticing array of savory scents in the form of pure ripe black fruits, cedar, and sassafras. On the palate, the wine exhibits more of the same goodness along with a supreme texture and a wealth of deep down cassis and spice flavors, all of which are framed by fine grained tannins and just the right touch of toasted oak. Although this wine is years away from its apogee, the 2010 Oro de Los Coipos tastes delicious now. However, for near term consumption we strongly suggest an hour or more of aeration to release Oro de Los Coipos’ latent grandeur. Enjoy this wine now and for the next ten years at cool room temperature (no more than 65° F).

It is easy to lose sight of the fact that Malbec is one of the six legal grape varietals permitted in red Bordeaux and it was largely responsible for many of Bordeaux’s greatest pre-phylloxera wines, as Malbec was the dominant red grape in Bordeaux before the advent of the dreaded infestation. Happily, Malbec traveled to South America prior to the epidemic and has thrived there. Tremonte’s 2010 Oro de Los Coipos is testimony to the preeminence of Malbec and the merits of the traditional Malbec/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend. With additional bottle age, the 2010 Oro de Los Coipos could easily take its place at an elegant dinner party in the company of Beef Wellington or Rack of Lamb and be mistaken for one of the grand Bordeaux wines of yesteryear. For more near term consumption we suggest serving the exuberant 2010 Oro de Los Coipos with hearty, stick to your ribs fare. Charcoal broiled sirloin steak topped with garlic butter or chimichurri sauce and served with grilled onions and roasted root vegetables, pulled pork tenderloin barbecue paired with homemade Cole slaw, and a whole rotisserie roasted chicken basted with garlic and Provencal herbs all make fine accompaniments and set our mouths watering. Classic Italian specialties such as homemade lasagna and ravioli stuffed with braised beef and topped with a complex tomato cream sauce pair nicely, too. And should you have a bit left at the end of a meal, a glass of Tremonte’s 2010 Oro de Los Coipos makes a fine companion to Mahon or one of Spain’s other classic cheeses. Buen Provecho!

The Tremonte Monte Rekewa estate is nestled on the slopes of Monte Rekewa at the southern edge of Chile’s Cachapoal Valley where the Rekewa River separates Cachapoal from neighboring Colchagua. Monte Rekewa is the first major elevation of the Costa Mountains, a range that rises between the Pacific Ocean and the towering Cordillera of the Andes. Upon Rekewa’s steep slopes, which were once mined for gold, the soil is poor and rocky; they provide superb drainage that forces the vines to burrow deep into the mountain for sustenance. Moreover, upon Monte Rekewa’s rock-strewn ledges and precipitous slopes Tremonte’s grapes mature slowly thanks to the area’s unique terroir. The weather on Monte Rekewa is nearly perfect every year during the growing season. Days are warm and nights quite cool on the mountain, a great recipe for the superb aromatics and supreme balance one encounters in Tremonte’s wines. Moreover, afternoon breezes that flow down from the Andes sweep away the heat and moisture of the day, dry the vineyard’s grapes, and concentrate the flourishing grapes’ rich, natural flavors. Such conditions are ideal for the estate’s Bordeaux and Rhône varietals, which thrive on Monte Rekewa. Consequently, Tremonte cultivates exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Carmenère, and Merlot in addition to small amounts of Viognier – the Rhône Valley’s most formidable white grape. Presently, Tremonte fashions a fine and growing array of red wines, including Single Vineyard Reserva selections of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. A small amount of intense Viognier will soon be bottled as well. In addition, two very limited special selections are crafted at Tremonte. They are the Monte Rekewa Gran Reserva and Tremonte Oro de Los Coipos. The former is a super concentrated blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah, while Oro de Los Coipos, the estate’s flagship wine, comes across as a world class blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a level of complexity and sophistication that is often missing in lesser South American wines. All of Tremonte’s selections are bottled under the watchful eye of Ian Hutcheon, Tremonte’s astute General Manager. Hutcheon honed his skills at several award winning Chilean wineries, including Casa Silva and Santa Monica, before moving on to Tremonte as a managing partner. With Hutcheon at the helm, one can count on tasting full-bodied, world class offerings from Tremonte, with a few interesting surprises to come our way from down the vineyard road.