Cousino Macul Finis Terrae 2017

Finis Terrae, Cousino Macul, Maipo Valley, Chile, 2017

Grape: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot & 5% Syrah, calcareous soils, 75% of the wine is gravity-fed into new French oak barrels and 25% into one-year-old barrels for 15 months of ageing, bottled unfiltered

Producer Tasting Note:

This wine, with its intense and brilliant ruby-red colour, stands out on the nose for its aromas of ripe black fruit, such as plum, cherry, and cassis. Notes of red bell pepper, wood, and coffee beans can also be appreciated. On the palate, it has a smooth entry with intense and elegant tannins. It presents high acidity, with a long finish and persistent fruity notes.

Established in 1856, the Cousino Macul estate is located just south of Santiago, and is still a family owned company. "Finis Terrae" means "End of the earth" in Latin.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Finis Terrae has been made since the 1992 vintage and, from the beginning, it has come from the old Cousiño vineyards that are more than 80 years old in the Macul area, at the foot of the Andes, in what is known as Alto Maipo. In recent vintages, a few drops of syrah have been added to the blend based on similar parts of cabernet sauvignon and merlot and is aged for 18 months in first- and second-use barrels. The result is a photograph of the house wines, the earthy and herbal aromas that result from the aging, the notes of ripe and candied red fruits, and that layer of tannins that's so soft yet oh-so fine. You have before you a Chilean classic."

95/100 points, Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, January 2023

"The 2017 Red Blend Finis Terrae is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Syrah from Maipo. It aged for 15 months in new French oak barrels. Dark garnet red in hue. The complex nose presents ripe blackcurrant and blackberry notes with hints of mint, pepper, licorice and bay leaf; the oak adds cigar box aromas. Voluminous with structured, firm tannins. The flavors are fruity and well-defined with blackcurrant coming to the fore at the back of the mouth. A typical warm year Maipo Bordeaux blend."

92/100 points, Vinous Media

"Cassis leaves, blueberries, stewed mulberries, eucalyptus and sweet tobacco on the nose. Supple and full-bodied, with firm and creamy tannins. Excellent integration of sweet spice... Delicious now."

91/100 points, James Suckling, February 2023

Also awarded 94/100 points, Tim Atkin, December 2022

Food Match: This wine is ideal to accompany red meats such as a beef fillet with mushroom sauce or game meats, such as duck à l'orange. As a vegetarian option, try roasted aubergine accompanied by rice with fresh herbs, such as basil or parsley