Maquis Viola

Tasting Notes

Among an impressive tasting of 15 wines from Maquis spanning 20 years, the 2021 Viola earns my praise for the top spot. It opens with a darker-fruited, more exotic, spice-driven bouquet than the minty, lifted Franco bottling, owing to its Carménère-dominant composition. The palate offers svelte intensity delivered in a sleek, seamless frame that continuously gains complexity over time in the glass. It concludes with a rich, persistent, layered finish of ultra-refined, perfectly integrated tannins that are nearly without grain but possess incredible staying power. This was among the best wines I tasted from Chile's Central Valley; and I am eager to follow its aging trajectory, as it could merit an even higher score with more time in bottle. It's composed of 89% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. Matthew Luczy, The Wine Advocate, March 2025.