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just Carmenère and Pinot Noir, but Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Grenache and Petit Verdot. Now I'm at your front door, ready to let loose of my Old World roots and wrap my arms around your 15 appel- lations with their amazing climatic diversity—from Limarí Valley's Pacific- fog-cooled mornings and vineyards basking in reflected Andes light, to the Bio Bio Valley's warm days, cool nights and higher rainfall. I'm liking what I see, but falling in love with wine involves more than just what's in the bottle. I can't get too serious about Chilean wine if I can't find you in my own hometown. I don't want my heart broken because of insufficient supply. That's when I learned that major wine and spirits companies are investing in Chile—big names like the Rothchilds of Lafite, St. Michelle Wine Estates and Moët Hennessy. I also dis- covered that Chile's a strong country economically and has big plans for you, its wine industry. Wines of Chile Beautiful Story, Beautiful Wine: Haras de Pirque Every beautiful wine carries a story. At Haras de Pirque in the Maipo Valley, the story begins with successful businessman Eduardo Matte adding a winery project to his 100-year-old Thor- oughbred farm in 1991. Italian wine legend Marchese Piero Antinori invested in Haras because of the promise of a new winemaking frontier, particularly with Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon, says the wine's importer, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Today, the winery represents some of Maipo's best fruit, producing elegant Cabernet, Merlot, Carmenère, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Bringing great value, the Haras 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvginon ($12) delivers a spicy nose with notes of chocolate, rosemary and dark fruits. Blended with 5% Syrah and 5% Carmenère, the Cab is somewhat softer than other Cabernets from the Maipo Valley. Meanwhile, the Haras Character Cabernet Sauvignon–Carmenère ($20) blends 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Carmenère, 13% Cabernet Franc and 10% Syrah to create distinct flavors of blackberry, blueberry, cassis, currant and tobacco delivered with elegance and velvety. All grapes are grown as organically as possible, and the winery as well as the vineyards have ISO certifications. STE. MICHELLE WINE ESTATES Saving the Planet, One Bottle at a Time: Viñedos Emiliana Founded in 1986, Viñedos Emiliana operates 1,550 hectares in Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys. What truly makes this vineyard special is its organic and biodynamic practices. Granted, some organic wines are not worth their lofty prices, and frankly, some commit grape injustice. But, that's not the case with Emiliana wines. Emiliana offers three labels in the U.S. market: Coyam, Natura and Eco Balance. The Eco Balance 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($9) Chilean wines inspire poetry at Cousiño-Macul. expresses maturity in its youth with a clean, light greenish-yellow color and a nose of herbs and citrus; on the palate, it's balanced and deliciously fruity. The Natura 2010 Carmenère ($9) delivers a nose of black fruits with a palate of strawberry jam, fig and prune with hints of banana and tea. The Coyam 2009 ($35), a blend of 41% Syrah, 29% Carmenère, 20% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Mourvèdre and 1% Petit Verdot, is an amazing representation of winemaker Alvaro Espinoza's talent. A Certified Carbon Neutral Wine, Coyam shows intense plum red color and aromas of plum, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, with a lovely palate of spice, vanilla, earth and soft round tannins. These wines indicate winemakers can make great wines using better-for-the-environment practices. BANFI VINTNERS march 2012 / the tasting panel / 119 PHOTO: FRED MINNICK PHOTO: FRED MINNICK