Altaïr, Cachapoal Valley, Chile, 2006

Bordeaux-trained Ana Maria Cumsille is a quiet achiever making stylish Bordeaux blends at San Pedro’s Altaïr in the amphitheatre of hills at Totihue in the Cachapoal Valley. Some 72ha of Cabernet Sauvignon are planted, along with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Carmenere. The nearby Andes mountains bring a cool climate capable of good ripening and naturally high acidity which helps with aroma and elegance. Cumsille makes an excellent second wine, Sideral, but the grand vin is Altaïr. There’s backbone and structure behind the succulent dark fruits, with a real sense of place.