Second Pour: TRIPLE BEST!

Best wine they make.

Best price anywhere.

And now, a new heavyweight, undisputed title adorns Viña Santa Rita as they take the crown for #1 BEST WINERY IN THE WORLD?!

Per Wine Advocate, “Within Viña Santa Rita’s substantial offerings, the lavishly styled Casa Real has remained a benchmark to those following high-end Bordeaux blends worldwide for over 3 decades.”

Any true fan of Cabernet MUST have this wine in their cellar. Rivaling the greatest names in Pauillac to Napa, this Chilean masterpiece competes with anything you can throw at it. An absolute LEGEND!

This one, with a TRIO of 96 POINT scores from the pros, at 40% OFF marks a a low price during a high point in a decades-long mission to produce a no-compromise Chilean Cabernet of the highest caliber.

Don’t just take our word for it: in 2019 Decanter named their inaugural vintage (the 1989) one of their Wine Legends – a rare honor reserved for the top cellar-worthy wines of the world! They explain, “it soon became established as one of Chile’s greatest Cabernets. It is only produced in exceptional years in order to retain the quality level set by the 1989 vintage.”

Along with Seña, Almaviva, and Don Melchor – Casa Real stands as a touchstone for quality Cabernet and made the list of James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of Chile for the last three years in a row (this wine included!). We have been following it closely for decades. So, when we a bottle of 2020 arrived at HQ, we began salivating before the cork even popped.

Dripping with ripe red and black fruits, the tannins are supple but grippy, with top-tier complexity of toasty oak spice, wild herbs, floras, and earth. It lingers in a long satisfying arch, buoyed by an underlying freshness. Worth every bit of its normally high price tag, and thanks to our Agent negotiation tactics, it’s yours for 40% off!

“Key to Casa Real’s enduring success are its consistency and classic yet characterful style, both reliant on the particular expression of Cabernet Sauvignon delivered by the terroirs of Alto Jahuel.” continues Decanter. “The heavier soils of the Carneros Viejos block, planted in the 1970s, are responsible for the wine’s more structural components, while the more gravelly Población, a block planted in the 1980s, adds finesse and aromatic nuance. All blocks benefit from the long dry growing season, with cooling night winds from the Andes causing a wide temperature diurnal range. Cool nights help to preserve a fine acidity, keep alcohol levels in check and, says Labbé, shape the distinct aromatic profile of Cabernet Sauvignon that has become synonymous with Alto Jahuel and Casa Real.”

Founded in the 1880’s, Santa Rita was on the forefront of bringing in French varieties and techniques to Chile, helping to define their industry today. The Pompeian style manor and gardens on the label, the original family home about 45 minutes outside Santiago still stands (now one of the top luxury hotels in Chile). Casa Real began in the 1980’s with the mission to bottle truly world-class Cabernet that was uniquely Chilean, driven by the terroir of the Maipo Valley.

Sebastián Labbé has been with Santa Rita since 2005, and the genius force continuing the legacy of Casa Real since 2017. “I found the entire range utterly captivating in its vibrancy and crystal-clear transparency, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon,” praises Wine Advocate!

That’s right! The last time you’ll see a TRIPLE BEST for under $80!!!

96 Points – Decanter “Juicy and succulent with tangy acidity. Green pepper, cooling menthol and blackcurrant aromas on the nose. Round and enveloping on the palate, with spiced strawberry, red cherry and chalky raspberries. I love the mineral tang with tannins that have a grippy, salty stoniness that nicely combines with clearly ripe black berry fruit and a lifted finish. So well made, utterly lovely now with accents of clove, cinnamon, toast and vanilla but with excellent ageing potential. Charming, lively, upfront and complex from talented winemaker Sebastián Labbé. Drink 2025-2040”

96 Points – Vinous “The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real, from Alto Jahuel, spent 20 months in barrels, 82% of them new and the rest second use. A purplish-red with a garnet sheen. The ripe nose presents blackcurrant and blackberry over a layer of cedar, notes of ash from the aging process over a backdrop of graphite, wax and mint. The broad, polished tannins and velvety feel linger at the back of the palate before the rich, complex finish. Keep in the cellar for at least two more years to let it really come together. Drink 2026-2040.”

96 Points – Descorchados “2020 was a very hot year, so the harvest had to be moved up to the second half of March, two weeks earlier than in an average year. But that warmth is not evident in a very elegant Casa Real with very soft and juicy tannins, a strong presence of sweet spices and herbal tones, and acidity that seems to illuminate the flavors. The finish is herbal and spicy, the flavors are long, and the memory of the fruit remains on the palate for a long time.”