The 2007 Gravas de Maipo was sourced from the Quinta de Maipo Vineyard in Maipo planted at 1300 feet of elevation in 1967. It is composed of 88% Syrah and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in 80% new French oak. Initially reticent, with coaxing it offers up notions of smoke, game, bacon, mineral, and blueberry in the style of a top Cote-Rotie from France's Rhone Valley. It is a suave, flavorful offering with superb concentration and length but in need of greater complexity to justify its exalted price. Perhaps that will come with another 5-6 years of cellaring.Cocha y Toro is the largest wine producer in Chile as the above list attests. Remarkably, they are also one of the quality leaders and innovators leading the country forward. The Gran Reserva Serie are wines made from a single vineyard meant to display a particular terroir. The Marques de Casa Concha wines are also sourced from single vineyards but exposed to more new oak and a longer elevage. Some of the finest wines produced in Chile, particularly from the Carmenere grape, are being bottled and sold under the Terrunyo label under the direction of veteran winemaker Ignacio Recabarren.Importer: Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY; tel. (516) 626-9200

7 This high-priced Syrah is stately. The nose is ripe, minty and loaded with cassis and blackberry fruit. The palate displays extraction handled well, while accents of mint, spice, nutmeg and licorice work great with core black fruit flavors. Juicy, deep and focused. Contains 12% Cabernet Sauvignon; 150 cases made. ——M.S.(9/1/2011)—— 92