2014 Clos des Fous Cabernet Sauvignon Grillos Cantores Alto Cachapoal – buy online

WHO?

Clos des Fous is an exciting project led by four Chileans: Pedro Parra (vineyard specialist and pedologist, also credited with discovering many exceptional microsites throughout Chile), François Massoc and Paco Leyton (winemakers), and Albert Cussen, who oversees all business-related aspects. ‘Fous’ is a French term for madmen, a concept that aptly describes their fanaticism and tireless spirit in pushing the traditional limits of viticulture in Chile to cultivate grapes in vineyards located in extreme conditions. They literally translate terroir into the glass.

WHERE?

Clos des Fous owns 19 hectares under vine. The Grillos Cantores vineyard is located in Alto Cachapoal DO, where, at the foothills of the Andes themselves, this microsite benefits from very cold nights and daily temperature fluctuations. The soil is composed of limestone with traces of granite and gravel. Pedro emphasizes: the key is to move away from fertile plains towards slopes closer to the Andes, where rocky soil results in lower fertility, ultimately providing better balance and more finesse in the wines.

WHY?

‘Grillos Cantores’ (Spanish for singing crickets) is a unique Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in Alto Cachapoal, just 6 km from the Andes. The degrading granite and volcanic rocks in the soil ensure a distinctive mineral stamp and emphasize its Bordeaux pedigree. It has a ruby red color with a recognizable nose of red and black cherries. Notes of spice, black pepper, and green tea alternate in the glass. On the palate, it’s a perfect blend of fruit and minerality with ripe tannins and a long finish.

Wine Enthusiast – 92 pts

James Suckling – 91 pts

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate – 90 pts