Cerrillos Merlot

2008 Rapel Valley Merlot

The Cerrillos Cerrillos Merlot from the 2008 vintage hails from the picturesque Rapel Valley, a celebrated winegrowing region in Chile. This red wine showcases a medium to full-bodied profile, offering a delightful richness that envelops the palate. Its acidity strikes a harmonious balance, providing a refreshing quality that enhances its overall appeal. The fruit intensity is pronounced, revealing luscious notes of ripe red berries and dark plum, which are complemented by subtle hints of spice and chocolate. Tannins are notably firm yet approachable, lending structure and sophistication to the wine without overwhelming its fruit-forward character. With a dry finish, this Merlot invites you to savor its complexity and enjoy its elegant expression of the Rapel Valley terroir.

Tasting notes:

Black Cherry

Blackberry

Baking Spice

Flavor profile:

Acidity Mild

Low Pronounced

Body Medium

Very Light Full

Fruit Intensity Medium

Low Pronounced

Sweetness Dry

Bone Dry Sweet

Tannin Medium

Low Pronounced

Pairs well with:

Char-grilled Lamb Chops with Fig Sauce, Herbed Lamb Chops, Lamb Chops

Region:

Rapel Valley

Chile's Rapel Valley DO is actually made up of two smaller valleys; Cachapoal and Colchagua. Cachapoal is the warmer of the two, located further inland, entirely cut off from Pacific Ocean breezes and storms by the peaks of the Chilean Coastal Range. This area is well-known for old vine Carménère, which ripens best on the sun-drenched valley floors and foothills of the Andes Mountains. Colchagua lies southwest of its sister valley with warm vineyards and greater exposure to sea breezes, making it an idyllic home to Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The Rapel Valley focuses primarily on red wine production, famous for full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Carménère, with bold fruit flavors alongside signature herbal and earthy characteristics. Chile’s Denominación de Origen (DO) classification system focuses on separating wines by the physical location of origin. To use the DO classification on a label, a producer must have pulled 85 percent of the fruit used in a wine from a defined regional location. The DO system names wine regions in the country from north to south.

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