Odfjell Vineyards Odfjell Aliara 2019 750ml

The 2018 Blend Aliara is 28.5% Syrah, 24.5% Carignan. 16% Malbec, 10% Carménère, 8.5% Cabernet Sauvigron, 7% Tempranillo ard 5.5% Tannat from Maule and Maipo and was aged for up to 24 months in 70% new oak. Dark purple in hue. The aromas are complex, featuring fresh black currant and blackberry and hints of sour cherry against a woody backdrop. In the mouth, the tannins are polished and delicate and the flow juicy and bold. Liqueur-like flavors lead into a long, fruity finish. Will improve in the bottle.<br/><br/>

Fragrant and herbal nose of currants, violets, thyme, mixed peppercorns, olives, mint chocolate and cloves. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Wild and energetic with delicious layers of spicy fruit and herbs. 28.5% syrah, 24.5% carignan, 16% malbec, 10% carmenere, 8.5% cabernet sauvignon, 7% tempranillo and 5.5% tannat. From organically grown grapes with Ecocert certification. Vegan. Drink or hold. (James Suckling)

A fresh yet complex and intense red full of ripe currants, minty blackberries and blueberries with some quince, orange peels and sweet spices. Plenty of powdery tannins on the fresh, full-bodied palate. Quite a juicy and very long finish. Syrah, carignan, malbec, carmenere, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and tannat. From organically grown grapes with Ecocert certification. Vegan. Drink or hold.

A delicious blend of Carignan, Syrah and other red varieties from vineyards in the Maule, Lontué and Maipo Valley. It starts with an earthy and fruity nose that introduces delicious flavors of cherry and strawberry. A hint of cinnamon, licorice and espresso enhances the lively palate. As the wine opens up herbs and a light note of sandalwood completes the character.

The 2019 Aliara combines six varieties sourced from across the Central Valley, ranging from Maipo to Maule, each aged separately in 500-liter barrels, 70% new. It represents the most traditional wine in the range, exuding a markedly more impactful oak regimen, immediately evident on the nose through toasty, roasted aromas that float on a bed of ripe red fruits. The palate echoes this with a creamy, rich opulence that carries through the herbal, drying finish. This is a quality wine that will have its fans, but next to the other wines in the Odfjell range, it comes off a bit monotone and muddled. It's composed of 35% Carignan, 20% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carménère, 10% Malbec and 5% Mourvedre (Matthew Luczy)

The 2018 Aliara mixes their best grapes, regardless of origin, and is composed of 28.5% Syrah, 24.5% Carignan, 16% Malbec, 10% Carmenere, 8.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Tempranillo and 5.5% Tannat from different origins but all from certified organic vineyards. From a good year, the wine has 14% alcohol and very good freshness and acidity. I have a bit of a problem with the oak on the wine, which I find quite prominent; the components were matured separately in 500-liter barrels for 10 to 12 months before being blended and put back in barrel for another 10 to 12 months, and I suspect a significant part of the barrels must have been new. So, the wine has aromas, flavors and a texture that has been altered by the élevage, but it seems like this time the oak is a little more integrated than in past vintages. It remains a wine for the fans of the style. 25,859 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020.