Parcel Series wines come from top-class wineries that quietly sell a limited quantity to Majestic at a fraction of their usual price to clear some space in their cellars, making this a rare opportunity to buy.
This particular wine comes from the Viña Vik vineyard, set in the foothills of the Andes mountains. The vineyard was founded in 2006 by the Norwegian Alexander Vik and his wife Carrie Vik. Their top wine, VIK, a more Bordeaux style wine, not this bottling, has been awarded a perfect 100 points by the renowned critic James Suckling and the estate is widely recognised as one of the top vineyards to visit in Chile.
The grapes are grown in Millahue, in the Cachapoal Valley and the blend brings together Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Carmenère. Winemaker Cristian Vallejo, who has been named one of the world’s top 100 winemakers, oversees the production with a focus on sustainable practices. The winery itself is gravity-fed, designed by the celebrated Chilean architect Smiljan Radic and employs a unique ageing process with French oak barrels that are constructed on-site to allow for meticulous control over the toasting.
This 2017 vintage comes in at 14% and is immediately striking with an aroma of dark fruits that are strong enough to be detected without even bringing the glass close. Once you do, deeper toffee notes emerge. It is one of those wines that invites you to linger over the scents alone. The colour is just beginning to turn towards brown, likely the reason Majestic were able to secure it at such a good price – it is in its prime for drinking right now.
On tasting, it is very moreish, medium to full bodied, offering rich dark fruit flavours layered with toffee and a slight smokiness, probably from the Carmenère. A gentle spice appears towards the finish. The tannins are medium but very well integrated, making them less noticeable. After breathing for about 30 minutes, the wine’s bouquet becomes almost gloriously heady and the flavours deepen, taking on a leathery character, most likely thanks to the Cabernet. It offers a fascinating and evolving experience with each sip.
It is available at £17.50 as part of a Mix Six deal at Majestic, representing outstanding value compared to wines of a similar quality, or VIK branded wine, that usually costs far more.
