Valle del Bio Bio Chilean Pinot Noir

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29 December 2025

This is a new vintage of one of my highlights of 2025. I first came across the 2023 release at the Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting and later explored it in more depth at home. It also featured in my Pinot Noir retrospection.

The 2024 vintage, now with an updated front label, received recognition at both the IWC and IWSC 2025 competitions, so I was keen to try it. As with the earlier vintage, the wine is made by Diego Covarrubias of Viña Indómita, a respected figure in Chilean winemaking and regularly praised by critic James Suckling.

At first, I felt a touch let down, as I had admired the previous release for its balance between ripe fruit and savoury character. The floral aroma and lively cherry impression remain, but the savoury depth has been dialled back.

However, after drinking over a few days, I found a renewed appreciation for what this wine offers. It stands now as a very expressive and fruit-forward Pinot Noir and arguably one of the finest examples in that style. That said, Sainsbury’s would do well to adjust the back label to better reflect its current character and place less emphasis on the savoury side. Oh, and the front label on their web site is still the old one.

At just £10 full price, or an unbeatable £7.50 during the 25% off promotions, this is a great wine that still offers outstanding value.

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