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The Traitor Red Blend

Posted by

Simon Judge

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As I write this, a new season of the hugely popular show The Traitors is captivating audiences on UK TV. Possibly by coincidence, Majestic has introduced a new Chilean own-label wine range intriguingly titled The Traitor, complete with its own fascinating backstory:

The legend of the Añañuca flower tells of a young indigenous woman from Monte Rey who falls in love with a miner, rejecting the advances of other men. The miner, consumed by a dream revealing the location of a treasure-filled mine, abandons her without hesitation and never returns. Heartbroken, Añañuca eventually dies. The day after her burial, the valley is said to have blossomed with vibrant red flowers, now called Añañuca, symbolising her enduring love and tragic fate. Each bottle features a mysterious miner walking among red anañuca blooms.

This 2023 vintage is made by Félix Solís, one of the largest family-owned wineries in the world and renowned for its popular The Guv’nor range of wines. Produced at the Viña Casa Solís winery, this red blend comes from the Cachapoal Valley in Chile’s Central Valley. It’s a blend of 40% Carménère, 40% Syrah and 20% Malbec with an ABV of 13%.

It has a deep, dark colour and greets you with a cherry aroma. Initially, it surprises with a plummy taste reminiscent of Merlot, despite not being part of its blend. While heavily branded wines can often lean towards sweetness, this one does not. The wine is very drinkable, lacking the abruptness or sourness sometimes associated with lower-priced bottles. Its tannins are light to medium, making it easy for everyone to drink. As the taste develops, a subtle dark chocolate and spicy note emerge at the finish, adding depth and intrigue.

As the wine opens up over a few days, it evolves in character. The deeper more woody, smoky, cocoa Carménère becomes much more pronounced, lending some complexity and a lingering quality a Majestic flyer describes as as ‘moreish’. In a way, the wine lives up to its name, The Traitor, by revealing its full character only with time.

At £6.99 as part of a Mix Six deal from Majestic, it offers great value for this shape-shifting red blend.

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