2022 Granite Project, Granito Pais Itata Chile

91 points Wine Advocate

“The 2022 Granito is a joint venture between Marcelo Retamal and his US importer Eric Solomon from European Wine Cellars. It was produced with País from a dry-farmed, ungrafted and head-pruned vineyard planted in 1930 in the coolest part of Guarilihue in the coastal mountain range of Itata. It fermented with 100% full clusters in raulí open vats and matured in used oak barrels for seven months. It's clean and fruit-driven, elegant and aromatic, balsamic and spicy with minty notes and hints of nutmeg and cola nut with a balanced mouthfeel and some dusty tannins that call for food. It reveals some spiciness and smoke from the élevage. It has 12.3% alcohol and good freshness for the variety.”