El Principal is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah originating from old, ungrafted vines. Deep, intense ruby red, black fruit and cassis aromas, well-integrated woody notes, great structure and balance. Ripe and present tannins, elegant and sophisticated in the mouth, a pure expression of the terroir.
- Descorchados (November 2017), 95 pts
Founded in 1999, Viña El Principal was originally a partnership between Jorge Fontaine, owner of the Hacienda El Principal, and the French winemaker Jean Paul Valette, now deceased, who was ...
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"This complex cuvée of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah from some of the highest vineyards in Pirque is built to age in bottle. Aged in 75) new wood, it’s serious, concentrated yet beautifully balanced, with very fine tannins, some aromatic mocha oak, layers of dark fruit and a backbone of acidity. 2022-30"
"The blend of the 2014 El Principal Andetelmo varied slightly, to 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah, and the amount of new oak lowered slightly, to 65% new (instead of 70%). There's more difference here between 2013 and 2014 than in the Memorias, and even if this feels riper, it also feels very complete and balanced, powerful but with the ingredients to develop nicely in bottle. For comparison, I tasted the 2001, which is a very good vintage in the zone even if then the wines were riper and oakier; the wine is still very much alive and kicking. So, there's no reason why this 2014 shouldn't develop in a similar fashion. As I saw with the Memorias, the two vintages have a similar quality, but today I'd give the edge to the 2013 because of the freshness. 12,500 bottles were filled in February 2016. - Luis Gutiérrez"
"El Principal comes from the estate's oldest vines, planted in 1993. It's cabernet sauvignon (90 percent) blended with petit verdot and syrah, opulent and richly saturated. While the initial impression is all berries, plums and chocolate-covered cherries, the structure emerges with air, revealing a cool savor to the tannins, zesty, firm and built to age."
"Aromas of blackberry and blueberry follow through to a full body, silky tannins and a coffee, berry and chocolate character. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and cabernet franc. Delicious already. Drink now."
