94 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

" The 2009 Duque d’A is produced from Cabernet Sauvignon planted at 900 meters altitude, probably the highest Cabernet planting in Chile, on soils of volcanic gravels with calcareous components. There is an amplified sense of brightness in the fruit, with intense spiciness and floral aromas, a little wild with blue fruit and perfectly integrated wood (especially because in these first vintages they had to use new wood). The palate is medium to full-bodied, but they changed the plots used to absorb the effect of the warmer 2009 compared with the 2008. The tannins are round, they have the softness of the Malbec rather than the typical Cabernet, with great acidity, precision and length, perfectly focused. There are 3,000 bottles of this personality-laden Cabernet that talks much more about the place than the variety. Drink now-2019. Aristos was created in 2003 by Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, Francois Massoc and Pedro Parra, who had all studied in Burgundy. After a walk through the Echezeaux vineyard in Vosne-Romanee, followed by a fun night of drinking great bottles, they decided to take up the challenge to show that Chile can produce drinkable, fresh and complex wines. Liger-Belair from Vosne-Romanee was about to resurrect the family domaine and its flagship vineyard La Romanee. Parra and Massoc work together in Clos de Fous with other partners and both have a number of other interesting projects as winemakers, consultants or partners. For their adventure together, they agreed that they needed to find calcareous soils. In 2007 they finally found the place in Alto Cachapoal at very high altitude with carbonated alluvial soils, similar to what they have in parts of the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, on the other side of the Andes. The vineyards are about 20 years old for the white Chardonnay and 10 for the Cabernet Sauvignon. They produced their first wines in 2007. The first proper vintage was 2008. They have now planted Pinot Noir and there will be a new wine in a few years’ time. What I tasted is superb. This is a name to follow."

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"A tight and rich wine with plum and berry character. Lots of currants too. Full-bodied, soft and silky, plus dust and terracotta. A long and intense finish. Beautiful now, but showy and sexy. Drink or hold."