2008 Ocio Pinot Noir

The 2008 Ocio Pinot Noir offers dark cherries, blueberry and a touch of marmalade on the generous nose. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins and a savory, rather obdurate saline finish. Drink now. I arrived at the Cono Sur winery on a damp, misty morning in Colchagua Valley. After a bit of small talk we mounted out “bicyclettes” to cycle round to the tasting room, the geese watching on with amusement (they were introduced as part of the organic viticulture to control insects.) As one of Chile’s most famous wineries established in 1993, like Concha y Toro, Cono Sur represents an introduction the country’s wines for Joe Public, and in many ways is one of its most important ambassadors. Sourcing fruit from a majority of its significant wine regions, Cono Sur has a large portfolio that covers nearly everyone’s tastes, from entry-level supermarket wines to their soon-to-be introduced “Icono” flagship. I was impressed by the consistency across the range and while there were no transcendental moments, there are good value wines, in particular with respect to their whites. The Ocio Pinot Noir from Cono Sur is picked by hand, sorted and the best bunches are de-stalked and then whole berry fermented with a one week carbonic maceration. The best barrels go into Ocio and the others into the “20 Barrels” range. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802.