Vina El Principal El Principal 2022

Originating from Chile in the Maipo Valley region, specifically within the Pirque sub-zone in the Andean foothills, Viña El Principal 'El Principal' 2022 represents a iconic, powerful, and world-class expression of South American terroir. Founded in 1992 as a partnership between French winemaking legend Jean-Paul Valette (former owner of Château Pavie) and Chilean Jorge Pérez Cruz, Viña El Principal is situated at 750 to 800 metres above sea level along the majestic Andes Mountains. Named in honor of the Picunche chief Andetelmo—known locally as 'El Principal'—this flagship icon wine is harvested from the estate's oldest high-density vineyard blocks, planted on gravelly alluvial soils over rocky subsoils. Under technical director Gonzalo Guzmán and consulting oenologist Patrick Léon, the winemaking philosophy incorporates meticulous hand harvesting, parcel-by-parcel fermentation in small stainless steel vats, and maturation for 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels (approximately 80% to 100% new). The result is a monumental red wine that marries Andean mountain altitude, extraordinary fruit concentration, and classic Bordeaux cellaring nobility.

Wine Description

The wine presents an opaque, deep dark ruby red colour with intense violet-crimson reflections along the rim. An expressive, highly complex bouquet opens with noble aromas of ripe wild blackberry, black currant, dark plum compote, and cassis, interwoven with sophisticated notes of Andean cedar, graphite, wild mint, eucalyptus, pipe tobacco, dark cocoa, and toasted oak spice. On the palate, it is full bodied, expansive, and seamless, delivering concentrated flavours of black fruit, licorice, and savory mineral earth, all supported by a bright, mouthwatering spine of natural high-altitude acidity. Framed by rich, fine-grained, muscular tannins and an exceptionally dense mid-palate structure, it concludes with an extraordinarily long, persistent finish marked by lingering dark berries, balsamic spice, and a clean gravelly mineral grip. Composed predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Cabernet Franc and Syrah, this 2022 release offers an optimal drinking window of 2026–2048+. Stylistically, it effortlessly combines Andean mountain power, intense aromatic precision, and world-class cellaring potential.