This is classic Carménère - bright violet in the glass, a lifted nose of sweet violets, fresh rose, dark juicy plums and a background of herbaceousness. No surprise either - the winemaker at Casa Silva, Mario Geisse, is referred to in Chile as "the King of Carménère". This avoids the trap of overt vegetal notes that the grape is often known for - nicely done! Softly textured, with no hard edges, this is a supremely well-constructed example of the grape. There are flavours of bracken, spice and a hint of tar. Not hugely oaky, but it's certainly there adding depth. A plush, pleasing, modern style that doesn’t have a great deal of tannin, but is certainly fleshy and pleasurable.

If there’s one country which has raised eyebrows and set tongues wagging in recent years, it’s surely Chile. This long, lean strip of Latin America has been seriously impressing recently, having gained some focus and finding a voice - a voice based around the Carménère varietal grape which it has made its own. Several high quality, attentive and forward-thinking wineries have poked their heads above the wash of low-cost Merlots and Chardonnays, and one key player in the renewed reputation of modern Chilean wine has been Casa Silva. A family business keen to explore Chile’s newest wine regions and the untapped potential of the country’s finest terroirs, Casa Silva has been consistently lauded with praise and awards since they began in 2000. With several estates, including the original winery at Angostura, and the coastal vineyards of Paredones, Casa Silva has a broad palette of landscapes to take their characterful Carménère grapes from. However, one thing is for certain - the Silva family know this quintessentially Chilean grape varietal perhaps better than anybody else. Their pioneering ‘micro-terroir’ approach and openness to new methods means they have plenty to offer their ever-eager wine-drinking audience, which now stretches across the globe.