CASA MARIN | Pinot Noir | Litoral Vineyard | 2019
pinot noir

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Casa Marín is a pioneering winery located in the coastal region of Lo Abarca, within the San Antonio Valley wine region of Chile. It was founded by Maria Eugenia Marín in 2000, an established enologist, that has played a crucial role in elevating the profile of chilean wines on the international scene, showcasing the unique terroir of the vineyards through her commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and meticulous winemaking. Today, Casa Marín winery is recognized for producing high-quality, cool-climate wines.

Today, we are going to review a delightful and quite exceptional wine from San Antonio Valley of Chile – Pinot Noir Litoral Vineyard 2019 by Casa Marín. This is single vineyard pinot noir wine, made of grapes that were sourced from the Litoral vineyard in the Valle de San Antonio wine region, planted on limestone, granite and sandy-loam soils at just 4 km distance from the Pacific Ocean. In order to add a layer of extra complexity and sophistication, the wine has been aged for 16 months in a selection of used french oak barrels, with additional bottle ageing before it is deemed ready for the market release.

Pinot Noir has reached a legendary status over the last decades and today it is the most sought-after red wine in the world. The grape itself is quite vulnerable, suffering from a multitude of diseases and its genetics make it highly susceptible to mutation. But despite all the difficulty to grow pinot noir, when treated with utmost care, it is capable of producing the very best expressions of terrior.

Lo Abarca D.O. has an unique microclimate. Temperatures average less than 14°C, with highs rarely exceeding 26°C even on the hottest summer days. This microclimate, comparable to that of England but with the radiant Mediterranean sun, marks a notable difference compared to other nearby valleys such as Leyda and Casablanca, making Lo Abarca a unique place for viticulture, especially suited for pinot noir.

Valle de San Antonio is renowned for its cool maritime climate, which significantly influences the character of the wines produced here. The Litoral Vineyard is situated on granitic and calcareous slopes, which provide excellent drainage and encourage the vines to struggle slightly, thus contributing to the wine’s concentration of flavours and pronounced minerality. The proximity to both, the ocean and the mountains creates an unique microclimate, allowing for high variability in diurnal temperatures due to warm days and cool nights, hence promoting balanced grape ripening and the preservation of high natural acidity in the berries. These natural conditions allows for the development of complex flavors in the resulting wines, due to the low fertility of the soil that induces natural vine stress, making them equal with those from the highly-esteemed wine regions, such as Bourgogne, while still maintaining that distinctive, savory-dusty character that make chilean wines stand out from it  peers.


color: medium-deep | garnet color
clarity: hazy copper shades at the rim

In the glass, this wine displays a medium-deep garnet color with noble copper hues at the edges, highlighting those unique esthetic characteristics of the pinot noir grape variety.

intensity: pronounced & savory
fruit character: ripe

The aromatic profile is a complex interplay of red berry fruits, mostly cranberry, redcurrant and sour cherry, intertwined with savory elements reminiscent of barnyard, horse saddle, old leather and dried brown olive. Subtle herbal notes of tomato leaf and cherry tomatoes emerge as the wine breathes, providing depth and intrigue to the wine’s aromatic profile.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: medium- | balance: good
finish: long | aftertaste: appealingly-seedy

On the palate, the wine reveals vibrant flavors of fresh cherries and cranberries, complemented by a whisper of iodine. Bright acidity provides a refreshing lift, while silky-seedy tannins create a smooth texture. The finish is long and lingering, characterized by delicate herbal notes and a touch of minerality, echoing the coastal origins of the wine and the footprint of the grape variety.

maturity: developing | drink now or age for another 2 to 3 years
verdict: great | a must try wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this wine is an textbook representation of its terroir, blending vibrant fruit, bright acidity, and delicate earthiness to create a cohesive and well-structured, dare we even say classic pinot noir wine. The wine has been already highly acclaimed by some of the most famous wine critics, including Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, where it received 92 points. This wine is a good example of the potential that chilean, cool-climate pinot noir wines can reach on the global wine stage.

CASA MARIN | Pinot Noir | Litoral Vineyard | 2019
variety: pinot noir
country: Chile
region: Valle de San Antonio | Lo Abarca
rating: 94.5

The wine’s delicate flavor profile makes it an excellent match for a wide range of dishes. It would pair particularly well with grilled salmon, duck breast, or an extra-rare Tournedos Rossini. The wine’s vibrant acidity would balance the richness of these dishes, while its bold, fruity-savory notes would complement the flavors of the dish, creating a harmonious wine tasting experience.

Casa Marín is recognized for its commitment to sustainable winemaking practices, which plays a big role in the preservation of the vineyard ecosystem. The winery is regarded as a leader in cool-climate wine production in Chile, consistently contributing to the global quality and reputation of Chilean wines.

actual rating: 92
predicted rating: 91+


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