VIÑA VIK | Milla Cala | Millahue | 2021
cabernet sauvignon | carmenère | syrah | merlot

© We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations. We hope you will enjoy it!

Alexander Vik had a dream: to create the best wine in the World. To turn vision into reality, the research team took more than 4000 soil samples and investigated all the elements of terroir – they performed soil analyses, hydric flows, thermal amplitude, geographic orientation and the region’s unusual wind conditions. The vineyard’s location was selected only after two years of exhaustive scientific research, after they identified the ideal terroir from which to grow the finest grapes – the Millahue Valley of Chile. The next step was the mapping of the best plots for planting – first, for each plot the research team mapped the rootstocks, then the grape varieties, then the clones of each variety, after all, if you dream to make the best wine in the world, you can not leave anything to chance.
The wine that we are going to review today hardly requires any introduction, as this is one of the most recognizable wine labels from Chile – Milla Cala Millahue 2021 by Viña Vik. This wine is a modern, Bordeaux-style blend of made of cabernet sauvignon (72%), carmenère (16%), syrah (7%) and merlot (5%), where cabernet sauvignon forms the wine’s main body and structure, carmenère lends that unique spicy character and some softness on the mouthfeel, syrah adds color depth and that peppery nuance to the wine’s flavour profile, while merlot delivers up-front richness and suppleness on the palate.

The wine’s name, Milla Cala, is a connection between past and present, where ‘Milla‘ means ‘gold’ in mapudungun dialect, while ‘Cala‘ is the spanish translation of ‘Vik’. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the estate’s best vineyards, planted on deep and porous decomposed granitic soils in the Millahue Valley – a sub-region of the Cachapoal Valley. The final wine has been aged for 20 months in premium French oak barrels and then up to 3 more years in the bottle before it was deemed ready for the market release, allowing it to achieve remarkable depth and harmony. The 2021 vintage benefited from the Millahue Valley‘s characteristic warm, mediterranean-like climate, providing optimal conditions for the late-ripening grape varieties to develop those rich and concentrated flavor compounds while maintaining vibrant freshness and terroir-driven delicacy.

The Cachapoal Valley is located in central Chile, between the Andes Mountains and the Coastal Range, and it boasts a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, thus providing ideal conditions for viticulture. The valley’s soils are primarily alluvial in origin, well-drained, and are enriched by deposits from the Cachapoal River and its tributaries. This unique terroir is famous for its premium red wines, with cabernet sauvignon thriving in the foothills of the Andes, while and carmenère flourishing in the coastal valleys.The Millahue Valley has an even more unique microclimate, as it stands between the mountains and the dessert. It is characterized by a warm, Mediterranean climate and deep, porous granitic soils, which enhances root depth and promotes complex flavors while maintaining the much needed moisture. This unique micro-terroir is crucial for the grapes’ development, providing excellent drainage and fostering the development of complex flavor profiles. This creates almost ideal conditions for the late-ripening grape varieties, such as carmenère and cabernet sauvignon, allowing them to develop rich, concentrated flavors and maintaining freshness due to the moderating coastal  influence.

color: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy & noble garnet shades

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and opaque ruby color, hinting at its concentration and richness. Graceful, hazy ruby shades gently trail at the rim of the glass, adding an element of noble complexity to its already alluring appearance.

intensity: rich & savory-delicate
fruit character: ripe & vibrant

The aromatic profile reveals a ripe fruit character that captivates the senses. The foreground is dominated by an intriguing medley of savory notes, including iron, iodine, and brown olives, interwoven with rustic hints of leather, cured meat, and subtle hints of barnyard. These complex savory elements are complemented by a luscious profile of ripe berry fruits, with notes of blackberry, dark plum, wild sour cherry, dark cherry, aronia berry, and blackcurrant – all framed by elegant hints of dried herbs and violets. As the aroma evolves, the background unveils profound earthy notes of dust, clay, loam, marl, pencil lead, granite, and slate, creating a multifaceted mineral dimension. This is further enriched by spicy-oaky undertones of cloves, anise, peppercorn, and nutmeg, with generous layers of tobacco, toasted oakwood, and a refreshing, subtle touch of eucalyptus, completing a truly sophisticated and harmonious aromatic tapestry.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high  | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium+ | balance: good
finish: long | aftertaste: crisp & seedy

On the palate, this wine delivers a crisp and pleasantly-seedy tasting experience, with a complex and well-structured mouthfeel. It reveals a vibrant but savory-rustic character, with a touch of elegant earthy delicacy. This is a textbook, old-world styled chilean wine blend, confirming yet again that Chile is the new Bordeaux. The mouthfeel is dry, energized by an exuberant acidity that provides freshness and vibrance, with a well integrated touch of alcoholic warmth that adds to the wine’s generous body without overpowering, while the ripe and fine-grained tannins offer a silky yet firm grip, contributing to a profound sense of elegance and longevity. The wine culminates in a long, crisp, and appealingly-seedy aftertaste, leaving a lasting impression of balance and refined power.

maturity: still developing | needs more time | drink today or age for another 3 to 5 years
verdict: great | a benchmark wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this wine is a tribute to Chile’s unique terroir – the epitome of an old-world wine blend with a nuanced, terroir-driven footprint and that unmistakable chilean dustiness. Rich and voluptuous, this wine blend is characterized by a savory and rustic accent that prioritizes delicacy over sheer structure, delivering a genuine old-world appeal. Firm yet remarkably delicate, it feels ample, round, and harmonious, mixing power with finesse. This is a wine that is all about elegance and a subtle complexity – ample and dusty, with a nuanced terroir-driven footprint, pleasantly-seedy and fruity-elegant. Its velvety texture and well-balanced profile confirm that the Millahue Valley is capable of producing world-class wines. While already impressive, this wine is still developing and holds immense potential for further evolution. We recommend cellaring it for the next 3 to 5 years to allow its full depth to unfold, just keep in mind that, it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon, than a day too late.

Consider pairing this wine with delicate and richly-flavoured dishes that will complement its velvety textures and savory notes without overwhelming its savory character. A classic Tournedos Rossini with pan-seared foie gras and a truffle sauce, would create an exquisite congruent pairing. The richness of the foie gras and the earthy notes of truffle will harmonize with the wine’s savory and earthy undertones, while the subtle spice from the peppercorns will echo the wine’s oaky and spicy nuances, allowing the delicate but intense flavours in the dish to highlight the wine’s complex aromatic layers and its sophisticated savory character. Enjoy!
VIÑA VIK | Milla Cala | Millahue | 2021
variety: cabernet sauvignon | carmenère | syrah | merlot 
country: Chile | Central Valley
region: Cachapoal Valley | Millahue
rating: 95.4

In pursuit of perfection, the team behind Viña Vik conducted extensive research, analyzing over 4,000 soil samples to find the optimal terroir for their vineyards. This dedication to detail is reflected in every bottle of their wines, as they seek to express the true essence of the Millahue Valley’s terroir with every new wine.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!