Vina Vik 2013

Professional Ratings

• 98 Tasting Panel

  VIK’s vineyards encompass 11,000 acres dispersed across 12 valleys. This wine, first released with the 2011 vintage, took ten years of research to develop, including more than 4,000 deep-soil studies to find the right terroir. Weather stations were installed to determine planting locations and the ideal exposure levels to wind and sun. This vintage,  a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Carménère, 17% Cab Franc, and 2% Merlot, is an intense creature with a satin entry that exudes luxury. Aromas of lavender and rhubarb are accented by alluring hints of spiced red tea. Generous and vivacious, this well-structured red possesses freshness and a bountiful maturity that will last for a decade or more. This is what Chile can deliver at its finest.

• 93 James Suckling

  Darker purple color in the center showing youthfulness. Aromas of blackcurrants, black chocolate, and balsamic. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a juicy finish. Nice tension. 67% cabernet sauvignon, 17% cabernet franc, 14% carmenere and 2% merlot.

• 92 Wine Spectator
  Powerful and well-structured, with medium-grained tannins and firm acidity supporting the plum and dried berry flavors. The minerally finish shows mature elements. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.
• 92 Wine Enthusiast

  Stewy berry aromas are a touch soupy and herbal, with green notes and a hint of raisin. In the mouth, this is saturated, chewy and dense. Baked berry, black plum, cocoa and baking spice flavors finish steady but a touch flat. This is an excellent Chilean red by all standards, but one with limitations. Drink through 2025.

• 90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  They used more Cabernet Franc in the cooler 2013 vintage for the blend of their flagship 2013 Vik, which for the first time does not contain any Syrah. It's 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 13% Carmenere and 2% Merlot that matured in 100% new barriques for 23 months. It's 13.7% alcohol. However, I feel like the wine comes from a different oenological era, as there is a little more rusticity and more influence from the oak in the wine as well as quite high ripeness or sensation of ripeness in the fruit. In fact, when I asked about it, winemaker Cristian Vallejo explained that he calls 2013 "the year of change," when he understood the difference of their Cabernets with those from other regions. However, I think the change is more noticeable in 2014, as I tasted the 2014 next to this 2013. 54,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2016.