Marchesi Antinori, 'Albis' Haras De Pirque, 2021
Marchesi Antinori, 'Albis' Haras De Pirque, 2021
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2036
Albis is the flagship wine of Haras de Pirque, the Maipo Valley estate owned by the Antinori family. The partnership began in 2001, after Marchese Piero Antinori identified the estate’s potential, with the Antinori family acquiring the property outright in 2017. The vineyards lie in the Maipo Andes, where the combination of high-altitude sites, dry conditions and cool nights provides a natural setting for Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère.
The 2021 is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Carménère. The varieties were harvested separately, with the Cabernet picked in mid-April and the later-ripening Carménère towards the end of the month. Both underwent five days of cold maceration followed by fermentation and 20–25 days of maceration in French-oak vats. The final blend was made in December 2021, followed by 18 months in new French-oak barriques. The vintage produced a wine with the classic Maipo profile of blackcurrant, graphite, mint and spice, backed by supple tannins and good freshness.
Currently showing its primary phase with vibrant cassis fruit and fresh herbal notes dominating, though the tannins are already well-integrated thanks to careful winemaking. Over the next three to four years, the Cabernet's structure will soften while the Carménère's spice elements become more seamlessly woven into the blend. By 2030, expect secondary notes of tobacco and cedar to emerge, adding complexity while maintaining the core of dark fruit. The wine should hold its peak until the mid-2030s, when the mountain-grown intensity will gradually give way to more evolved, savoury characteristics.
What the critics say:
"The 2021 Albis blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Carmenere from Pirque in the Maipo region. This purple wine with a garnet hue offers balsamic herbal aromas, mint and a cassis core, with a hint of cherry in the background. Dry and intense, it has lively tannins and a structured palate that lingers with ajuicy, mild and rich finish. The wine captures Pirque's intense flavors with a polished texture."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep purple-garnet with an inky core and vibrant rim.
NoseImmediately expressive with blackcurrant and cassis leading, followed by distinctive mint and balsamic herbal notes that speak to the Carménère component. There's a backdrop of cedar and subtle cherry that adds complexity without overwhelming the dark fruit core.
PalateDry and intense with lively, structured tannins that give excellent backbone without being austere. The palate mirrors the nose with concentrated cassis fruit, herbal complexity, and that polished texture that marks quality Chilean Cabernet. The 25% Carménère adds spice and mint-tinged complexity that lifts the whole blend.
FinishLong and juicy with rich, mild tannins and lingering dark fruit that speaks to Pirque's intense flavours.
Overall impressionA wine that captures Chile's natural intensity while showing Antinori's polished hand in the cellar.
Food Pairings
In Chile, this style of wine would be the natural partner for asado, the traditional barbecue that's central to Chilean social life. Think grass-fed beef cooked over wood coals, lamb seasoned with merkén (smoked chilli powder), and chorizo with chimichurri made from fresh parsley and oregano. The wine's herbal complexity pairs beautifully with empanadas de pino, filled with beef, onions, and hard-boiled egg, while its structure stands up to cordero al palo (spit-roasted lamb) and cazuela de cordero, the hearty lamb stew that's perfect for Andean evenings.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 17-18°C to allow the fruit and herbal complexity to shine. Decant for 45 minutes to an hour to soften the structured tannins and let the mint and balsamic notes integrate with the cassis core. Use large Bordeaux-style glasses to concentrate the intense aromatics while providing enough bowl to swirl and release the wine's layers. This wine rewards patience in the glass, opening beautifully over two to three hours.
The Haras de Pirque estate sits in the Pirque subregion of the Alto Maipo, where the Andes foothills create a natural amphitheatre of protection and drainage. The vineyard lies at 650 metres altitude on alluvial soils with excellent drainage, allowing the vines to develop deep root systems. The proximity to the mountains creates significant diurnal temperature variation, preserving acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness. These conditions are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon's power and Carménère's herbal complexity.
The Alto Maipo is Chile's most prestigious red wine region, often called the Médoc of the Southern Hemisphere for its gravelly soils and Bordeaux varietals. The Pirque subregion benefits from its position at the foot of the Andes, where mountain runoff creates alluvial fans of well-draining soils. Unlike the broader Maipo Valley, Pirque's higher altitude and mountain proximity create cooler nights that preserve elegance alongside Chile's trademark intensity. The area has attracted investment from several prestigious international producers who recognise its potential for world-class Cabernet blends.
The 2021 vintage in Maipo Valley arrived with a proper Chilean contradiction: a growing season that looked worrying on paper but delivered fruit that had winemakers grinning by harvest time. Spring brought unusually cool temperatures that delayed budbreak, then summer settled into a pattern of warm days and refreshingly cool nights that stretched the ripening period beautifully. The extended hang time meant grapes developed flavour depth without the rush toward sugar that can plague warmer years, though yields were naturally lower as the vines took their time.
What emerged was a vintage with real personality rather than sheer power. The Cabernet Sauvignon shows lovely definition, with dark fruit that feels focused rather than jammy, whilst the Carmenère displays that smoky, herbal complexity the grape does so well when it's not hurried. These aren't wines built for the cellar marathon, but they've got enough structure to reward patience until 2028 for the better examples. We find them drinking with real charm already, offering that rare combination of immediate pleasure and underlying seriousness that makes 2021 rather more interesting than its modest reputation might suggest.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Intense and structured, with blackcurrant and cassis leading, distinctive mint and herbal notes from the Carménère, and a polished texture that shows both Chilean power and Antinori finesse.
When should I drink this wine?
Ready to enjoy now but built to improve. It's approachable immediately but will reward cellaring until 2036, developing more complexity over the next decade.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Perfect with grilled red meats, especially beef and lamb. Try it with barbecued steaks, roast lamb with herbs, or rich stews. The herbal complexity makes it excellent with dishes seasoned with rosemary or thyme.
Should I decant this wine?
Yes, decant for 45 minutes to an hour. This allows the structured tannins to soften and helps integrate the mint and herbal notes with the cassis fruit core.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Absolutely. While approachable now, this wine is built for the cellar and will develop beautifully over the next decade, with secondary complexity emerging around 2030.
How does this compare to Bordeaux?
It shares Bordeaux's structure and Cabernet Sauvignon backbone, but the Chilean terroir adds distinctive intensity and the Carménère brings herbal complexity you won't find in French blends. Think Bordeaux power with Andean character.
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