2012 Calyptra Zahir Cabernet Sauvignon Cachapoal Valley

Zahir is Calyptra’s ICON, it’s an extremely limited wine that’s only produced on the best vintages, In 2012, only 2,000 bottles were made. The 100% organic Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are carefully selected from the best and oldest vineyards of the estate. Zahir (which was named after the owner’s last name) is a flagship wine, not only in the winery but in the whole country.

Food and Wine Magazine said Zahir is a must-taste Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and said that “silky tannins and herbal notes create a highly quaffable and cellar-worthy wine.”

Cachapoal is located northern half of the very well-known Rapel Valle, between Maipo and Colchagua. Over the years, this region became mistakenly overlooked by its more famous neighbors, but recently, this wine region has recently reawakened the interest of some of the most acclaimed wine critics in the world.

Decanter magazine said: “At present, the marketplace is seeing Chilean wine undergo an exhilarating transition from good-value everyday wine to something more diverse and quality-orientated. In the same vein, Cachapoal is finally starting to shed its apathy and aiming to put its name up there with Chile’s best wine regions.”

This first-class wine region is home to Calyptra, a family-owned boutique winery founded by Dr. José Zarhi, a very successful plastic surgeon who purchased the 150-acre estate in 1989.

The 100-acre vineyard is placed on terraces between the pre-Andean range and the Cachapoal river, at nearly 1000 meters altitude. The vines thrive in calcareous and colluvial alluvial terraces. The vineyard is managed under sustainable and organic practices.

Calyptra's philosophy is simple: “To produce unique, authentic, honest wines that reflect the soil, the origin, and the dedication and passion.” They overachieve this mantra by delivering premium wines, that will enchant any wine lover or wine critic. Just to give you an idea of the excellent quality that this winery delivers, these wines have been featured on James Suckling’s “Top Chilean Wines” on several occasions.  

Aging: 28 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark Ruby color. The nose reveals aromas of ripe red and black fruit, such as cassis, blackberries, black cherries, plums, and raspberries. There are also floral and herbal hints of violets, fennel, bay leaves, and a subtle note of eucalyptus along with spices like licorice, black pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The palate is powerful but very well-balanced and juicy, with a silky-smooth texture and perfectly integrated, firm tannins. The finish is Long and aromatic with notes of ripe cassis, tobacco, and spices. This cabernet sauvignon is an excellent example of the expression of Alto Cachapoal’s terroir.