Women of Wine: Albamar Wines' Ximena Klein
Women of Wine: Albamar Wines' Ximena Klein
In 1999, American entrepreneur William Cole knew where he wanted to spend the rest of his years when he first laid eyes on Chile's verdant Casablanca Valley, just north of the capital of Santiago. Often referred to as "Chile's Burgundy" for its championing of cool-climate varietals, the area is half a world away from the bustle of the giant port city and even 40 minutes from the local port of Valparaiso. The estate sits in the Tapihue subzone, an area uniquely blessed with light alluvial soils, sea breezes and extended hours of cool sunshine due to its proximity to both sea and mountains. As the name "Albamar" literally suggests, it is a land where the horizon meets the water.
Ximena Klein presides over William Cole Vineyards' entry-level wines. Thanks to her minimalistic approach and willingness to let the fruit "speak" truth to their varietal character, these wines far transcend the quality found in almost any other Chilean wines in this price range. Ximena's wines will never be accused of being overly commercial or "dumbed down," as she favors earthy, herbal profiles and naturally moderate acid and ripeness levels in her finished wines. For fans of Old World style allied with New World rich fruit and ripeness at a bargain price, look no further!
"Due to the proximity of our vineyards to the Pacific Ocean, we have a special [cool] climate for red and white varietals. Fresh nights and warm days allow our grapes to accumulate natural acidity, [making] our wines fresh, vibrant and crispy." — Ximena Klein
Featured Wines:
Albamar Pinot Noir
Ximena's Pinot Noir is an essay on balance and restraint, with decided damp earth and savory herbal notes. The wine features tart wild raspberry, sage, and somewhat vegetal but sweet Marzano plum tomato accents. It is vinified simply with a focus placed firmly on the subtle nuances of oceanic fruit. This wine is extraordinarily layered and complex with lots of intrigue! Renowned wine critic James Suckling rated it 91 points.
$10.99 per bottle / $118.69 per case
Albamar Carménère
Ximena is a champion of Chile's distinctive Bordeaux descendant, carménère, and coaxes a colorful kaleidoscope of flavor out of her version. It's wild but surprisingly dignified and polished. Mocha and tobacco notes add character and volume to the dense core of leafy black currant, dark plum and bell pepper notes. Again, Ximena lets her pristine, cool-climate fruit take the lead rather than overdepending on winemaking tricks.
$10.99 per bottle / $118.69 per case
