2008 Tabali Chardonnay Reserva Especial Limari Valley

91 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Chardonnay Reserva Especial shows off the potential for Chardonnay in Limari. It delivers Côte de Beaune like aromatics of mineral, toast, white fruits, and hazelnut. Elegant, intense, with lively natural acidity, this lengthy effort may well evolve for 1-2 years and can be enjoyed through 2014. Tabali is producing high quality wines from the newly developing cool-climate region of Limari." Looking for Chile's next big thing? Then allow us to introduce you to the region of Limari, an arid viticultural area that is far north of Santiago, but kept cool by its proximity to the Pacific and the influence of the cool Humboldt current, which originates at the southernmost tip of Chile. The wine leads with clean apple and sweet citrus aromas, tangerines in particular. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly restrained and the oak very well-integrated, no surprise as a combination of second, third and fourth use French oak barrels are used for a discreet nine months of aging. It is this skillful winemaking, the cool climate location, and the high limestone content that likely make this as interesting a bottle of Chardonnay as it is. This is hands down the tastiest Chardonnay I have had from South America in a long while, possibly ever.