Laberinto 'Cenizas Mezcla Tinta', Maule Valley, Chile

From volcanic soils in Chile’s remote Maule Valley comes the 2022 Laberinto 'Cenizas Mezcla Tinta,' a red blend that defies convention with its wild energy, lifted aromatics, and transparent expression of terroir. Named “Cenizas” for the volcanic ash-laced soils of its origin, the wine represents a new evolution from winemaker Rafael Tirado, who continues to craft elegant, high-altitude wines on the edge of the Andes. Compared to the darker-fruited, slightly denser 2019 vintage, the 2022 is more perfumed and agile, with a clear emphasis on spice, minerality, and freshness. It’s a wine that captures both place and philosophy with thrilling clarity.

Product Details

• Varietals: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 10% Pinot Noir
• Region: Colbún, Maule Valley, Chile
• Vintage: 2022
• Alcohol: 13.5% ABV
• Elevation: 600 meters (1,970 feet)
• Soils: Volcanic ash over clay and sand
• Farming: Sustainable, dry-farmed
• Fermentation: Native yeasts, whole berry and partial whole cluster
• Aging: Aged in neutral French oak barrels

Sensory Description
The 2022 Cenizas opens with an aromatic rush of wild herbs, violet, red currant, and crushed raspberry, layered with smoked paprika and graphite. Its texture is filigreed and precise, with a palate that dances between savory depth and nervy acidity. Notes of cranberry, blood orange peel, and black tea unfold alongside wet stone and dried thyme. Compared to the 2019 vintage, which showed more black fruit and rounder tannins, the 2022 is leaner, more vertical in structure, and notably more floral and mineral-driven. The finish is long, taut, and bracingly fresh, inviting another sip.

Winemaker's Background
Rafael Tirado, one of Chile’s most thoughtful and terroir-driven winemakers, established Laberinto in the Maule Valley after years of consulting for top estates across South America. His estate vineyards, planted around the Colbún Lagoon at high elevation, reflect his obsession with cool climates, volcanic soils, and precision viticulture. Each wine from Laberinto is crafted with minimal intervention to preserve natural freshness and site expression. The Cenizas line, in particular, explores unconventional red blends shaped by soil and altitude rather than grape variety hierarchy. Across vintages, Rafael’s hand remains steady, though the 2022 marks a return to a leaner, more lifted style that recalls earlier experiments in tension and transparency.

Serving Suggestions
Serve slightly cool, around 58–62°F, to highlight the wine’s freshness and aromatic lift. A versatile food companion, it pairs beautifully with rosemary lamb chops, roasted beet salad with chèvre, or grilled eggplant with smoked paprika and yogurt. Its bright acidity and savory core also make it an excellent match for charcuterie or mushroom risotto. Decanting for 20–30 minutes will help tease out its more elusive floral and mineral notes.