Tabali Talinay Pinot Noir 2021

Region and Vineyards

The Talinay vineyard is located in the Limarí Valley, a remarkable winegrowing area in northern Chile defined by its coastal cool climate and calcareous soils. Nestled just 12 km from the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the UNESCO-protected Fray Jorge National Park, the site benefits from a constant ocean breeze and persistent morning fogs, fostering a prolonged growing season. Temperatures rarely exceed 23.5°C in summer, enabling slow, even ripening and a late harvest.

The defining feature of this site is its ancient marine limestone soils—a geological rarity in Chile. These fractured, porous soils, rich in calcium carbonate, encourage deep root penetration and act as a natural hydric regulator. The result is an exceptional mineral tension in the wines. This unique terroir has drawn comparisons to the most prestigious limestone-driven regions in Europe, such as Burgundy and Champagne.

Winemaking

Felipe Müller, Tabalí’s head winemaker, crafts this Pinot Noir with meticulous attention to detail. The fruit, harvested manually on 28 January, undergoes careful sorting before a partial whole-cluster fermentation (30%), with the remaining 70% destemmed. A cold soak of 7 days at 8°C precedes fermentation using indigenous yeasts, carried out in small stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures between 20°C and 26°C.

Extraction is managed gently through manual pump-overs, followed by a brief post-ferment maceration to enhance structure. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, sourced from forests such as Fontainebleau, Jupille, Bertranges, Tronçais, and Allier, with all barrels undergoing malolactic fermentation. No detail is spared in preserving the purity of fruit and expression of place.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Brilliant ruby red with luminous clarity.
• Aroma: Evocative and complex, with bright red fruits such as wild strawberry and red cherry interwoven with earthy undertones and flinty minerality.
• Palate: Silky and textural with a creamy mid-palate. Flavors echo the nose with red berry purity, complemented by a fine-boned structure, subtle oak spice, and a long, saline finish.

Did you know?

Tabalí’s Talinay vineyard is planted on what was once an ancient seabed, now lifted to the surface through tectonic activity. It is one of the only vineyards in Chile planted entirely on limestone, making it a true geological and viticultural gem.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Seared duck breast with cherry glaze – complements the wine’s red fruit character and subtle earthiness.
• Porcini mushroom risotto – echoes the umami and mineral notes in the wine.
• Grilled salmon with herb crust – pairs with the wine’s acidity and savory tones.
• Charcuterie with truffled salami and soft cheeses – the wine’s freshness cuts through richness and enhances complexity.

History of Tabalí

Founded in 2002 by Guillermo Luksic, Tabalí was born from a bold vision: to reveal the fine wine potential of Chile's remote Limarí Valley, a region largely unexplored at the time. While much of Chile's viticulture was focused in the central valleys, Luksic looked northward, toward austere landscapes, cool maritime influences, and rare geological formations.

A turning point came with the discovery of the Talinay vineyard, located on ancient uplifted limestone just 12 km from the Pacific. Planted in 2004, it became the first commercial vineyard in Chile to fully exploit limestone terroir, and it remains one of the only sites in the country where calcareous soils dominate entirely.

Winemaker Felipe Müller joined Tabalí early on and remains the guiding force behind its distinct identity. Recognised for his precision and deep respect for site expression, Müller has crafted a portfolio that speaks more of place than technique, using native yeasts, gentle extractions, and restrained oak to allow the soils and climate to tell their story.

Region and Vineyards

Tabalí's vineyards are concentrated in the Limarí Valley, within Chile's Coquimbo region. This area stands apart for its extreme aridity, cool climate, and diverse geological origins. Tabalí works with three principal vineyard sites:

The Talinay vineyard, nestled within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is one of the estate's crown jewels. Just 12 km from the sea, it is blanketed with coastal fogs and cooled by persistent ocean breezes. Its defining feature is its pure fractured limestone, a soil type more often associated with Burgundy or Champagne than South America. The resulting wines-especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-are marked by saline tension, fine structure, and unmistakable mineral lift.

The Dom vineyard lies further inland and features colluvial and alluvial soils. Warmer and more sheltered, it is suited to producing fuller-bodied reds such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenère, bringing flesh and density to the range.

The Río Hurtado vineyard, located at an altitude of 1,600 metres in the Andes, is one of the highest vineyards in Chile. Its volcanic andesite soils are thin and fractured, challenging the vines and concentrating the fruit. This site produces Syrah and Malbec of remarkable freshness, floral lift, and refined tannins.

Wine Range of Tabalí

Tabalí's portfolio is built to showcase its terroirs through a range of focused expressions:

• Talinay Series: This flagship line is sourced exclusively from the limestone soils of the Talinay vineyard. These wines are mineral, tense, and age-worthy: Talinay Chardonnay - Linear and saline, with citrus peel, chalk, and vibrant acidity, Talinay Pinot Noir - Earthy, precise, with red berry fruit, crushed stone, and refined tannins, Talinay Sauvignon Blanc - Aromatic and sharp, with sea spray, lime, and flint.
• Talinay Caliza Chardonnay: From a distinct limestone plot, "Caliza" (Spanish for limestone) is more textural, with depth and savoury minerality. A wine of clarity and power, it showcases Talinay's most expressive Chardonnay parcel.
• Talinay Pai Pinot Noir: A micro-parcel selection from the estate's finest massal clone Pinot vines. "Pai" means father in Mapudungun, evoking the wine's role as the most profound expression of Pinot Noir at Tabalí. It is ethereal, age-worthy, and limited in production-complex and fine-boned with underlying power.
• Roca Madre: A high-altitude Malbec from Río Hurtado, grown on volcanic andesite soils. The wine is floral and structured, with notes of violets, herbs, and volcanic minerality, matured in French oak for 18 months.
• Payen: The estate's icon wine, made from Syrah grown in Dom. Named after the Incan word for "sacred," Payen is a brooding, elegant red, with black olive, cassis, smoked meat, and exceptional ageing capacity.
• Vetas Blancas: This line highlights varietal precision across the estate's vineyards, offering excellent value without sacrificing quality. Grapes include: Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
• Pedregoso Gran Reserva: A more accessible, fruit-driven range for early enjoyment. These wines are clean, fresh, and varietally faithful-ideal as an introduction to Tabalí's philosophy.

Did you know?

The Talinay vineyard lies on an ancient seabed that was pushed to the surface by tectonic activity. It is Chile's only vineyard planted entirely on limestone, and its wines often show a distinctive salty finish-an echo of their marine past.