Licanten ‘Idahue Estate’
by La Ronciere
D.O. Licanten | Coastal Curicó, Chile
Located 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, La Ronciere’s ambitious 500 acre Idahue Estate is their vision for the future. Prevailing coastal breezes, abundant sunshine, and rolling hills of ancient soils culminate in a privileged climatic and geological landscape. Years of research and a forward-looking approach drove the successful effort that saw Licanten granted D.O. status in 2018. The region’s potential is just being unlocked, and already the wines speak for themselves in a recognizable way, managing concentration and nuance in an expressly vibrant manner.
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"Cabernet Francs grown on slate soils are pretty rare beasts, but this blend with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Syrah shows that the variety is well suited to the terroir here. Grippy, firm, intense, yet also refreshing, it has stony concentration, graphite and rocket aromas and a palate of cassis, plum and black cherry. 2026-33" -Tim Atkin MW
93 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2020 Special Report | 2017
"La Ronciere's vineyards were planted in 2012 on a site that combines a number of different soil types. This excellent Cabernet Franc comes from parcel 107 on slate. Aged in 30% new wood, this is perfumed and refined, with red cherry, raspberry and green herb flavours, fine tannins and the underlying minerality that's typical of the site. 2022-26" -Tim Atkin MW
94 | Tim Atkin MW | 2019 "Married with 8% Syrah and 7% Cabernet Franc, this very well-priced Cabernet Sauvignon uses grapes from three different soil types - granite, schist and sandstone. Mint and mountain herb aromas are a prelude to a fresh, elegant, grassy palate with stony intensity, sinewy tannins and layers of bramble and blackcurrant leaf. 2025-35" -Tim Atkin MW
"As with the most recent releases of the La Roncière Malbec, I have a slight preference for the 2020 Carignan over the 2019. Super floral and intense, with lovely thyme and pine aromas, plenty of blood and guts on the palate, sinewy tannins and the freshness that makes this terroir so special. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
"Most of the best Malbecs in Chile come from Bio Bio, but this is a welcome exception, made with fruit from Licanten. Blended with 15% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it's an effortlessly stylish, serious, intense red with violet and liquorice aromas, rich, dense blackberry and bramble fruit, grippy, sinewy tannins and impressive palate length. The 30% new wood is extremely well integrated. 2023-30" -Tim Atkin MW
94 | Decanter | 2017
"The Idahue estate is a special place, carved out of rugged hillsides in Curicó's coastal hills. The Pacific ocean influence tempers the climate, making for notably elegant, refreshing, nuanced reds. Chile needs more of this kind of pioneering initiative - because the wines are seriously exciting. This Malbec is vibrant and winning, utterly self-assured. It brims with floral and wild berry character, followed up by a juicy, refreshing yet complex palate. Compelling - and outstanding value for money." -Peter Richards MW
95 | Tim Atkin MW | 2021
"One of the few Chilean Malbecs that can compete with the best examples from Argentina, this is a skilful blend with 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Grown on granite soils, it's appropriately fresh and stony, with classic violet and fennel aromas, bramble and blackberry fruit, stylish oak, sculpted tannins and impressive palate length. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
"Part of a very impressive set of current releases from La Ronciere's painterly vineyards in coastal Licanten, this is a Merlot with 15% Malbec and Syrah. Stony, intense and concentrated, with masses of colour, scented 30% new wood, bay leaf and blackberry fruit and layered, sinewy tannins. 2022-28" Tim Atkin MW
"Juan Aurelio Muñoz only uses grapes grown on metamorphic soils to produce this coastal Carmenère. Green, herbal and intensely perfumed, it's a zesty, refreshing style of Carmenère with top notes of basil and bay leaf and a palate of paprika, cranberry and black cherry framed by dense tannins and bright, tangy acidity. 2026-32" Tim Atkin MW
Licanten 'Idahue Estate'
Licanten Cabernet Franc
94 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2025 Special Report | 2022"Cabernet Francs grown on slate soils are pretty rare beasts, but this blend with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Syrah shows that the variety is well suited to the terroir here. Grippy, firm, intense, yet also refreshing, it has stony concentration, graphite and rocket aromas and a palate of cassis, plum and black cherry. 2026-33" -Tim Atkin MW
93 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2020 Special Report | 2017
"La Ronciere's vineyards were planted in 2012 on a site that combines a number of different soil types. This excellent Cabernet Franc comes from parcel 107 on slate. Aged in 30% new wood, this is perfumed and refined, with red cherry, raspberry and green herb flavours, fine tannins and the underlying minerality that's typical of the site. 2022-26" -Tim Atkin MW
Licanten Cabernet Sauvignon
90 | James Suckling | 201794 | Tim Atkin MW | 2019 "Married with 8% Syrah and 7% Cabernet Franc, this very well-priced Cabernet Sauvignon uses grapes from three different soil types - granite, schist and sandstone. Mint and mountain herb aromas are a prelude to a fresh, elegant, grassy palate with stony intensity, sinewy tannins and layers of bramble and blackcurrant leaf. 2025-35" -Tim Atkin MW
Piedras Magicas Carignan
94 | Tim Atkin MW | 2020"As with the most recent releases of the La Roncière Malbec, I have a slight preference for the 2020 Carignan over the 2019. Super floral and intense, with lovely thyme and pine aromas, plenty of blood and guts on the palate, sinewy tannins and the freshness that makes this terroir so special. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
Licanten Malbec
95 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2020 Special Report | 2018"Most of the best Malbecs in Chile come from Bio Bio, but this is a welcome exception, made with fruit from Licanten. Blended with 15% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it's an effortlessly stylish, serious, intense red with violet and liquorice aromas, rich, dense blackberry and bramble fruit, grippy, sinewy tannins and impressive palate length. The 30% new wood is extremely well integrated. 2023-30" -Tim Atkin MW
94 | Decanter | 2017
"The Idahue estate is a special place, carved out of rugged hillsides in Curicó's coastal hills. The Pacific ocean influence tempers the climate, making for notably elegant, refreshing, nuanced reds. Chile needs more of this kind of pioneering initiative - because the wines are seriously exciting. This Malbec is vibrant and winning, utterly self-assured. It brims with floral and wild berry character, followed up by a juicy, refreshing yet complex palate. Compelling - and outstanding value for money." -Peter Richards MW
95 | Tim Atkin MW | 2021
"One of the few Chilean Malbecs that can compete with the best examples from Argentina, this is a skilful blend with 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Grown on granite soils, it's appropriately fresh and stony, with classic violet and fennel aromas, bramble and blackberry fruit, stylish oak, sculpted tannins and impressive palate length. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
Licanten Merlot
93 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2020 Special Report | 2018"Part of a very impressive set of current releases from La Ronciere's painterly vineyards in coastal Licanten, this is a Merlot with 15% Malbec and Syrah. Stony, intense and concentrated, with masses of colour, scented 30% new wood, bay leaf and blackberry fruit and layered, sinewy tannins. 2022-28" Tim Atkin MW
Licanten Carménère
92 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2025 Special Report | 2022"Juan Aurelio Muñoz only uses grapes grown on metamorphic soils to produce this coastal Carmenère. Green, herbal and intensely perfumed, it's a zesty, refreshing style of Carmenère with top notes of basil and bay leaf and a palate of paprika, cranberry and black cherry framed by dense tannins and bright, tangy acidity. 2026-32" Tim Atkin MW
La Ronciere Licanten Bottle Gallery
Piedras Magicas
by La Ronciere
D.O. Licanten | Coastal Curicó, Chile
Located 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, La Ronciere’s ambitious 500 acre Idahue Estate is their vision for the future. Prevailing coastal breezes, abundant sunshine, and rolling hills of ancient soils culminate in a privileged climatic and geological landscape. Years of research and a forward-looking approach drove the successful effort that saw Licanten granted D.O. status in 2018. The region’s potential is just being unlocked, and already the wines speak for themselves in a recognizable way, managing concentration and nuance in an expressly vibrant manner.
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"The shale soils of parcel 626 supply the grapes for this intense, wild, savoury Carignan that's a little lighter and less rustic than some of the examples from the Maule Valley. Focused, dense and chewy, with damson and cranberry fruit, subtle wood and added perfume and fruit sweetness from 15% Cabernet Franc and Malbec. 2022-28" -Tim Atkin MW
94 | Tim Atkin MW | 2020
"As with the most recent releases of the La Roncière Malbec, I have a slight preference for the 2020 Carignan over the 2019. Super floral and intense, with lovely thyme and pine aromas, plenty of blood and guts on the palate, sinewy tannins and the freshness that makes this terroir so special. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
Licanten 'Idahue Estate'
Piedras Magicas Carignan
93 | Tim Atkin MW | Chile 2020 Special Report | 2018"The shale soils of parcel 626 supply the grapes for this intense, wild, savoury Carignan that's a little lighter and less rustic than some of the examples from the Maule Valley. Focused, dense and chewy, with damson and cranberry fruit, subtle wood and added perfume and fruit sweetness from 15% Cabernet Franc and Malbec. 2022-28" -Tim Atkin MW
94 | Tim Atkin MW | 2020
"As with the most recent releases of the La Roncière Malbec, I have a slight preference for the 2020 Carignan over the 2019. Super floral and intense, with lovely thyme and pine aromas, plenty of blood and guts on the palate, sinewy tannins and the freshness that makes this terroir so special. 2024-32" -Tim Atkin MW
La Ronciere Piedras Magicas Bottle Gallery
Selva Oscura
by La Ronciere
Valle de Malleco Araucanía Province | South Region, Chile
Selva Oscura was born to further complement La Ronciere’s cold-climate wine program. Only early, thin-skinned varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can ripen in the cold, rainy Araucanía Province. Grape maturity often comes with great difficulty, but the resulting wines reach the bottle with intense freshness and vibrant aromas. Planted in volcanic soils and surrounded by ancient forests, this is a place where vines have developed under adversity and grown to deliver unique wines, with inspiring character and personality.
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"New to the range from a winery that is best known for its reds, this shows that Juan Aurelio Munoz can turn his hand to whites too. Fresh, focused and appealingly low in alcohol, it comes from a high-density block on basalt soils planted in 1999 in Malleco. Aged in new French oak with full malolactic, it's a mineral, taut, chiselled style with bracing acidity and a fresh, tangy finish. 2021-25" -Tim Atkin MW
"Very light in alcohol, as wines from the cool south o f Chile tend to be, this is appealingly fresh and fragrant, with tangy cranberry and pomegranate fruit, very subtle new wood, granular tannins and a bright, crunchy, mouth-wate- ring finish. 2022-26" -Tim Atkin MW
"Juan Aurelo Muñoz has a magic touch when it comes to sparkling wines. This brilliant bubbly uses an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from La Roncière's own vineyard in cool climate Malleco. The base wine is fermented in old wood, but it's the six years on lees that influences the wine more. Fresh, stony and mineral-etched, with notes of oyster shell, croissant and wild mushroom and a core of tangy, bone-dry citrus fruit flavours. 2025-31" -Tim Atkin MW
Selva Oscura
Chardonnay
92 | Tim Atkin MW | 2019"New to the range from a winery that is best known for its reds, this shows that Juan Aurelio Munoz can turn his hand to whites too. Fresh, focused and appealingly low in alcohol, it comes from a high-density block on basalt soils planted in 1999 in Malleco. Aged in new French oak with full malolactic, it's a mineral, taut, chiselled style with bracing acidity and a fresh, tangy finish. 2021-25" -Tim Atkin MW
Pinot Noir
92 | Tim Atkin MW | 2020"Very light in alcohol, as wines from the cool south o f Chile tend to be, this is appealingly fresh and fragrant, with tangy cranberry and pomegranate fruit, very subtle new wood, granular tannins and a bright, crunchy, mouth-wate- ring finish. 2022-26" -Tim Atkin MW
Extra Brut
96 | Tim Atkin MW | 2025 Chile Special Report | 2018"Juan Aurelo Muñoz has a magic touch when it comes to sparkling wines. This brilliant bubbly uses an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from La Roncière's own vineyard in cool climate Malleco. The base wine is fermented in old wood, but it's the six years on lees that influences the wine more. Fresh, stony and mineral-etched, with notes of oyster shell, croissant and wild mushroom and a core of tangy, bone-dry citrus fruit flavours. 2025-31" -Tim Atkin MW
Brut Nature
96 | Tim Atkin MW | 2017
La Ronciere Selva Oscura Bottle Gallery
Moussai
by La Ronciere
D.O. Licanten | Coastal Curicó, Chile
Moussai reflects La Ronciere’s approach to varietal bottlings in a Grand Reserve line. Fruit is carefully selected from plots in the foothills of the Andes; the combination of alluvial, volcanic, and granite soils and oscillating temperatures help produce a very fruity wine with greater acidity and minerality.
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Moussai
Pinot Noir
91 | Tim Atkin MW | 2022
La Ronciere Moussai Bottle Gallery
Mayta
by La Ronciere
D.O. Licanten | Coastal Curicó, Chile
The Mayta wines are grown on select estate parcels. It’s vinification follows the same philosophy for all La Ronciere wines - a focus on freshness, texture, and terroir.
Located 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, La Ronciere’s ambitious 500 acre Idahue Estate is their vision for the future. Prevailing coastal breezes, abundant sunshine, and rolling hills of ancient soils culminate in a privileged climatic and geological landscape. Years of research and a forward-looking approach drove the successful effort that saw Licanten granted D.O. status in 2018. The region’s potential is just being unlocked, and already the wines speak for themselves in a recognizable way, managing concentration and nuance in an expressly vibrant manner.
La Ronciere Mayta Bottle Gallery
