Cousino Macul tasting with Arturo Cousiño at Cafe Maxx

Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne In thy fats our cares be drown’d, With thy grapes our hairs be crown’d! Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!

Wine Poem: Come, Thou Monarch Of The Vine By William Shakespeare

We have a great month of October planned here with a series of "Once in a Lifetime" Wine tasting events, most of which are SOLD OUT already; like California Cult on Friday, Cheval Blanc next Friday, Vintage Barolos going back to 1970 (we still have room for this incredible event) and our Gaja and White truffle event- there are only 4 spaces remaining!!  This opportunity just came up to have dinner with one of the first families of Chile and even with everything else that is going on I said- "Hell Ya"!  I am a big fan of Chilean wines and will never forget the pilgrimage that I made to Chile in 2007.

For those of you that have been following our show you know that- "it is hard to find a better value today in the Bordeaux varietals than what you have coming from both Chile and Argentina."  I have been saying this like a broken record for the last decade and you can find more wines in the $10-$15 dollar price range in my store from these two countries than from anywhere else in the world.

This is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to have dinner with a direct descendents of this landmark winery's founder, Matías Cousino.  The Cousino Macul winery is governed by the sixth generation today and like their predecessors, these Cousinos are making their mark in history by pushing quality to the limit and thereby securing Cousino Macul’s position as Chile’s leading family-owned winery

As said by Arturo Cousino, Chairman of the Board of Directors, “Our objective is to produce world-class wines that are authentically Chilean, wines that have true varietal character and express the unique terroir of the Maipo Valley.”

Join us as we break bread with the Chairman himself and discover some of the best wines that Chile has to offer.  Chef Oliver Saucy will be making a special 5 course tasting menu to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this tasting is $75 + Tax + Gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Cousino Macul tasting with Arturo Cousiño at Cafe MaxxWednesday, October 9, 20137:00 PM

Pass Arounds

Starfruit and sea scallop cevicheCrispy fried grouper fingers with orange remouladeGoat cheese and banana filo purses

2012 Cousino Macul "Isidora" Sauvignon Gris Maipo Valley  Price: $14.75  Sale $12.98  Case $151.00

Cousino-Macul was one of the first wineries from Chile to make a breakthrough into the American market primarily due to the hard work of importer Alfredo Bartholomaus. The quality of the wines has been consistently good but recent improvements in the vineyards and winery have taken quality up to another level.  This wine features bright, juicy, yellow and orange fruits.  An easy drinking style with a zesty finish.

First course

Pineapple and melon couscous with grilled hog snapper and vanilla beurre blanc

2011 Cousino Macul Antiguas Chardonnay     Price: $15.75  Sale $13.86   Case $161.00

With a brilliant and clear golden color, this wine has an intense and delicate bouquet, the dominating fruits are pineapple and melon, with faint touches of vanilla. The elegant oak combines perfectly with the fruit and the acidity. On the palate, it is friendly and very elegant.

Second course

Prosciutto carpaccio with grilled figs, herb olive oil and fig balsamic glaze shaved Manchego and petite arugula  

2010 Cousino Macul "Antiguas Reservas" Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley                 Price: $18.00  Sale $15.84  Case $184

The 2010 Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon has a well-defined, slightly herbaceous bouquet with touches of cured meat, ash and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine acidity and an austere, masculine, saline finish. Drink 2013-2016. I visited Cousino Macul on my first day in Chile, the original winery located in Santiago’s Macul district, virtually within the outer suburbs a la Bordeaux’s Haut Brion. It was founded in 1856, though vines are said to have cultivated on the site since the 16th century. The Cousino family imported vines from Europe in 1863. In 1990, the family expanded with an acquisition of another 300 hectares of land and constructed a new winery in Buin. There is a sense of stately grandeur to Cousino Macul, the family house furnished in an ornate European style interpolated with the occasional nod towards the Mediterranean.  (12/ 2012) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Third course

Grilled filet mignon with sundried cherry polenta, roasted fall vegetables and demi glaze

2009 Cousino Macul Finis Terrae                    Price: $24.75  Sale $21.78  Case $253

With a deep ruby-red color, 2009 Finis Terrae showcases an intense nose of red fruit with subtle eucalyptus and mint notes. It also offers very elegant and discrete wood notes, with some clove. In the mouth it is very tasty and elegant, medium-bodied and succulent. Cherries stand out on the very long ending. Perfect for enjoying now, but can be cellared for close to a decade.

Fourth course

Braised short ribs of beef, black berry BBQ glaze, goat cheese Orechetti custard timbale

2007  Cousino Macul Lota                                        Price: $74.25  Sale $65.34  Case $758

The 2007 shows a deep dark red color, almost black, with violet strokes, due to the youth of this wine. This wine displays complex aromas of blackberry and plum fruit with touches of cassis and hints of cedar and spices. In mouth it is sensed with a very good sweet and acid balance, mature tannins and a delicious finish of strawberry preserve, cedar and spices. It is a seductive, enveloping and long ending wine that will have great splendor, improving even mote in bottles along the years.

Dessert

Chocolate crème brulee

The fee for this tasting is $75 + Tax + Gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

“I have dedicated my life to the wine business” says Arturo Cousino when asked about his bio. Born in 1961, Arturo is the youngest brother of the sixth generation of the Cousino family, today in charge of Cousino-Macul Winery, along with other family businesses. When he turned 24 he started working in the Exports Department of Cousino-Macul, developing it in times when Chilean wine wasn’t as famous as it is now. After almost a decade, his father Carlos relied in the knowledge his son had of wine business, appointing him as General Manager of the family winery. He remained in this position until the year 2000, when the 3 Cousino brothers took a step aside from the daily administration and became Managing Director of their family businesses. Between 2006 and 2008 he was Member of the Board of Vinas de Chile (2007-2008) and President of Wines of Chile (2006-2007). Later on, he focused on Finance and Administration of the family businesses. His passion is, other than wine, are horse races from the breeding to the finish line.