Aquitania is the Maipo winery established in 1990 by Bordeaux big-wigs Paul Pontallier (Château Margaux) and Bruno Prats (ex- Château Cos d’Estournel), along with Chilean winemaker Felipe de Solminihac. The first wines were released under the Paul Bruno label, but they’re now called Aquitania. Since 2002, Ghislain de Montgolfier of Bollinger has been a partner, and the company also makes three wines called Sol de Sol further south in Malleco. Reviews of two of these, plus an Aquitania Carmenère, coming up soon. In the meantime…

Aquitania Syrah Reserva 2013, Maipo, Chile (£11.95 Winety)
I like the intense plummy berry fruit with its notes of gingerbread and orange peel (reminiscent of Touriga Nacional), and I don’t mind the touch of liquorice either. However, this is rather reduced at the moment and comes over a bit like children’s pink penicillin medicine. And this character doesn’t seem to dissipate with time. Will it shrug off this reduction? I’m not sure… B-

Aquitania Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2012, Maipo, Chile (£11.95 Winety)
Yes please! Lots of blackcurrant character here, and some plump plumminess too, but it’s lifted from mere fruitiness by the bay-like perfume, earthy graphite character note and fine grained tannins. This is very tasty, very true to its Chilean origins and should give pleasure at any time in the next ten years. S(+)

(both of these were £12.95 on the Winety website when I did the video but at the time of posting, they’ve both gone down £1 – the Cabernet is really excellent at this price)