Carmen winemaker Mastias Lecaros is doing all kinds of exciting things. When I was in Chile, I of course tasted his wonderful wines. But it took a trip to Dallas by him for me to be lucky enough to discuss the man behind these exciting wines. I tasted his organic wines, and honestly, I could not believe it. I am sure they were organic, but they tasted robust and wonderful.
Matías Lecaros belongs to a traditional Chilean family that has been
involved in agriculture since the 17th century. It was then when the first
Lecaros arrived in Chile to explore new territories in South America. His
father's family is originally from Panquehue, where they pioneered the
plantation of vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley.
Matías' family is based close to Maipo Valley, where his childhood was spent
closely linked to the Chilean traditions. By the end of the 1980s, his
father started planting vineyards around Melipilla, where Matías discovered
a hidden passion for the wine business and a strong reason to later study
Agronomy.
In 1996 he graduated as Agronomic Engineer, with a major in Oenology, from
the Universidad de Chile. That same year he joined Santa Rita as head
winemaker for their plant located in Maule Valley, Lontué. In 1997 he
worked at Gabriel Messe in the South of France (Languedoc), giving technical
assistance for various wineries and producers for their 1997 vintage. In
1998 he left the company to join Lourdes Winery located in the Maipo Valley.
As head winemaker he worked closely with the Chilean winemaker Pablo
Morandé.
In 2000 Matías, strongly motivated with producing high quality wines, was
hired by Viña Carmen. Now he has found a winery located in one of the most
premium wine producing areas in Chile. "Carmen has great infrastructure,
state-of-the-art technology, and a very skillful winemaking team. For a
winemaker it is like working on the cutting edge of innovation and quality
in Chile."
Matías' viticulture tradition, coupled with his vast experience working with
highly qualified winemaking teams, gives Viña Carmen strong confidence in
his ability to continue this winery tradition of producing some of the best
wines from Chile.
Viña Carmen produces 16 wines in 5 product lines that are available in the
U.S. These include the Classics-Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot ($7.99); the Reserve line-Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Pinot Noir, Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon, Grande Vidure/Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc ($11.99 - $16.99); Winemaker's Reserve
Chardonnay and Reserve Red ($20 - $40); the Nativa Wines, made from
organically grown grapes-Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99- $16.99)
and 1997 Gold Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($65.00). Imported by W.J. Deutsch
& Sons, Ltd., Carmen wines are available nationwide.
