Notes on the Cousino Macul Antiguas Reserva Cabernet from 2000 and 2001, tasted side by side with a half bottle of each left to retaste the second day.
These modestly priced wines have an ability to age that goes far beyond what is normally expected at that price point. I have tasted examples that were 15 years and more old and were very much alive and interesting. The original Macul terroir is lacking in the more recent wines, but they are getting good fruit from the new Buin vineyard/
RP gave the 2000 a 90 rating, which raised interest in the wines.
2000 - The darker wine, with a dark fruit nose, the flavours well delineated, but it has a bit too much oak, and there is an odd element at the finish that is hard to describe, perhaps a very slight bitterness, that on it's own is unobjectionable, but when tasted with the 2001, stands out. Second day, the wine hadn't moved at all.2001 - also dark fruit, with a little spice in the nose and some vanilla. Sweeter on entry, and less oak. A fair bit of tannin, but in balance and good acidity. The fruit is brighter in this wine, but at this point the flavours seem a bit unfocussed and lack intensity. Second day - the wine no longer seems as blowsy as it did, and it seems to have developed a larger presence in the mouth, with a bit more intensity. I prefer this wine to the 2000.