Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993 and is a relative newcomer to the Chilean winemaking scene. Their goal is to produce premium, expressive and innovative wines that convey the spirit of the New World. They began their journey with organic viticulture in 2000 and now have over 300 ha under organic management. They are also a Certified B-Corp, reassuring its sustainable commitment to its employees, the community and the environment. That is quite an achievement. Also, their bicycle imagery is inspired by the bicycles used by the staff to tend to the vineyards. Now let me tell you about these two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 (BC $10.99 on sale till Nov 27. $12.99 after.)
Appearance: A bring medium peach skin colour.
Nose: Medium intensity nose with sweet fruit aromas of strawberries primarily plus red berries. You really get fresh fruit aromas, mainly strawberries, with decanting.
Palate: A little off-dry, round with a thicker mouthfeel. Medium acidity leaves a prickle on your tongue. The sweetness is more apparent from mid-palate to finish. Mainly strawberry flavour with red cherries on the mid-palate to the finish. It is also a bit steely toward the end. The flavours stay the same with decanting. Again enjoy strawberries.
Finish: A medium plus length finishing fruity with strawberries, some tartness, and bramble leaf.
If you like strawberries, you will enjoy this wine. A great value for holiday parties. Nice with Havarti cheese. Did you know that in Chile they call strawberries “frutilla”?
Rating: 
A cheap and cheerful wine that I think is a great value for holiday parties. Primarily strawberries on the nose and on the palate. Round with a thicker mouthfeel and persistent acidic prickle. Steely on the mid-palate toward the finish. Open and enjoy.
A cheap and cheerful wine that I think is a great value for holiday parties. Primarily strawberries on the nose and on the palate. Round with a thicker mouthfeel and persistent acidic prickle. Steely on the mid-palate toward the finish. Open and enjoy.
Cono Sur Pinot Noir Organic 2020 (BC $15.99)
Appearance: A deep translucent garnet colour with a ruby tint. About 80% opaque.
Nose: Lighter aromas covering vanilla, crushed berries, and touches of oak and sweet spices. You also get some black cherries with swirling. With decanting the aromas move up to medium intensity. Darker fruits and sweet spice aromas; no crushed berries.
Palate: Slightly off-dry with a thicker, round, soft mouthfeel. Lower acidity and light tannins to start. Floral, raspberries, candied cherries, and plum flavours. You also get a touch of sweet black fruit with swirling. The berry flavours become juicier with decanting; raspberries and cherries, plus light sweet spices. You still get plum and floral, but no longer the candied cherries.
Finish: A dry finish, medium length, with black cherry fruit flavour. Still, a dryer finish with decanting, black fruit flavours and a touch of sweetness.
This wine is subtle and subdued when first opened, and then gets bigger with more dark fruit aromas and flavours once decanted. Go for a short decant.
Rating: 
with decanting. Deeper garnet with a ruby tint. Medium intensity aromas with darker fruits and sweet spices. Dryish, with a thicker round soft mouthfeel. Lower acidity. Floral, raspberries and dark fruit flavours. A lightly dry finish with black cherries and a touch of sweetness.
with decanting. Deeper garnet with a ruby tint. Medium intensity aromas with darker fruits and sweet spices. Dryish, with a thicker round soft mouthfeel. Lower acidity. Floral, raspberries and dark fruit flavours. A lightly dry finish with black cherries and a touch of sweetness.Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available at BC Liquor stores:
The Pinot Noir Organic is available at Vancouver Everything Wine stores and at Marquis Wine Cellars downtown.
