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Santa Ema Wines

In 1931, Pedro Pavone-Voglino acquired a plot of land in Chile’s Maipo Valley and began producing high-quality. Then in 1956, Pedro and his oldest son, Félix Pavone-Arbea, began producing and marketing their own bottled wine. The business continued to grow, and in the late 1960s the company purchased a large amount of land in the Peumo commune located in the Cachapoal province—an area known for red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenère. Today, Santa Ema exports its wines to more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Santa Ema has five lines—Selected Terroir, Rosado Soul, Barrel Select, Reserve and Amplus—as well as two red blends—Catalina and Rivalta. The winery has received numerous awards for its value-driven wines, particularly the Reserve and Amplus series, and has been recognized as an accredited Certified Sustainable Winery of Chile. For more information on the winery be sure to check out our Santa Ema Buying Guide.

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Santa Ema 2005 Catalina Red (Cachapoal Valley)

Price $37

Big and saturated is the best way to describe this mammoth blend of Cabernet, Carmenère and Cab Franc. It’s full of ripe fruit, coconut and cassis on the nose. Next up is a pure, bulky palate of raspberry, plum and vanilla. There’s some sweet, resiny oak notes if you dig deep, but overall it is a high-end, structured red blend. Drink now through 2012. — M.S. (5/1/2009)

Santa Ema 2002 Catalina Red (Cachapoal Valley)

Price $38

Headlines include a richly perfumed nose with pulsing plum and berry along with spicy black fruit in the mouth. Last but not least there’s charcoal, cola and melting vanilla on the finish. A really fine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. Imported by T.G.I.C. Importers. — M.S. (3/1/2006)

Santa Ema 2005 Rivalta Limited Selection Red (Cachapoal Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $68

The Carmenère in this Carm-Cabernet-Syrah blend is the lead singer, so expect a touch of minty green and herbal essence. It’s a heavyweight in the sense that the mouthfeel is big and the tannins are a little hard. But with airing it unveils classy, spicy berry flavors and wood-based accents of vanilla and butter (20 months in new oak will do that). A big wine that… — M.S. (5/1/2009)

Santa Ema 2005 Amplus One Red (Cachapoal Valley)

Price $19

A zesty wine with more zap and tang than one might expect. That said, it’s solid as a rock, with intense flavors of cherry, plum, carob and oak. Call it a bit obtuse, if you will. But even with woody finishing notes of vanilla and cream, this settles on fruit more so than the barrel. Carmenère (78%) with Syrah and Carignan. — M.S. (5/1/2009)

Santa Ema 2001 Catalina Red (Rapel Valley)

Price $28

Fruity and secure, with ripe, roasted aromas of coffee, black fruit and leather. Some cherry-cola and apple skin make for a lively, fresh palate, while the finish is smooth, warm and full. Good acidity and body. A Cabernet-Cab Franc blend that ranks among Santa Ema’s best wines to date. — M.S. (2/1/2005)

Santa Ema 2006 Amplus Old Vines Carignan (Peumo)

Online Exclusive

Price $27

A rock-solid wine with bright currant, berry and rooty, cola-infused aromas. The mouthfeel is excellent and integrated, with earthy, savory, spicy flavors of blackberry, cherry and tea. Long and savory on the finish, with complexity. Wines like this are what make the Chilean Carignan category worth exploring. Drink now through 2012. — M.S. (12/1/2010)

Santa Ema 2007 Amplus Cabernet Sauvignon (Cachapoal Valley)

Price $24

Opens with floral, cherry, cassis and coconut aromas, which are followed by snappy, acid-driven flavors of raspberry, wood spice and vanilla. A fresh, lively, healthy wine with a toasty/spicy finish and young, clamp-down tannins. Drink now through 2012. — M.S. (5/1/2010)

Santa Ema 2006 Amplus One Red (Peumo)

Price $24

Powerful on the nose, packed with aromas of black olive, plum and herbs. This is a staunch wine that’s 75% Carmenère with 20% Syrah and then Carignan; it is snappy and lively, with no shortage of wild berry and plum flavors. The finish holds on for some time, and overall it is very respectable Carmenère. — M.S. (9/1/2009)

2008 Campus Oaks Old Vine

This old-vine Lodi Zin features caramel, vanilla and cherry notes. Most…

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