Concha y Toro Terrunyo Cabernet - 2009

Concha y Toro Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is a single-vineyard Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml, 14.5% ABV) from the Alto Maipo sub-region of the Maipo Valley. Sourced from select blocks within the historic Pirque Viejo Vineyard and aged 17 months in oak, this vintage showcases the terroir-driven ambition behind the Terrunyo line—a label whose name literally translates to a plot of earth with distinct character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Pirque, Alto Maipo, Maipo Valley, Chile  |  Vintage: 2009  |  Winery: Concha y Toro

Production & Heritage

Concha y Toro, founded in 1883 by Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, is one of Chile's most established wine producers and among the largest in Latin America. The Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 draws its fruit from a selection of blocks in the Pirque Viejo Vineyard, planted on alluvial terraces along the southern bank of the Maipo River at approximately 650 meters above sea level. The wine was aged for 17 months in barrels with 27% new oak, a restrained approach that allows vineyard expression to lead rather than wood influence. This combination of high-altitude viticulture and measured oak treatment distinguishes Terrunyo from the winery's broader Cabernet offerings.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with earthy, roasted herb notes layered over ripe plum and grilled cherry. Fine cedar and lead pencil emerge with time in the glass, lending a refined, almost Bordeaux-like aromatic profile.

Taste: On entry, deep blackberry and plum fruit coat the palate with concentration but not heaviness. The mid-palate reveals a thread of minerality and a flowery, almost perfumed quality, while crisp acidity and nicely judged tannins provide structure. The overall impression is of a wine balancing ripe fruit intensity with careful restraint.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with lingering cedar, dark fruit, and a subtle earthy undertone. Tannins remain present but polished, tapering gradually without bitterness.

How to Drink Terrunyo Cabernet 2009

As a 2009 vintage with over a decade of bottle age, this wine is best served slightly below room temperature—around 16–18°C (61–64°F)—and benefits from 30 minutes of decanting to open up its evolved aromatics. Neat sipping is the ideal approach here, allowing the secondary flavors developed over years in bottle to express themselves fully. While this is principally a wine for the table rather than cocktails, it pairs exceptionally with food (see below).

Best For

• Exploring mature Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon with developed secondary character
• Gifting a wine enthusiast interested in South American terroir-driven bottlings
• Pairing with a special dinner featuring red meat or slow-cooked dishes
• Adding an aged New World Cabernet to a personal cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Terrunyo Cabernet 2009 taste like? The dominant profile features ripe blackberry and plum fruit interwoven with roasted herbs, cedar, and a distinctive mineral backbone. Crisp acidity and well-integrated tannins give the wine structure without harshness.

How does Terrunyo Cabernet compare to Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines come from Concha y Toro's premium portfolio and draw on Maipo Valley fruit, but Terrunyo is positioned a tier above, emphasizing single-vineyard site selection from Pirque Viejo. Marqués de Casa Concha tends to be a more approachable, earlier-drinking Cabernet, while Terrunyo aims for greater complexity and aging potential.

Is Terrunyo Cabernet 2009 good for sipping neat? Yes, neat with a brief decant is the recommended way to appreciate this wine's evolved aromatics and layered palate. Its balance of fruit, acidity, and tannin makes it highly enjoyable on its own.

Where is Terrunyo Cabernet made? Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Concha y Toro from the Pirque Viejo Vineyard, located in the Pirque district of the Alto Maipo sub-region within Chile's Maipo Valley, at approximately 650 meters elevation along the Maipo River's southern bank.

What foods pair well with Terrunyo Cabernet 2009? Grilled ribeye steak complements its dark fruit and cedar notes; slow-braised lamb shanks mirror its earthy herbal character; aged hard cheeses like Manchego highlight the wine's tannin structure; roasted root vegetables echo its mineral undertone; and dark chocolate desserts provide a rich counterpoint to its fruit intensity.

What sizes does Terrunyo Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Terrunyo Cabernet 2009 worth the price? Terrunyo positions as a premium expression within Concha y Toro's portfolio, sitting above Marqués de Casa Concha and below the flagship Don Melchor. For a single-vineyard, barrel-aged Cabernet from one of Chile's most respected sub-regions with significant bottle age, it represents strong value within the premium Chilean wine tier.

Why Terrunyo Cabernet 2009?

The defining strength of this wine is its origin: alluvial soils at 650 meters on the banks of the Maipo River, a site that produces Cabernet Sauvignon with both concentration and freshness. The 2009 vintage, now well over a decade old, has entered a drinking window where primary fruit has integrated with secondary characteristics—cedar, earth, minerals—that younger vintages simply cannot offer. Decanter awarded the wine 86 points, noting its classy cedar-and-pencil nose and well-judged tannin. For collectors and drinkers seeking mature Alto Maipo Cabernet from an established Chilean producer, this bottling demonstrates why the Pirque Viejo site continues to anchor Concha y Toro's most site-specific wines.