No es Pituko, an exciting range of natural wines from Chile

No es Pituko translates as ‘it ain’t fancy’, and this is a series of natural, no-added-sulfite wines from Viño Echeverria. They are beautifully and irreverently packaged, with a short wax seal and playful labels, and the good news is that they hit some very nice price points. The bottles are also very light, which is a positive!

I first came across them when I ordered one in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hythe, Kent. I know Roberto Echeverria a bit, having hung out with him in Canada of all places, and he sent me some more of the range to have a look at. It’s a range that’s expanded quite a bit, and I’m excited that they are bringing natural wines like these to the people, because of the pricing (c £12 in the UK).

No es Pituko Natural Wine Pais Rosé 2021 Maule Valley, Chile
12.9% alcohol. Cloudy pink red colour. It’s fresh and textural with a rich sweet pear base and notes of cherry and marzipan. There’s a frilly citrus pink grapefruit edge surrounding the warm, harmonious pear notes. Layered with ripe fruit sandwiched between salt and grapefruit. Very drinkable. 92/100

No es Pituko Natural Wine Cabernet Franc 2021 Curicó Valley, Chile
14% alcohol. This is vivid and intense: concentrated with juicy black cherry and blackberry fruit with some grippy tannins, a fresh crunchy feel, and good acidity. This is just about primary fruit, and there’s a whole lot of it. I love the freshness and purity here. Serve slightly cool, and although this emphasizes the structure a bit, it also brightens the fruit wonderfully. Think of this like tasting a really good tank sample, with all the latent potential accessible now. 92/100

No es Pituko Natural Wine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Curicó Valley, Chile
13.5% alcohol. Deeply coloured, this has a floral, vivid, primary nose of brambly fruit with a nice touch of green adding freshness. The palate is vivid and grippy with juicy berry fruits and some firm crunchy tannins. Bright and immediate; refreshing and drinkable; a wine for the table with its good acidity and tannins. I love it for its immediacy. It’s not trying to be fine wine, but it captures the joy of harvest and simple winemaking without any trickery or make-up. 91/100

No Es Pituko Natural Wine Chardonnay 2021 Curicó, Chile
13% alcohol. Slightly cloudy. Lovely bright, spicy citrus fruit aromatics here: so exotic but also nicely constrained. The palate is lively, textured and expressive with orange peel, mandarin and lime, showing focus, a lively spicy finish, and also some richer baked apple hints on the mid-palate. Juicy, vibrant and delicious. 91/100

No Es Pituko Natural Wine Viognier 2021 Curicó, Chile
13% alcohol. Slightly cloudy. Lovely bright flavours of apricots and pear, with a vivid citrus edge. There’s a nice texture here, with an appley mid-palate, but the exotic fruit, hemmed in well by acidity, dominates proceedings. Really expressive and delicious with a thrilling spicy acidity and some mineral notes. Has real complexity, with layers of flavour. 92/100

No es Pituko! Viognier Natural Wine 2020 Curicó, Chile
13.5% alcohol. No added sulfites. Cloudy pale yellow in colour, this is aromatic and fruity with lovely bright grapefruit, pear and white peach fruit. Lovely delicacy with some fine spicy hints, and a touch of table grape and baked apple, too. Refreshing and juicy with some pleasant sour notes on the finish. Supple and drinkable, and full of interest, if not terribly profound. 90/100 (£12.75 in the UK)

UK agent: Hallgarten

Find these wines with wine-searcher.com