Tasting Notes: The Limarí Valley, 250 miles north of Santiago, along the southern border of the Atacama Desert, is one Chile’s up-and-coming viticultural regions. The sunny, arid climate, combined with cool maritime influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean, creates conditions that are ideal for growing wine grapes. In 1995, the valley had a mere 230 acres under vine; now there are over 4,500 acres, with more on the way. Tabalí, among the first wineries in the Limarí Valley, was founded in 1993 by Chilean businessman Guillermo Luksic. Armed with superb vineyard sources and a state-of-the-art facility, enologist Felipe Muller, who arrived at Tabalí in 2006, is making some of South America’s finest Chardonnay. "The 2008 Chardonnay Reserva Especial shows off the potential for Chardonnay in Limari. It delivers Cote de Beaune like aromatics of mineral, toast, white fruits, and hazel nut. Elegant, intense, with lively natural acidity, this lengthy effort may well evolve for 1-2 years and can be enjoyed through 2014. Tabali is producing high quality wines from the newly developing cool-climate region of Limari.