The Story
El Principal was founded in 1999 as a partnership between two wine pioneers: Jean-Paul Valette, a former owner of Château Pavie in Bordeaux, and Jorge Fontaine, a Chilean entrepreneur. Their shared vision was to produce world-class wines in Chile by combining the country's natural winemaking potential with Valette’s Bordeaux expertise.
Memorias was introduced as a tribute to the late Jean-Paul Valette, the co-founder of El Principal Winery and a key figure in shaping its winemaking philosophy. The wine reflects Valette’s deep connection to Bordeaux traditions while fully embracing the expressive qualities of Chilean terroir.
95 Pts Tim Atkin
Description
El Principal was founded in 1999 as a partnership between two wine pioneers: Jean-Paul Valette, a former owner of Château Pavie in Bordeaux, and Jorge Fontaine, a Chilean entrepreneur. Their shared vision was to produce world-class wines in Chile by combining the country's natural winemaking potential with Valette’s Bordeaux expertise.
Memorias was introduced as a tribute to the late Jean-Paul Valette, the co-founder of El Principal Winery and a key figure in shaping its winemaking philosophy. The wine reflects Valette’s deep connection to Bordeaux traditions while fully embracing the expressive qualities of Chilean terroir.
95 Pts Tim Atkin
