San Pedro Cabo De Hornos 2006

San Pedro Cabo De Hornos 2006 is a premium Chilean red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec in a standard 750ml bottle. This vintage is historically significant as the first year production shifted from Curicó's Molina zone to the Alto Cachapoal Valley at the foot of the Andes, and it has received an aggregated critic score of 90/100 points.

Quick Facts: Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec  |  Origin: Alto Cachapoal Valley, Chile  |  Vintage: 2006  |  Producer: Viña San Pedro (est. 1865)  |  Aging: French Oak

Production & Heritage

Viña San Pedro, founded in 1865, is one of Chile's oldest and most established wineries. The 2006 Cabo De Hornos marked a pivotal transition for the flagship label: grapes were sourced for the first time from a vineyard in Alto Cachapoal, planted on volcanic soils at the Andean foothills, replacing the previous Molina vineyard in Curicó that had supplied fruit through the 2005 vintage. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, consistent with the Cabo De Hornos program, and the cool, rainy conditions of the 2006 growing season in Chile produced a lighter, fresher expression than prior vintages, with naturally refined tannins and bright acidity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with leather and olive before moving into riper layers of black cherry and cassis. Subtle tomato-leaf undertones add an earthy, savory dimension that reflects the volcanic terroir of Alto Cachapoal.

Taste: The entry is zesty and notably acidic, almost citric in character, a direct result of the cold 2006 vintage. Mid-palate, red cherry and plum flavors emerge — juicy and vibrant rather than heavy or extracted. The body is lighter than typical for Chilean premium reds, with spicy notes threading through the fruit.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, with refined tannins that resolve cleanly. Lingering spice and a trace of dried cherry carry the wine to a fresh, elegant close.

How to Drink Cabo De Hornos 2006

At nearly two decades of age, this wine is best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 16–18°C to allow the aged aromatics to open fully. Decanting for 30–45 minutes is advisable to let the secondary and tertiary aromas express themselves. Given its age and delicacy, this is a wine for the table rather than the cocktail bar — serve it alongside a meal to appreciate the evolved character of the blend.

Best For

• Gifting a collector interested in Chilean wine history and transitional vintages
• A special-occasion dinner featuring grilled red meats or lamb
• Vertical tastings comparing Cabo De Hornos across the Curicó-to-Cachapoal shift
• Building a cellar of aged South American red blends

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cabo De Hornos 2006 taste like? It delivers zesty red cherry and plum flavors with bright acidity, leather, and spice, shaped by the cool 2006 vintage into a lighter, fresher profile than many Chilean premium reds.

How does Cabo De Hornos 2006 compare to Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon? Don Melchor, from Concha y Toro's Puente Alto vineyard, is a single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon that tends toward more concentrated, structured expressions. Cabo De Hornos 2006 is a multi-grape blend with a notably lighter body and higher-toned acidity, reflecting both its new Cachapoal terroir and the cooler growing season.

Is Cabo De Hornos 2006 good for sipping neat? Yes — as a well-aged red blend with evolved tannins and complex secondary aromas of leather and earth, it rewards patient, contemplative drinking with a proper decant.

Where is Cabo De Hornos 2006 made? It is produced by Viña San Pedro at their Alto Cachapoal vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley of Chile's Rapel region, on volcanic soils at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

What foods pair well with Cabo De Hornos 2006? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's savory leather and spice notes. Slow-braised beef short ribs mirror its evolved, earthy character. Aged Manchego or Gruyère echo the secondary flavors without overpowering the lighter body. Mushroom risotto bridges the earthy, olive-toned aromatics. Roasted duck breast with a cherry reduction directly connects with the wine's core fruit.

What sizes does Cabo De Hornos 2006 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Cabo De Hornos 2006 worth the price? Cabo De Hornos positions as the flagship expression of Viña San Pedro, sitting in the ultra-premium tier of Chilean wine. The 2006 vintage carries additional interest as the first from Alto Cachapoal, giving it historical and collectible significance beyond its drinking qualities.

Why Cabo De Hornos 2006?

This is a wine defined by transition. As the first Cabo De Hornos vintage sourced entirely from volcanic Andean soils in Alto Cachapoal, it documents a deliberate shift by one of Chile's oldest producers toward higher-altitude, cooler-climate viticulture. The challenging 2006 growing season further shaped the wine into something atypical for the label — lighter, brighter, more acid-driven — making it a fascinating counterpoint to warmer-vintage bottlings. For collectors and students of Chilean winemaking, this bottle represents a specific moment in Viña San Pedro's 160-year evolution that cannot be replicated.