Description
With its ideal conditions, Chile is a "viticultural garden of Eden" (Decanter). It enjoys isolation on all sides, a whole range of microclimates, soils and elevation, and an abundant water supply from the snowmelt of the Andes. It also has a good range of grape varieties to draw from which luckily arrived from Europe in the 19th century, before the root-munching beetle Phylloxera struck.

This pure, velvet-smooth Merlot hails from Casa Donoso, one of the oldest wineries in the Maule Valley, just last year celebrating 100 years of winemaking. It is blessed with row upon row of old Merlot vines, descended from those taken from Bordeaux by the founders in the late 1800s.

This wine takes its name from the large-brimmed cowboy hat that the cellar's winemaker, Alvaro Arriagada, always wears. He says "my hat is like a part of me, we have been together now for about 12 years. I have received many offers to buy it, but I could never be parted from it now. I use it Summer and Winter in the vineyard and cellar, as it protects me from the sun and cold."

International Wine Challenge 2008, United Kingdom

Tim Atkin - The Guardian Wine Foldies 2008, United Kingdom

Middleton Guardian April 08 2008, United Kingdom

Big Hat Merlot 2007 is available in the following cases: