Tozai Night Swim

Night Swim is a TOZAI bottling from the Maule Valley in central Chile, listed at 15.0% ABV. The distributor's notes describe a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, so expect the grape's usual profile: red and black fruit such as blackcurrant and dark cherry, firm tannins from thick skins, and the green-pepper edge Cabernet is known for. At 15% alcohol, the wine will likely feel full-bodied and warm on the finish, which suggests ripe fruit rather than a lean, restrained style. Chilean Cabernet is commonly aged in oak, often for a year or two, which adds vanilla, baking spice, and a tobacco note on the mid-palate and finish. Treat that as the typical pattern for the style, not a confirmed detail of this bottle. Maule is a warm, long-established growing region, so expect plenty of fruit concentration, with tannins that grip more than they soften. Serve it at roughly 16 to 18°C, which is a little below room temperature. Pouring too warm will exaggerate the alcohol at this strength. A wine with this much tannin and ABV usually benefits from 30 to 60 minutes in a decanter, or at least an hour open in the glass, to let the fruit come forward and the tannin relax. Use a large-bowled Bordeaux-style glass, which gives the aromas room and directs the wine toward the center of the palate. The tannin and structure call for fat and protein. Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, braised short rib, and burgers with aged cheddar all work well, as do hard cheeses and mushroom-heavy dishes. Avoid delicate fish or light salads, which the wine will overwhelm. Cabernets built like this can be opened now with decanting and a hearty meal, and many will also reward a few years of cellaring as the tannins soften. If you open it young, give it air and pair it with food rather than serving it alone.