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Tag Archives: chile

Cristian Vallejo Bosquejo Blend 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

03 Thursday Nov 2022

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$15, $90, 5 stars, cabernert franc, cabernet sauvignon, cachapoal valley, carmenere, chile, syrah


This is the entry level cuveé from this excellent winemaker.  A Cabernet Sauvignon blend which includes Carménère, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.  Medium ruby colored it also has a bluish edge.  At 14.2% ABV it shows off very thin, slow moving legs.  On the nose I get ripe blackberry, plum, white and green pepper, baking spices, vanilla and violets.  The palate has medium (-) acidity (remember the blue hue?), medium tannins that are very smooth and a medium body.  The flavors are very rich- ripe blackberry and black plum dominate but I get the oak nuance of baking spice and vanilla.  The varietal influence from the Carménère and Franc show off some green pepper whilst the Syrah is offering up some white pepper.  The finish is medium length and delightful.  For $15 this 91 point wine is a must-have to drink till 2026 with grilled meats or hearty pasta dishes.  5 stars from me, time to stock up.  Salut….

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VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

30 Sunday Oct 2022

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$42, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, cachapoal valley, carmenere, chile, Naked Wines


Deep ruby with a touch of turbidity and thick legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has black currants, some black plum, blackberry and menthol.  I get some baking spices and ripe strawberries with some extra swirling.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gentle (medium) tannins that are well integrated.  This Cabernet blend has 12% Carmenere and 3% Syrah that give it some angularity.  The black fruit and strawberry are present as is the spice box.  I sense a hint of oak alongside the minty note that adds complexity.  Full bodied, this wine carries through to a long finish that turns a touch astringent.  Something tells me the Carmenere was a touch green.  Over-all this is a decent wine from a good producer that will drink nicely with our 24 hour Sous-vide  beef chuck roast.  I would enjoy this wine till 2025.  At $42 it gets 90 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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i-Latina La Armonia Vineyard Syrah 2019, Curico Valley, Chile

21 Friday Oct 2022

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$17, 5 stars, 92 points, chile, curico valley, Naked Wines, syrah


Medium ruby in the glass with thick legs (13.5% ABV).  On the nose I get eucalyptus, menthol, black plum, perfume, super-ripe black currants and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, gorgeously smooth medium (+) tannins and a full body.  Flavors of blackcurrant, black plum, vanilla and a hint of menthol all intertwine around a lovely mouthfeel.  This is a very tasty Syrah folks, with good structure built for the medium term.  With a medium length finish I get loads of fruit and fading tannins.  It begs for Pepper Steak and a side of gratin potatoes.  I would drink this 92 point Syrah till 2027.  For $17 it gets 5 stars and possibly a cellar stock-up.  Salut….

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VIK ‘La Piu Belle’ 2018, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

09 Sunday Oct 2022

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$100, 5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, cachapoal valley, carmenere, chile, Naked Wines


Deep purple-ruby colored in the glass.  The nose has aromas of bell pepper, cassis, blackberry, black plum, spices, coffee, caramel and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and super fine medium tannins.  Intense flavors of black fruit, especially cassis along with vanilla and spices combine with the coffee and caramel notes I got on the nose.  It’s a full-bodied delight that has a long finish that tends towards blueberry and plum and has a persistent tannic grip, albeit very fine-grained.  This is a delicious blend of 46% Carmenere, 40% Cab Sav, 13% Syrah and a touch of Merlot.  I would drink this wine till 2030 with rich meat dishes, like my slow cooked beef short ribs.  94 points for this $100 offering that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

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VIK ‘Milla Cala’ 2018, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

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$45, 5 stars, 92 points, bordeaux blend, cachapoal valley, chile


It’s not often we get all four of my kids together, but when we do it’s off for a big night out.  This adventure took us to a Brazilian Steakhouse where the waiter completely butchered the opening, serving and cork removing of this spectacular wine.  Without taking any notes I will say that for $45 you are getting a super smooth Bordeaux Blend from Chile that has very soft, integrated tannins, medium acidity, full body, a long finish and a melange of fruit, oak and tertiary aromas and flavors.  A stunning wine that went beautifully with all the different cuts of beef, pork, lamb and sausage we gorged on.  The structure of this wine makes it perfect for immediate pleasure, but I would not cellar it too long, say till 2025 for this vintage.  A real surprise and a treat. 92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

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Chilano Reserva Carménère 2018, Colchagua, Chile

12 Tuesday Jul 2022

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, carmenere, chile, colchagua


Medium intensity purple colored, this 13% ABV wine has a watery sheen on the glass sides.  The nose has got an interesting aroma of boysenberry, purple licorice, charcoal, cloves and black pepper.  The palate is dry yet there is sweet, ripe fruit there.  Tart acidity and lithe tannins get the show started.  Fruit forward with boysenberry, red plum, raspberry and very little oak influence here.  The acidity is making my teeth buzz.  Body-wise this wine is medium with a medium length finish that has a touch of herbaceousness to it.  It’s a fruity affair with lots of tartness that will pair well with lighter meats, fatty cheese (think aged, gooey Brie) or stuffed portobellos.  I would drink this till 2025.  It gets 89 points from me.  No pricing info but I would guess sub $15.  4 stars.  Salut….

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Morande Adventure ‘Vigno’ 2017, Maule Valley, Chile

10 Thursday Feb 2022

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$23, 5 stars, 91 points, carignan, chile, maule valley


Primarily Carignan this Chilean red also has 8% Syrah and a splash of Chardonnay- yes, you read that right.  Whilst not very common, adding a white grape with red has been practiced for centuries, especially in the Northern Rhone Valley.  This one is a medium shade of ruby with pretty thick legs.  On the nose I get waves of red cherry, black cherry, sweet oak, floral notes, vanilla, baking spice, blackberry and some bramble.  Quite complex I must say.  The palate is dry with nicely integrated tannins that are present but not overpowering.  Medium acidity, medium body and a decently long finish wrap up the rather pronounced flavors of red and sour cherries, violets, blackberry, vanilla and baking spice.  I don’t get as much oak nuance on the palate as I got on the nose.  The finish is quite tart and juicy with the tannins starting to grip a bit more.  This reminds me of a youngish Sangiovese- lots of sour cherry, good acidity and back-end tartness.  I like this wine and would serve it with pasta and steaks.  It’s a decent wine for $23, like 91 points worthy which makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

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Clos Apalta ‘Le Petit Clos’ 2017, Apalta Valley, Chile

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

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$40, 5 stars, 93 points, Apalta valley, cabernet sauvignon, chile, VWTC


I cheated for the fourth wine at our 23rd virtual wine tasting night.  I have had this stunning Bordeaux blend before and knew it would get accolades.  Why not close out a tasting session on a proven winner?  You can read my original notes on the Petite Clos here.

It is a deep claret color with rich blackberry, coconut, sarsaparilla, anise, toast and black cherry on the nose.  Rich fruit is what I noted for the palate- we got black plum, black cherry, cherry coke, coconut and anise on the palate which has great tannic structure, medium (+) acidity, medium finish and is full bodied.  The mouthfeel on this wine is going to be spectacular with a bit of cellaring.  Drink this 93 point beauty till 2030 at the least with hearty grilled meat, heavy duty stews or rich dishes.  Great job on this $40 wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Slam-dunk if you are looking for a surefire winner for a tasting.  Salut….

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Cono Sur Reserva Especial Carmenere 2017, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

06 Thursday Jan 2022

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$10, 3 stars, 87 points, cachapoal valley, carmenere, chile


I’m re-visiting this varietal as it intrigues me.  Back in the day I had some great Carmenere’s but recently had the misfortune of trying one that was over-the-top vegetal.  I really despised it and could not bring myself to drink any for quite a while.  This one is quite opaque in the glass and purple in color.  The nose has got some creosote, cooked black plum, iron, graphite, blackberry and cracked pepper.  The palate is a touch thin but I get black fruit and earthy minerality along with the tar-like flavors I got on the nose.  It is very smooth with low to medium tannins and medium acidity on the back end.  The wine would be classified as light weight in body even though it sports 14.5% ABV.  The finish is medium in length and I get more of that black pepper component along with some espresso notes.  It’s a decent drop that gets 87 points from me.  I would drink until 2024 with grilled meats and chimichurri sauce for sure.  At under $10 it’s easy to stock up on this 3 star wine.  Salut….

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Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere 2019, Peumo, Chile

30 Saturday Oct 2021

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$18, 5 stars, 91 points, carmenere, chile, puemo, VWTC


During the 10th Virtual Wine Tasting in September of 2020 I introduced the Carmenere grape to our group.  It was met with skepticism.  Read all about the Massal 1945.  I did not care for the herbaceous nature of the bottle and was put off varietal for a while, until I saw this one from Concha Y Toro.  One of my favorite brands, they have good, consistent wines.  This grape needs to properly ripen or else it is green and disgusting.

Our group felt this bottle was very good, some thinking it was the wine of the night.  Flavors and aromas of this semi-opaque wine consisted of raspberry, chocolate, plum, capsicum and black pepper.  Medium tannins, medium body and gentle acidity made for a nice mouthfeel alongside a relatively short finish.  I scored it a 91, which is below the pros.  At $18 it’s a great way to discover Chile’s signature grape that gets 5 stars from me.  Whew, relief that it was good rather than controversial.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

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