One of my many wine missions is to taste the finest of Chile’s Cabernet Sauvignons. I have had several high end wines from the region including Almaviva and my perennial favorite- Don Melchor. Wines like Montes Alpha M have crossed these lips yet that was before this blog existed and I owned a camera phone. The quality and complexity is amazing when you look at what the New World is capable of doing, taking their own terroir and adding it to the mix. Skilled winemakers and joint ventures with the likes of the Rothschilds, Mondavi’s and other world famous vintners has unleashed a slew of exceptional wines that should be tasted to be understood.
This particular wine was first founded by Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick. It is now in the capable hands of Vina Errazuriz, where they blend the noble Bordeaux grapes into this nectar. I paid $92 to sample this bottle, it was well worth it. Friday night, spring, warm weather and some dry rubbed steaks on the charcoal Weber- what more do I need to say.
On the nose I was attacked with Mulberry and Fig jam, gorgeous. The wine had an amazing smoothness of black berries and blueberry torte. At 3 years of bottle age, it is very round and the tannins are melding nicely giving an immediate drinking timeframe with another 10 years of cellaring potential. I could smell and taste the perfume of Cabernet Franc throughout the evening and made a comment that this wine was ‘sexy and perfumed’. A hint of the Chilean Eucalyptus edged in on the back end but the main profile was definitely a Bordeaux style claret with cassis and a touch of wood to add spice. It ends with a figgy component that I first got on the nose. Superb, in a word. Pricey- sure. 5 stars in my book because I believe this to be a 95 plus wine that I would put up against anything Napa and Bordeaux have got to offer. I know where to get more, I’ll be right back. Salut….
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