18 Wednesday Dec 2013
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I paid $23 for this Chilean Cabernet, hoping for some fireworks. None came, it was a damp squib. Very ordinary and plain- not what I was expecting. The wine was decent, but lacked any depth and complexity. Purple in color and with basic fragrances of plums and oak. On the palate, very straightforward black currants, oak and some mint. Decent tannins and acidity provided a good structure. I really did not get too much from this wine and am going with 87 points and 3 stars. Salut….
29 Friday Nov 2013
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I bought this Chilean wine in Hong Kong for Thanksgiving day. We opened it first because I could not wait and besides, never leave the good stuff till the end. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, it gets a touch of Syrah to soften it. Dark purple in the glass it had a beautiful nose of blackberry and mint. Eucalyptus was present in the taste as were black fruits and a figgy component. Extremely well crafted tannins were evident but unobtrusive. This is a multi layered wine that shows off class and depth. The mouthfeel was silky smooth and the finish- long. I must say I enjoyed this wine as we paired it with appetizers and caviar. It was on sale for about $44, regularly priced at $54. Im going with 91 points and 4 stars. Salut….
15 Sunday Sep 2013
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Sticking with Chilean Merlot, this one was the third in our tasting and runs at about $14. A more concentrated wine, with plum and raspberry notes melding with some nice oak and spice. Very easy to drink, it had the right balance of acidity and a nice tannin framework. The finish was decent and enticed me to take another sip. This wine is drinking well now and can be short-term cellared. I would drink this with pasta, perhaps veal chops and definitely some shish kebabs. 4 stars and 88 points. Salut….
15 Sunday Sep 2013
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From the Echeverria winery comes this Chilean Merlot priced at around $10. Very Merlot-like and typical of the region. Plummy, with currants and oak in the nose and palate. Not very complex, but for the price it’s a nice wine. Good structure and easy to drink. This was our second bottle in the tasting and was far better than the first. I would drink this wine casually, but can’t seem to pinpoint an ideal pairing. If you enjoy Merlot, try it. 85 points and 3 stars.
31 Saturday Aug 2013
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A very basic Merlot that won’t break the bank. Purple ink in the glass, it had a decent nose of plums and herbs. On the palate, slightly off balance for some reason and the tannins were green. Does that make any sense to you? Let me explain… The dryness in the mouth is caused by the tannins, which in this case are not quite ripe. This results in a roughness, rather than a smooth dryish sensation. Once past the tannic grip, a mellow blend of plum compote and some mintyness combine with a certain oaky component. Not delicious, but okay. This wine was only $9, but I feel it only warrants 2 stars for me. Technically speaking, I would imagine it gets 84 points. There are way better wines out there for the same price, move along. Salut….
27 Tuesday Aug 2013
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Back on track with the Chilcas family! I just wrote about the Carmenere disappointment and am happy to say that the Syrah bottling is right up my alley.
There are two ways to spell this varietal, Shiraz- which I find to be a much bolder expression of the fruit, and Syrah- a more refined offering and usually Old World in heritage. This bottling is old school through and through. Very soft in the mouth, with gentle tannins and balanced acidity. Reserved, it shows its red berry and chocolate flavors very smoothly. This wine, while not complex, does show off its origin and terroir very nicely (not that I’m an expert). Did I mention the price? A veritable steal and worthy of 5 stars and perhaps 87 points. I think I’m on to something here, stay away from the funky Carmenere, stock up on this and the Cabernet and you can defend against any size party that pops up! Salut….
27 Tuesday Aug 2013
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I recently tasted the Chilcas Cabernet, which scored well on my quality/price criteria. Moving on to the Carmenere varietal I was hoping for similar performance, but alas I was let down.
The varietal is one of the original six Noble Bordeaux grapes and is related to the Cabernet family. I have never had a French Carmenere, only Spanish and more predominantly- Chile. I find it to be very spicy, with strong hints of green pepper (capsicum) and lacking hefty tannins. This particular bottling hit me with a very ‘tinny’ taste profile which was almost medicinal on the initial attack. The spice and red currants hit on the mid-palate, but are somewhat overshadowed by the metallic taste. I really did not enjoy the profile, but it did mellow out after about an hour. This is a major wave-off, spend your cash on their other wines. 82 points and 1 star.
12 Monday Aug 2013
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Brought by a fellow wino, this was a full liter of delicious Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. What it lacked in depth, it made up for in charm. Purple ink in the glass, it showed off primal hints of blueberry and mint on the nose. Very easy to drink, it gave pleasure with the blue fruitiness mixed up with some spices (eucalyptus??). A very subtle tannin structure was enjoyable as was the acidity. A bargain wine that plays like a middle weight! Some slight oak was evident, but unobtrusive. Bang for the buck this is a 5 star wine, and technically speaking 88 points. I’m thinking you need a few laying around in case a block party erupts. This wine will please anyone, with or without food. Salut….
01 Monday Jul 2013
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For about $8 you cannot go wrong with this wine. Very basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile with red currants and a touch of oak. Relatively smooth, with very tame tannins and a decent finish. If you are entertaining, this is a must-have. It drinks easily and could also pair with pasta, burgers and grilled meats. A 4 star effort worthy of 86 points that wont break the bank.
05 Sunday May 2013
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There once was a time that this wine was my go-to Cabernet. Back in the day, it was a 90 pointer for about $13- amazing value for amazing quality. It now prices at $19, and still hammers out a consistent 90 point rating. You cannot go wrong with this wine. It is mass produced in Chile under the Concha Y Toro brand. I liken it to their second best offering. Dark purple in the glass, it smell of Black Currants and some mint. Eucalyptus is another trademark of Chilean Cabernet, it shows up on the mid palate along with some plum and blueberry dipped in chocolate. It really is amazing what depths this wine can pull for such an affordable price. Not overly tannic, it has a structure that will help it mellow out for a few more years, with good acidity to balance. Are you salivating yet? I completely agree with the pro’s, 90 points all day long, and for the price- a 4 star wine. Stashing a case of this in the cellar is an insurance policy should all your friends descend on you uninvited. They will drink well! Salut……
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