Tag Archives: chile

Concha Y Toro ‘Marques De Casa Concha’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

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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San Elias Chardonnay 2010

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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Chardonnay and Thai food, it works well!  This particular bottle was the only white available at our local Thai joint, so we thought we would give it a try after filling up on Singha beer and curry.  Golden yellow in the glass, the nose was buttery with some hints of lemon.  Very oaky, but not gross, it hit the right notes with me.  The lemon I sensed earlier was there on the palate, but slightly sweeter.  Strange to be describing it this way, but it lacked the acidity normally found in whites, yet it didn’t bother me.  For once I was happy with an inexpensive, over-oaked chardonnay that I simply enjoyed.  It was very easy to drink, and had been chilled to the right temperature.  Albeit not a great wine, I think it deserves 85 points, but for me it was a 4 star wine.  I would most definitely buy this again and drink it with any spicy dishes, or as an aperitif.  Planning a party this summer, buy this one by the case.

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Vina Leyda Carmenere 2010

08 Thursday Nov 2012

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I just couldn’t coax much out of the glass for a good whiff…. So I dove in. Slightly hot and our of balance, I’m not liking this wine.
Carmenere is usually made well, at a good price point. This one is disappointing. After a million swirls of the glass, I’m starting to make out dark berry and it transcends to the palate.
The alcohol is bothering me. 2 stars. I would give it 83 points if anyone cared.

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Montgras Merlot Reserva ’11

10 Thursday May 2012

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The fourth wine in our tasting, the Reserva Merlot from Colchagua in Chile.  A decent bottle, but not really sure where they come up with calling it a reserve wine.  Lots of blue fruit and a nice nose give way to a basic Merlot that is pretty well balanced and has a gentle tannic structure.  Not for the long term, it will bring instant gratification to a party and not break the bank.  In the mouth, the Merlot is tasty, in that South American kind of way.  I did not detect any off-balance, but the lack of much acidity makes me wonder if this wine is able to last past……  Who knows, just get some to pop and pour- you won’t be disappointed.  3 stars from me and potentially an 86 point wine if they ever score it.

Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon ’10

05 Monday Mar 2012

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I have to be fair to this wine and tell you it was up against some big guns.  We started the tasting with two of my favorites, a ’96 Napa Cab and an ’04 Reserva from Rioja.  We followed them with the Trivento Malbec that a friend brought, and ended up with this offering from Chile.

Once you have stained your palate with exceptional, aged wines costing up to 8 times the price, it is hard to be partial- here goes.

Fruit, BIG-BOLD-BLUE-FRUIT.  Blueberries and blackberries were in abundance.  On the nose, very sweet hints of Blueberry.  On the palate, decent fruit coupled with subdued tannins and a good finish.  The winemakers state red fruit as the predominant flavor, with subtle blue fruit.  I disagree, and could not find the vanilla they talk about.  Perhaps my taste buds were skewed by the previous bottles.  Anyway, this is a decent bottle for most people, just not my style with the way it shouts “Fruit Forward”.  I prefer slightly more subdued styles and have had many Chilean Cabs that fit the bill.  Some people may love this wine for what it is, especially in a relaxed surrounding, perhaps a BBQ, with some grilled meats.  For the price, it is a definite buy if you are in the hunt for something that will please a crowd and not break the bank.  3 stars and perhaps an 86 point rating in my books.  Besides, what an awesome label!

Gracia de Chile ’10

16 Sunday Oct 2011

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I just realized that I had better get some wines on here pronto or risk losing the mental tasting notes.  There are wines of yore that I can never forget, true icons in my opinion, and then there are the every day quaffers.  These are the ones that slip the bounds of long term memory.  So, I am on a roll here and want to talk about a really good, serviceable everyday wine from Chile.  Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere, this was labelled a Reserve wine.  The tannins in Cab Sav are usually quite present, but when blended with Carmenere, a smoothing action happens.  Carmenere is a very fruity wine, and delightful on it’s own.  What it adds to the blend is quite remarkable here.  Grown mainly in Chile, it originated in France and was one of the six Noble grapes used in Bordeaux blending.  In it’s pure form, the wine is meant to be drunk young as it lacks the tannins of it’s big brother, Cab Sav.  Once again, a very high QPR offering here, and warranting 4 stars, perhaps 88 points if I were getting paid to rate wines (which I am not, yet).  Will drink this one again soon, GOOD VALUE

’00 Don Melchor

01 Thursday Sep 2011

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What can I say- the original wine for me. If you recall, it was the first GOOD wine I ever tasted. Having bought three cases of the 2000 vintage, I have watched it mature and take on those secondary flavors you only hope a wine can achieve.

The tannins have stood the test of time and are still holding this beauty together. The fruit is at 50% of it’s youth having given some in exchange for the tertiary flavors. Many people complain of Mintyness in Chilean Cab. I for one like it, but there is no sign of it here. Having had this wine for 9 years, I would guess it can last another 4-5 years. My points. – 5 stars and 94 American style points.

Ps. We drank this and a Burgess Cab ’00 with a co-worker who happened to be visiting from Canada.

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Wine

06 Saturday Aug 2011

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Did I tell you I love wine?  More precisely, red wine.  To be exact, Bordeaux.  The first really good wine I drank was Concha Y Toro’s Don Melchor.  A really good Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile.  I couldn’t remember the name of the brand when I flew to Santiago and ended up buying a mixed case of wine at the local shop, hoping one of them was the gem I was seeking.  Alas, it wasn’t until 10 years later that I saw it in my local Costco.  I recognized the label and the name hit me- I bought every bottle and then saw more the next day at my local wine shop, filling my cart once more.

The first really GREAT wine I drank was 1989, (’89) Lynch Bages.  A truly profound wine of immense power, complexity and depth.  I hated it at first.  I didn’t know what this beast was and the attack was so brutal I wondered what the fuss was all about.  The second time I had it, I was ready.  The aromas from the glass were much more familiar, the initial mouthful was anticipated, the strength of the wine was tamed.  I fell in love and have been a true fan since then.  Unfortunately, like all Bordeaux, it has become too expensive to buy, so I shall savor what few bottles I have and shall pass onto you my tasting notes.