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 The third inevitable instalment of this yearly competition was held in Santiago
back in January 2006, and I had the opportunity to taste most of the trophy and
gold medal winners at the London Wine Fair in May. Convincingly proves that
Chile is making some excellent wines, and many of them still at affordable
prices. Highlights:
Don Max Estate (pic. right), Cono Sur,
Arboleda, Leyda,
Falernia, Matetic,
San Pedro, Terramater,
Lurton, Santa Rita Casa
Real and Viu Manent.
I've only included 90 pointers, in my humble opinion, which is a bit clinical
and 'life begins at ninety'; but I wasn't so enamoured with other wines e.g.
Malbec and Carmenère.
Make a mental note of which regions these wines come from: not just a
coincidence that the best areas for Sauvignon, Chardy and Pinot are Casablanca,
Leyda etc; and Cachapoal, Colchagua, Aconcagua for
Merlot, Cabernet...
There are also new things from Errázuriz here including the
sublime 2002 Viñeda Chadwick. Prices and
stockists quoted are in the UK; contact the wineries for outlets in other
countries.
aromatic whites
Trophy
2004 Visión single vineyard Riesling,
Viña Cono Sur, Bío Bío Valley - classic perfumed
oil and honey aromas lead to a citrus and mineral palate, graceful yet
energetic with long intense, 'savoury' finish. £7.99 Majestic & the Wine
Society. 92+
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Trophy: best value white
2005 reserve SB, Viña Valdivieso, Casablanca Valley - piercing gooseberry
and grapefruit nose, zingy mineral tones v blackcurrant leaf fruit; very
crisp and long with attractive intensity, needs goats cheese! £7.49
Bibendum Wines. 90+
Trophy: Sauvignon
2005 SB, Viña Arboleda,
Leyda Valley - more herbaceous blackcurrant leaf than above, complex and
subtle; slightly fatter citrus palate yet crisp and fine with softer
finish. £8.99 Select Vineyards/Lay & Wheeler.
92
CHARDONNAY
Gold
2004 Lot 5 wild yeast Chardonnay,
Viña Leyda, Leyda Valley - deliciously pure and creamy with green
fruit intensity underneath, well handled toasty oak, fat v crisp acidity;
has power but also nice oily buttery fruit then fresh length. £10.95
Harrods & the Wine Society.
92+
Trophy
2004 20 Barrels limited edition Chardonnay,
Viña Cono Sur, Casablanca Valley - smokier yet more complex nose too,
tropical and buttery v toasty v fresh green bite; weighty with some
elegance, although still finishes a touch cloying. £12.99.
90
PINOT NOIR
Trophy
2005 Pinot reserve, Casas del Bosque, Casablanca Valley - light
touch of coco oak but also offers pure red fruits with savoury herbal and
smoky edges; silky sweet 'n' savoury fruit with fresh firm mouthfeel,
needs 6 months+ to open up. Serious bargain at £7.49 from everywine.co.uk.
90+
Gold
2004 Lot 21 Pinot,
Viña Leyda, Leyda Valley - seductive smoky
sweet 'n' savoury aromas, quite rich berry fruit on the palate then tarter
and more structured than above; good balance of fruit v salty notes v
fresh acidity. £12.95
Harrods & the Wine Society.
90+
RED BLENDS
Trophy
2004 Don Reca limited release Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon, Viña La Rosa, Cachapoal Valley -
herbal rustic plum and berry fruit, pretty concentrated powerful and firm
yet has depth of fruit, smoky complexity and nice length. £9.99 Hedley
Wright wine merchants. 90+
OTHER REDS
Trophy
2004 single vineyard reserve Malbec, Viña Valdivieso, Lontue Valley - perfumed and plummy with
more generous fruit than the other malbecs; spicy raspberry intensity
leads to solid yet rounded palate, ending up quite elegant and intricate.
£10 Bibendum Wines. 90+
CARMENERE
Trophy
2005
Carmenère,
Viña
Echeverría, Central Valley
- slightly reductive, earthy spicy and inky
tones, nice tangy liquorice fruit with softness v firm and fresh bite;
impressive for the price. £5.99 Avery's, casevalue.com, everywine.co.uk.
89
Gold
2004 Casa la Joya
Carmenère reserve,
Viña
Bisquertt, Colchagua Valley - soy sauce and herb
overtones, tangy liquorice mouthfeel showing quite soft texture then
chunky weighty finish. £7.99. 89
SYRAH
Gold
2004 Alta Tierra Syrah,
Viña Falernia,
Elqui Valley - spicy smoked bacon nose then rich meaty palate, sexy black
fruits with savoury tones, light toasty oak v plump texture, firm yet
rounded. £7.49 Laithwaites. 93+
Trophy & Best Wine
of the Show
2004 EQ Syrah,
Viña
Matetic Vineyards, San Antonio Valley - complex
wild aromas with tar and blackberry backdrop, powerful and concentrated
yet somehow understated; rich texture without extraction, harmonious
framework of tannin/acid/alcohol, very promising. £18 Stone Vine & Sun,
Oddbins. 95+
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Gold
2004 CS select reserve,
Viña
Porta, Aconcagua Valley - savoury cassis nose
leads to solid meaty yet sweet-edged palate; offers fair class for the
price. £7.99 Thresher. 90+
Gold
2002 '1865' CS reserva,
Viña
San Pedro, Maipo - intricate wild herb and
blackcurrant aromas, lush concentrated and funky, tight tannins on a long
finish. £10. 92-94
Gold
2004 Altum reserve CS,
Viña
Terramater, Curico - less forthcoming and firmer
than above, pretty thick cassis and herb flavours lurking underneath;
powerful structured yet fruity with considerable length. £10.95
92-94
Trophy
2003 Gran Araucano CS, Jacques & Francois Lurton, Colchagua Valley
- spicy oak tinged with herbal cassis fruit, chocolate tones yet funky
too; solid and strong displaying austere yet luscious ripe fruit. Wow,
needs time. £19.95 Corney & Barrow. 94+
Gold
2002 Casa Real CS,
Viña
Santa Rita, Alto Jahuel (Maipo) - Smoky cassis v
red pepper notes, rustic richness v muscular tannins but deliciously
drinkable too. £19.99 everywine.co.uk. 95
Gold
2003 Don Maximano founder's reserve,
Viña Errázuriz,
Aconcagua Valley - complex berries and wild herbs develop to plum pudding
and chocolate, compact and weighty with closed up finish showing hidden
subtleties. £21.99 Thresher. 95
SWEET
Trophy
2004 Semillon late harvest,
Viña
Viu Manent, Colchagua Valley - gorgeous marmalade and orange peel,
exotic fruit v zesty lime; luscious and sweet v tight acid framework
cleansing the mouth; lovely and great value. £7.95 half-bottle El Vino.
95
Viña Errázuriz
new releases
2005 Wild Ferment Chardonnay - aromatic and pungent with creamy
backdrop and subdued oak, toasty yet cut by zesty fruit and acidity.
89+
2005 Wild Ferment Pinot Noir - perfumed 'sweet n savoury' style
with nice bite and freshness set against cherry fruit and subtle oak.
89
2004 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon - attractive ripe cassis with
tangier herbal notes, powerful yet elegant and long.
89
2004 La Cumbre Shiraz - smoky bacon and black fruit nose leads to
chocolate texture and firm peppery finish. 88+
2004 Caliterra reserve Malbec - spicy and rustic raspberry tones,
soft yet crunchy mouthfeel with lovely fruit. 90
2002 Viñeda Chadwick, Maipo (Cabernet
Sauvignon) - complex herbal cassis, earthy yet refined too,
richness v firm structure, vigour and class. 95 |
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