Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Report from ... Wines of Chile Tasting - September 27, 2011

It's always fun when the Chileans come to town.  You get to try some amazing wines at at some pretty amazing prices (in a good way) and find out what the "best country to make wine in" is up to.  I like to think of Chile as the great copycat of the world - they seem to be able to make any wine in any style - and given time they can mimick anywhere.  They can make Sauvignon Blancs that are New Zealand-esque.  Shiraz that rivals Australia. Cabernets as juicy and rich as any Californian. And surprisingly of late, Pinot Noir that bridge the gap between Burgundian earthy and the Californian juicy.  I have a special relationship with Chilean wine:  my first love in the red world was a Chilean red, suggested to be by a female companion I was hoping to be romantically involved with ... we did not work out, but my love for Chilean wine has grown ever since.

Today in Toronto 34 Chilean producers wowwed us with their products ... and also presented a number of their award winning and organic wines.  We'll start with the award winners that caught my taste buds, then move on to some of the licensee picks, before looking at what the rest of the room had in store for drinkers of Chilean juice.  I will be presenting scores mostly based on my 5-star scale.

8th Annual Wines of Chile Award Winners ...
Not all the wines make it over for the tasting, but here are the ones that did, and that impressed:
Cono Sur 2009 20 Barrel Limited Edition Merlot - Silver Medal, Merlot (****+)
Cousino Macul 2008 Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver Medal, Cabernet Sauvignon (****+)
Dos Andes 2007 Veranda Cuvee Millerandage - Gold Medal, Pinot Noir (****)

Top Wines for Licensees ...
These were a special selection of wines that are available now and you might find at restaurants because they offer good value for price ... many can also be found at the LCBO.  The selection was chosen by the Wines of Chile ... here are my top picks from the 31 wines in this category:
Carmen 2009 Gran Reserva El Penasco Vineyard Carmenere - LCBO (**** 1/2)
Concha y Toro 2007 Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon - LCBO (****+)
Emiliana 2007 Winemaker's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - LCBO (****)
Errazuriz 2009 Max Reserva Syrah -  LCBO (*** 1/2)
Luis Felipe Edwards 2010 Marea, Sauvingon Blanc - (*** 1/2)
Maipo 2009 Gran Devocion - (****+)
Maipo 2008 Protegido Cabernet Sauvignon - LCBO (*** 1/2)
Montes 2009 Alpha Syrah - (****)
Santa Carolina 2009 Barrica Selection Carmenere - LCBO (*** 1/2)
Santa Carolina 2009 Barrica Selection Chardonnay - LCBO (****+)
Santa Rita 2010 Reserva Chardonnay - LCBO (*** 1/2)
Via Wines 2011 Chilcas Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (*** 1/2)

As for the Rest ...
Vina Sena 2007 Sene ($84.95 - LCBO) - **** 1/2
Casas del Bosque 2009 Pinot Noir Gran Reserva ($21.95) - *** 1/2+
Cono Sur 2008 Reserve Syrah ($12.95 - LCBO) - *** 1/2+
Cono Sur 2010 Bicycle Viogner ($9.95 - LCBO) - ****
Cousino Macul 2011 Don Matias Chardonnay - *** 1/2+
Cousino Macul Finis Terrae ($37.95 - LCBO) - ****
Errazuriz 2009 Max Reserva Founder's Reserve - ****
Loma Largo 2010 Lomas de Valle Pinot Noir - *** 1/2
Luis Felipe Edwards 2008 LFE 900 Blend (Cabernet Sauvinon, Carmenere, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Malbe) - **** 1/2
Maipo 2009 Gran Devocion Syrah/Petite Sirah - ****
Maipo 2009 Limited Edition Syrah - ****+
Montes 2009 Limited Selection Carmenere - ($14.95 - LCBO) *** 1/2
Montes 2010 Alpha Chardonnay - ****+
Montes 2009 Purple Angel - ****
Montgras 2009 Antu Ninquen Syrah - ****
Perez Crus 2008 Liguan Red Blend (Cab Sauv, Syrah, Carmenere) - ****
San Esteban 2009 In Situ Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva - ($16.95 - LCBO) ****
San Pedro 2009 1865 Carmenere (19.95 - LCBO) ****
Santa Alicia 2006 Milatu (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Carmenere) - *** 1/2+
Santa Carolina 2010 Reserva Pinot Noir - ****
Santa Carolina 2009 Specialties Coastal Hills Syrah - *** 1/2+
Santa Ema 2008 Catalina (Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) - ****+
Santa Ema 2008 Amplus One (Carmenere, Syrah, Carignan) - ****
Santa Ema 2008 Amplus Cabernet Sauvignon - *** 1/2+
Siegel 2010 Crucero Reserva Syrah - ****
Ventisquero 2007 Vertice Carmenere - Syrah - **** 1/2
Via Wines 2009 Chilensis Lazuli (Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc, Carmenere, Malbec, Petit Verdot) - ****+
Via Wines 2008 Chilcas Red One - *** 1/2+
Vistamar 2010 Late Harvest Moscatel - ****

Notice how many of these wines are not available ... and also notice that Chile is still a great maker of red wines ... they do make some good whites too, but the reds far outshine the whites.

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