These notes accompany our in-depth feature Chile 2016 – Earth and Elegance
Errazuriz, Aconcagua Premium Wines
Errazuriz’s wines are imported into the UK by Hatch-Mansfield
Viña Errazuriz, Kai Carmenere 2013
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.5% abv(2016) 90% Carmenere, 7% petit Verdot, 3% Syrah. 22 months in French oak, 60% new. Dark, glossy but quite closed. There’s a little touch of balsamic and green herb, a vinous black fruit. Rich fruitcake palate, lots of freshness and savoury, umami meatiness and the dark plum fruit. Plenty of grip and edge to this, high acid and plenty of spark. Tastes too young, so decant if drinking now. This vintage not in UK at time of writing.
Viña Errazuriz, La Cumbrae Syrah 2013
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Eduardo travelled to the Rhone and loved the wines, so imported vines from the Rhone in 1993. 22 months in French oak, 50% new. The oak has been dropped back and the addition of some Aconcagua Costa fruit is aimed at making a fresher style. Fruit mostly planted as in Hermitage, 1 x 1 metre on a single post. A touch of bloodiness, excellent freshness, spices and a solid red and black fruit character. Really very juicy, a bitter orange quality to the acidity, plenty of grip again, the tannins rounded but firm and juicy, a tart edge to the cherry and plum fruit. Not in UK at present, but previous vintages around £30 per bottle.
(2016) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 16 months in French oak, no new oak, and large barrels. Obvious aged aromas, but has a real perfume and good juicy black fruit. A touch of balsamic. Very nice palate, the balance is excellent in a slightly rustic style, so much like a good older Cru Bourgeois perhaps, missing a touch of complexity and weight, but still a lovely wine.
(2016) 100% Cabenert Sauvignon. 20 months in French oak, all new. “Chile was changing, and this was a warm vintage,” says Francisco. Such a different wine, with masses of mulberry fruit and eucalyptus, more alcohol, oak also, and just bigger in every sense. The palate has loads of plush fruit too, but still a nice edge of acidity and tight tannins, even though it is almost more like a classic big Australian red.
(2016) Francisco’s second vintage in charge. Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah. 18 months in new French oak. Masses of cassis and mint, dark mint chocolate and obvious plushness and weight. Still some fine graphite touches, but has a plump and solid fullness. The palate is weighted with fruit, no problem with the juiciness and freshness through that plum and cherry skin roughening edge of tannin and acid, but a wine in the big, showy style, undoubtedly very impressive.
(2016) 79% Caberent Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 6% Carmenere, 5% Petit Verdot. 22 months in French oak, 65% new. The lowering of the oak is the obvious step change here again. Lovely sandalwood notes are fragrant, more pot-pourri edges to the oak, lovely fresh fruit too – a little closed in this young wine, but has such lovely balance, such an agile, fresh palate with plenty of fruit but that intrinsic energy, more balsamic, delightful and balanced stuff.
to return to Chile 2016 – Earth and Elegance
Errazuriz, Aconcagua Costa
Errazuriz’s wines are imported into the UK by Hatch-Mansfield. This tasting included the wines of Viña Arboleda, an Errazuriz brand which shares their Aconcagua Costa location.
Viña Arboleda, Chardonnay 2014
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 13.5% abv(2016) Fermented in older barrels, 80% malolactic. Low yields and natural high acid in this year. The nose has a toasty hint of oak, a creamy slightly custardy richness with the palate showing very crisp melon and citrus. Plenty of acidity and saltiness, a dry apple core quality.
Viña Arboleda, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 13.0% abv(2016) Quite a tropical nose, touches of lychee and exotic fruit, but the greener aspects come through, with a little bit of oily green bean. The palate is very dry, with again the saltiness and freshness, and it has texture and a bit of grip and real acid bite.
Viña Arboleda, Pinot Noir 2014
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) Fermented in stainless steel, aged in barrel. Very nice rhubarb and vegetal nose, beetrooty, cherry notes, but the quality of fragrant oak and subtle herbs and flowers makes it very attractive. Minty and intense notes too in quite a complex nose. The palate has lovely juiciness and energy, with a fairly high acid and that characterisc salt, but has plenty of juicy cherry fresh fruit.
Viña Arboleda, Carmenere 2014
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) 5% Petit Verdot in the blend. Very young, this one comes from more westerly vineyard, closer to the coast, with a subtle spiciness and green character, not at all thiol-like, the 35% new oak adding a dusty, creamy quality. The mouthfeel is lovely, a firm edge but also some chocolate and glossy violet-like tones, with dusty tannins and a lovely sweet fruit.
Viña Arboleda, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) A little Cabernet Franc and Syrah in the blend. Has a glossy forward fruitiness, cassis and sweet black cherry, with again some lift of floral and blueberry. Creaminess of texture, and that similar family trait of dry palate and a bit of tannic grip, that dustiness again.
Viña Arboleda, Syrah 2014
Aconcagua Costa, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) 10% new oak. Lovely sweet fruited nose, a deep and glossy wine, but has the freshness of red fruit and balsamic, slightly medicinal note that is attractive, with some herbal notes but spicy black fruits drive it. Just a little rounding and smoothing vanilla from that touch of oak, but a lean, grippy tannin and acid structure.
(2016) Very little new oak, but 10 months in barrel. Low pH. Has toasted oatmeal richness, with wheaty touches, a little honey and the fruit subtle and apple and citrus but really attractive. The palate has delicious fruit ripeness and sweet mid-palate fruit, but finishes with lovely clarity, just a hint of the saltiness.
(2016) More of the vivacious, slightly greener, soft herby side than the Arboleda SB, with some gooseberry and elderflower, but also a lovely soft tropical fruit, some pear and apple, but finsihess with lovely zest and dryness. Very well done, dry and balanced with juicy grapefruit acidity. 89
(2016) Only native yeasts. Nice medium colour and density, a creamy nose, with subtle smokiness and chestnut character, and a meatiness to this, lighter floral nuances too are quite complex. Quite truffly, but good red fruit too. The palate has a subtle red and black fruit dryness, with a juicy personality, really quite dry, both the acidity and the silky tannins, that chestnut dryness.
(2016) No new oak, aged in older barrels for 14 months. For me a little closed at this stage, a dark wine with tight black fruit, but not hugely aromatic, just a touch of bacon fat perhaps, a touch of garrique herbs come through. The palate has a really nice, smooth palate flooded with creamy red fruits, such plushness to the tannins, but very nicely balanced between that creaminess and the light dustiness, and good acidity.
(2016) Picked end February, 20% new oak, but not showing it. Clear saltiness to this, with flint on the nose and touches of leafy herbs and flowers, dry and subtle, a little oatameal, but restrained and mineral above all. There is a Chablis-like complex sulphide character, the palate has a cool lemon and mineral complexity and shimmering length. Should be around £40.
(2016) 20% whole cluster, wild yeasts and a little more new oak than in the Pizzaras Chardonnay. Subtle earth and iron oxide character, but less bloody than the Arbolada Pinot. Quite tight, with a real finesse, the juiciness of the cherry and herb freshness, and a touch of polished wood, with balsamic notes, but ebony tight and polished, smooth tannins. Delicious. This will retail for around £70.
to return to Chile 2016 – Earth and Elegance
Seña
Seña’s wines are imported into the UK by Hatch-Mansfield
Seña, Red Wine 1996
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Carmenere. This was before Seña had its own vineyard, so was a selection of Errazuriz fruit. Showing plenty of age with a broad tobacco rim. Big bloody and animal nose, real Margaux-like perfume with floral notes and iron oxide minerality. The palate has lovely firmness at its core, a juicy orange cut of acidity, and that bloody ripe fruit character. Some fudge And mushrooms truffle notes and great length. A very convincing Bordeaux blend that has aged beautifully.
Seña, Red Wine 2009
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.5% abv(2016) 54% Caberenet Sauvignon, 21% Carmenere, 16% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in new French oak for 22 months. Lovely softening rim, the colour just a touch pink on the rim. Very attractive nose. There is a pronounced oak influence, quite fragrant but with smoky vanilla, cedar, very good fruit, cassis and depth. Not too big, tempered by savoury orange acidity and fine but grippy tannins, a chewy density, some umami richness and savouriness. Long and well balanced, perhaps a smidgeon too much oak apparent.
Seña, Red Wine 2011
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere, 15% merlot, 7% petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 22 months in barrel, 75% new. Slightly higher, with a little elegant volatile note, graphite and pencil-shavings, the fruit just a little more lifted – slightly cooler, slightly less new oak? It is juicier and really fresh, a tarty cherry sourness adding to the sweet mid palate fruit to give this balance and polish. Long and really a terrific wine.
Seña, Red Wine 2013
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) 58% Caberent Sauvignon, 15% Carmenrere, 12% Malbec, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. 22 months in French oak, 75% new. Such a bold, solid colour. A little less developed obviously, a little tighter, but a similar overall character to the 2011, with that little graphite and floral lift and the very compact, quite muscular dense fruit concentration. Lots of sweetness on the mid palate, a really juicy but luscious black fruit confiture, the tangy acid edge and bittersweetness of cherry and plum skins coming through, finishing with a touch of spice and the juicy fruit, the oak so subtley underpinning. Note price is ex-duty and VAT.
to return to Chile 2016 – Earth and Elegance
Viñedo Chadwick
Viñedo Chadwick’s wines are imported into the UK by Hatch-Mansfield
Viñedo Chadwick, Red Wine 2000
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) The wine that 'won' The Judgement of Berlin. 100% Cabernet from a cool year but a very good growing season. Lovely umami character, rare roast beef and a gently bloodiness and spice. There's espresso and dark aromas married to such a big, blood streaked palate of ripe and sweet fruit, lots of chocolate and earthy ripeness, and then a fine twist of bittersweetness, a touch of liquorice, in a fine, long and tapering fine finish.
Viñedo Chadwick, Red Wine 2009
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.5% abv(2016) A warm year, though the vineyard is in a cool spot so never too hot with more continental climate. A big seductive nose, laden with cassis and plum, a chocolate and spice laden nose but such a depth of fruit. Excellent palate, with a huge depth and plenty of polished oak, but a seductive and velvety style.
Viñedo Chadwick, Red Wine 2013
Aconcagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A very cool vintage. Seems to have much less oak than the 2009, but also a different fruit profile with cedar and raspberry as well as the cassis. The palate is balanced and elegant, so much more acidity and acid edge to cut against the spicy black fruit. Elegant and very promising.
to return to Chile 2016 – Earth and Elegance
Viña Santa Rita
Viña Santa Rita is imported into the UK by Berkmann Wine Cellars
(2016) Fresh and citrusy, with hints of gooseberry, but fairly straight, punchy citrus dominates. The palate has lots more juicy citrus punch, real verve and very dry, stylish everyday crisp white.
(2016) Apple fresh with a little creaminess and background nuttiness. The palate pithy and dry, with an apple and melon white fruit character, long and pithy orange finish.
(2016) Properly pungent Sauvignon Blanc aromas, with herbal and lightluy floral lift, very vibrant and fresh, with a juicy pomegranate and passion fruit presence. Full, but sharply definied.
(2016) Lovely rich golden tones to green, a fig and melon richness, very nicely handled creamy oak. Has a real juiciness as well as the ripeness and weight of fruit.
Viña Santa Rita, 120 Carmenere 2014
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Screwcap, 13.5% abv(2016) Also has a bit of charry, oak chip quality, but the fruit sweetness pushes through a little more fully than in the 120 Merlot.
Viña Santa Rita, Medalla Real Syrah 2012
Limarí, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A fair amount of quality oak, with a nice bacon fat and meatiness that is very expressive. The palate has a smooth ripeness of black fruit, with dry tannins, meaty again, finishes with medium length. The oak perhaps just a little too dominant over the Syrah aromatics.
Viña Santa Rita, Medalla Real Carmenere 2012
Colchagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Quite shy aromatically, with tight, quite sinewy black fruit and tight tannins and acidity, this has real grip and is a serious Carmenere, perhaps a touch drier and less fruity than it could be, but has the umami meatiness and a good core of fruit
(2016) Pleasing bloody touches to the black fruit and the earthy meaty qualities again, I like the structure and the solid tannins which are grippy but fine. The fruit stays quite substantial and has the nice blend of sweetness and grippy, meaty structure. 2011 currently showing on Majestic's website.
(2016) Quite meaty, with rich black fruit, a spiciness and graphite and cedar nuances. Very tight, deep and glossy, muscular but also refined, a svelte black fruit creaminess and a lovely liquorice depth. Such lovely sweet fruit but excellent structure to age.
(2016) Less meaty, more lifted and lightly floral compared to the 2012, really ripe and intense, a great core of acidity and tannin to this. There's ripeness almost an agen prune juicy darkness. This has the juicy sweet intensity, even if I slightly prefer the 2012.
(2016) Meaty and balsamic on the nose, a touch of classic green nuance to the Cab fruit, but such a flood of super sweet deep black fruit. Great creamy sweetness and utterly delicious, arguably more obvious than the 2010, but yummy.
(2016) Bloody iron oxide, meaty and has cedar and graphite notes, moving through to a massively sweet palate, layered with chocolate and mint-touched cassis fruit. Still has real juiciness, and a lovely Bordeaux-style refinement.
Viña Santa Rita, Triple C Red Blend 2011
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Carmenere first made in 1997. A delightful graphite and cedar quality to this, again a bit of meaty and bloody concentration, and the oak adding a dark, rich gloss a touch of background mint. The palate has a real juicy edge to the deep, meaty fruit. I cannot see a UK stockist at time of writing, but RRP is £24.99
Viña Santa Rita, Bougainville Petite Sirah 2012
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) This unusual 'icon' Petite Sirah comes from an old pergola vineyard of table grapes, grafted to Petite Sirah. It has a fabulous nose, the lift and kirsch-like aromatics, lots of cassis and coffee, obviously plenty of oak, but the prettiness of the fruit comes through. The palate has huge smoothness, with massive grippy tannins, and loads of black fleshy fruit. Delicious and massive, but it is a really impressive wine. Note stockist quoted is for the 2010 vintage at time of writing.
to return to Chile 2016 – Going Underground
Viña Carmen
Viña Carmen is imported into the UK by Hallgarten Druitt
Carmen, Wave Series Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Leyda, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 13.0% abv(2016) Subtle orange and grapefruit, just gentle herbaceous background. The palate has the same with such a rush of fresh grapefruit, clear acidity and a touch of mineral salts. Not hugely complex, but attractive. I cannot see this listed by Majestic at time of writing, but am assured they will carry it.
Carmen, Premier Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Casablanca, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 13.5% abv(2016) From Casablanca. I was told this is in independents at around £8.99, but wine-searcher shows no listings at time of writing. Lemony with a bit of spangle sweetie brightness, a little more palate weight. A touch more tropical, but finishes with that bright lemon sherbet zestiness.
Carmen, Wave Series Pinot Noir 2015
Leyda, Chile, Dry Red, Screwcap, 14.0% abv(2016) Made with 5% whole bunches there's a nice hint of spices and earthiness, those little touches of truffle, big juicy palate of bright cherry fruit. Full fruited on the palate, dry tannins to acid some grip and lemony acids. In Ireland and US, but not UK at time of writing.
Carmen, Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Leyda, Chile, Dry White, DIAM, 14.0% abv(2016) 50% wild ferment and a few months lees ageing. More capsicum and green bean oiliness and punch. More concentration, with hints of nectarine and papaya, then a big core of very juicy apple and lemon acidity. Deliciously focused and textural.
Carmen, Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2013
Casablanca, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 14.0% abv(2016) Bright green and youthful colour, fruit from Casablanca. 45% fermented in new and 1 year old barrels. Figgy and rich, with big tropical fruit notes but also an oiliness and richness of toast and buttered muffins. Leesy and rich, but the lemon and lime vibrancy and freshness comes through nicely.
Carmen, Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.2% abv(2016) Oak is one third each of new, 2nd and 3rd use barrela. Juicy and lightly minty, with some chocolate and earthy creamy notes. It has pretty big tannins, chewy and dense, a spicy and balanced finish.
Carmen, Gold Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.5% abv(2016) A lot of mint here, that Sebastian thinks is partly due to their huge diurnal shift that means overnight the plants cannot assimilate the heat and ripening of the day, so ripening is slightly delayed and can produce the cedar/minty notes. All French oak, this is made approximately 3 or 4 times per decade. Along with the mint is cool, smooth cassis and onto the palate cedar and a gentle creaminess. There's a meatiness too, and the tannins are smoothed with a creamy density and great balance, the wine is young and needs a little time.
to return to Chile 2016 – Going Underground
Odfjell
Odfjell is imported into the UK by Alliance Wines
Odfjell, Merlot 2014
Central Valleys, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Creamy and dense, with delicious black fruit and graphite, cedar and a lovely meaty density. Beautifully sweet fruit, a fruitcakey density and lovely tannin structure. Really a delicious Merlot, with great richness and weight.
Odfjell, Carmenere 2013
Central Valleys, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.0% abv(2016) Quite high and a little fresh green aroma, wintergreen, with cardomon and liquorice, an ashy quality, highly aromatic. With a silkiness and bold cherry and cassis sweet fruit. Dry tannins and a juicy freshness.
Odfjell, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Central Valleys, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Quite reductive, lots of smoke and reduced aromas. After a lot of swirling, a tight black fruit character and a touch of olive and briar, with nice tight fruit, quite creamy tannin, and good length again keeping some good freshness.
Odfjell, Capitulo 2014
Central Valleys, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Quite plush, with a little bacon fat richness, deep fleshy plum fruit and some chocolate. The palate is flooded with plushness and sweet fleshy fruit, and there is coffee and some toast and tobacco warmth, the creaminess of the tannins and sweet fruit against the tart edge of plum skins.
Odfjell, Capitulo 2012
Central Valleys, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) A blend of 45% Carignan, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 6% Carmenere. Deep and plush with lots of sweet creaminess, a little ‘heavier’ than the 2014, but shows how the wine comes together very nicely over a couple of years.
Odfjell, Orzada Carmenere 2012
Maule, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Quite a lifted nose, violetty and a touch sappy, with some olivey characters and a plush red fruit. Smooth tannins, long and creamy, with a smoothing creamy oak.
Odfjell, Orzada Malbec 2013
Lontue, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A touch reductive, with a smokiness and a little blueberry lift and becomes very juicy and ripe and sweet, with delicious plushness. Long and berry fruited, with a lot of chocolaty tannins smoothness and sweet finish. The 2012 vintage is in stock at time of writing.
Odfjell, Orzada Carignan 2013
Maule, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 15.0% abv(2016) Lovely raspberry lift to this, a real sense of elegant freshness fom the first sniff, with little spice and tobacco touches, and some fudge notes, and still that fine red fruit freshness. The palate has that lovely nut husk hint of dryness, but such delightful wine.
Odfjell, Winemaker Travesy 2014
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A blend of Syrah 52%, Carignan 27%, Malbec 21%. Big, plush and plummy nose, through the mask of a little recent bottling reduction. Quite lifted too, some floral and violetty notes again. Rich and chocolaty palate, that bit of drying tannin grip, but lovely and finishes fruit dry and spice. It is not in UK at time of writing, but would retail around £30.
Odfjell, Aliara 2011
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Malbec and Syrah, this has that touch of mint and menthol to the cassis, quite stongly dominated by the Cabernet, the palate so smooth, so minty, with really plush and seductive tannins, it has a fine sandy tannin quality, good acidity and a lovely framework, a structure that the sweet fruit drapes over beautifully.
to return to Chile 2016 – Going Underground
Volcanes de Chile
Volcanes de Chile is imported into the UK by Stone, Vine & Sun
(2016) From Leyda, a pungent, flinty and elderflower nose, but 10% ageing in barrels also gives a soft creamy note, a hint of oatmeal and then those leafy tones as well as ripe, peachy, orangy fruit. The palate has a rich mouthfeel, but there’s a tropical nectarine and pineapple quality to the fruit, real richness and a certain fat and texture, all that sweetness playing against fresh, lightly salty minerality from granitic and calcareous soils.
Volcanes de Chile, Tectonia Pinot Noir 2014
Bío Bío, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) From Bio Bio and volcanic soils known in Chile as Trumao – red clay. From a foggy spot. Very nice Pinot nose, with a lovely truffle and mushroom character, a certain smokiness, a beetrooty note and delicious ripe plum fruit. Silky palate, so much sweet fruit, sappy, earthy, lovely subtle spice. Long too. A great Chilean pinot, with velvety tannins.
Volcanes de Chile, Tectonia Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Maipo, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Maipo fruit. Colluvial material from the volcanos. A minty, eucalypt nose, with a touch of smokiness and good black fruit, dark berries. The palate has a great juicy concentration of cassis, with a tart plum and cherry skin acidity, and again the tannins are ripe and creamy-smooth. The structure is there, but it’s a tight framework of tannins and acids draped by that sweet black fruit and creamy oak.
(2016) A blend of 43% Grenache, 38% Petite Sirah, 17% Mourvedre. A really tight, glossy black fruit nose, some softer red berry notes adding brightness, a touch of nutty and smoky character, but the creamy and glossy sweet fruit dominates. The palate is filled with rich, thick black fruit, like biting into the flesh of a ripe black plum, that little bite of acidity and tannin from the skins, but the sweet-fleshed generosity is gorgeous.
Volcanes de Chile, Parinacota 2012
Maule, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Maule fruit, 15 months in oak. 70% Syrah and 30% Carignan from dry farmed vineyards. Named after a volcano on the border with Bolivia, which has the highest lake in Chile that is home to colonies of flamingos. A touch closed, but a deep and meaty fruit richness comes through with swirling, and a full, dry extract weight of fruit, quite dry and grippy, but with delicious fruitcake and prune ripeness.
to return to Chile 2016 – Going Underground
Caliterra
Caliterra, DSTNTO 2015
Colchagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A Malbec-based blend, this is a little bit reductive, then the palate delivers juicy fruit, smoky, big dry tannic charcter. Sweet mid-palate fruit and bold and generously juicy.
Caliterra, Tributo Malbec 2013
Colchagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Captures the floral violet aspect of Malbec, loads of plummy, black fruit too. The palate has lovely structure, a tiny note of espresso, but great fruit richness and depth, creamy tannins. A lovely Malbec (with a tiny drop of Syrah). Price is for 2012, the vintage in the UK at time of writing.
Caliterra, Edicion Limitada 2013
Conchagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) A very smart French oak, polished quality to this Bordeaux blend, with plenty of fragrance and a little lifted, spice and floral note atop deep black fruit. Very spicy on the palate, wth a little less out and out charm than the Tributo arguably, but it is impressively intense in the finish, real meaty grip and concentration.
Caliterra, Tributo Carmenere 2014
Colchagua, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Has a touch of olive and balsamic quality, another rich and full wine,with plenty of structure and mouth-filling tannin, drying and meaty, a big, powerful wine, plenty of oak, stuffing and power. Price quoted is for the 2013 vintage.
Casa Marin
(2016) Rich honey and nutty character, a big generous wine compared to the Sauvignons in some ways, with a bow towards peachy ripeness, but once again that rush of austere acidity, with the ultra dry palate and some tingling juicy freshness.
Cousiño Macul
(2016) Solid and sweet cassis and black plum, licked with chocolate and smoky spice, but seriously sweet and ripe fruit, with a richness and gloss, though the chocolate smoothness of the tannins makes it very svelte and creamy. Good structure in a classic style, and very well done. 2013 not in UK at time of writing, so price quoted is for 2012.
Viña Leyda
Viña Leyda, Riesling Neblina 2013
Leyda, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 12.5% abv(2016) Delightful Riesling nose with gentle waxiness and saltiness in the baclground and a lovely sour apple and lemon fruit. Intensely dry with a chalky mineral acidity, very refreshing with lots of pithy lemon acidity. Price quoted is for the 2012 vintage - 2013 not in UK at time of writing.
(2016) Lovely quality here, a lot more richness and honey and lightly nutty/oatmeally character from the lees ageing, but again that thrilling salty blast of acidity, intense, concentrated and dry.
(2016) A soft edge to the colour and touches of beetrooty character though majoring on ripe fruit and a certain swirling smokiness. Juicy palte, the ripeness of the plummy fruit with a little chestnut. Quite a powerful Pinot, but not without finesse.
Viña Leyda, Single Vineyard Canelo Syrah 2013
Leyda, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) Huge perfume here, lots of smoky bacon and floral lift comnbining to give aromatic fireworks. Lovely palate with black fruits and some sweet smoky oak, but it is the gaminess and earthiness that comes through in a very northern Rhone style. Price quoted is for the 2012 vintage
Montes
Montes, Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Zappalar, Chile, Dry White, Screwcap, 13.5% abv(2016) Much more in the herbaceous style, punchy green with fabulous punchy palate too. Again it has that dryness and steeliness on the palate, really tart pithy acids.
Montes, Outer Limits Old Roots Cinsault 2014
Itata, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Smooth and chocolatey stuff, with plenty of dry extract character, sweet black fruit. Very juicy on the palate, well judged with dry but fine tannins.
Tabali
(2016) Richly fruited, not so much pungency but a lovely crispness and frsh apple clarity. Again this has the thrilling clarity and electric core of acidity, very long but bone dry and invigorating.
Tabali, Talinay Pinot Noir 2014
Limarí, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 13.5% abv(2016) Adds a little more fragrance than the Leyda Brisas, a little more soft and briary quality, soft earthiness. There’s a nice orangy freshness to this, and it is bone dry again, with good acidity and a tart cherry freshness. Price for the 2013 vintage.
Tabali, Roca Madre 2013
Limarí, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) From 1600 meteres. Richness and a violet and glossy blue/black quality. The palate has a meatier quality than the Caliterra, a roughening tannin that adds grip, and a tingling spicy character. Excellent.
Tabali, Reserva Caberent Sauvignon 2014
Limarí, Chile, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2016) Lift and fragrance here, an exotic spice and Sandalwood touch, the fruit bright, touching on minitness, but with a really solid tannin framework. The palate becomes really quite grippy, the tannins sandy and refined, but the sweet fruit in the background, swirling smokiness and an elegant tart cherry edge to the acidity. Price quoted for 2013 vintage - 2014 not in UK at time of writing.
to return to Chile 2016 – Going Underground