Sunday, January 5, 2014

Report from ... Wines of Chile Annual Tasting - October 8, 2013

It's the annual Chilean wine tasting in Toronto and with more than 100 wines in the room its hard to nail down a small list of favourites, so below I look at twenty-three of the best wines in the room, starting with the whites and moving to the reds; and for the most part these wines are not only great for sipping and serving at the table, but they are also great value for what's in the bottle ...

The White Wines ...
Emiliana 2012 Signos de Origen ($19.95)
Chardonnay / Roussanne / Marsanne / Viognier
nice pineapple and other tropical fruit with good acidity (****)
San Esteban 2012 In Situ Signature Wine Riverside Blend ($15.00)
Chardonnay / Viognier
smooth and creamy with nice leesy quality and grapefruit pith notes (*** 1/2+)
Santa Carolina 2012 Reserva Chardonnay ($11.95)
great fruit with hints of vanilla; love the apple and pear in this wine (****+)
Concha y Toro 2013 Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc ($11.95)
crisp and tasty - hints of grass and grapefruit pith (*** 1/2+)
Anakena 2011 Single Vineyard Viognier ($16.95)tropical, orange blossom and pineapple - very tasty (*** 1/2+)




 The Red Wines ...

Errazuriz 2011 Single Vineyard Carmenere ($22.95)
soft and smooth with chocolate / cherry mix (****+)
Montgras 2011 Intriga Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95)
even at over $20 this is great value is a wine full of smooth red fruit (****)

Montgras 2012 Antu by Ninquen, Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere ($16.95)
red and black fruit along with mint and touches of herbal (*** 1/2+)
Montgras 2012 Antu by Ninquen, Syrah ($16.95)
juicy raspberry and blackberry with nice vanilla notes (****)
Morande 2010 Gran Reserva Pinot Noir ($19.99)
cran-strawberry, violets with and inviting nose and pretty palate (****)

Perez Cruz 2010 Quelen ($49.00)
Petit Verdot / Cot / Carmenere
vanilla, cinnamon and gentle spices, smooth with red licorice on the finish (****)
San Pedro 2012 Epica ($14.95)
90% Cabernet Sauvignon / 5% Carmenere / 5% Syrah
Chile's answer to Apthic Red - red licorice, cherry, raspberry, smooth, sexy and a touch sweet (*** 1/2)
Santa Rita 2010 Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95)
smooth strawberry and lovely black cherry (*** 1/2+)
Siegel 2012 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.00)
smooth black raspberry, cherry with hits of mineral and tannnin (****)

Siegel 2012 Gran Crucero Limited Edition ($39.95)
45% Cabernet Sauvignon / 35% Carmenere / 25% Syrah
juicy and chocolatey with hints of white pepper and nice length of finish (****+)
Ventisquero 2012 Root 1, Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.95)
has depth of dark and red fruit, rich and seemingly thick in the mouth, plus some nice smoky vanilla notes (****)
Via 2011 Chilcas Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($17.95)
light cherry and strawberry with beet root notes, nice acidity and good spice; quite delicate (****+)

Villasenor 2009 Ensamblaje ($30.00)
Carmenere / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah
nice spice with blackberry, cassis, and black raspberry; easy drinking yet with nice complexity (****)
Volcanes de Chile 2012 Summit Reserva Cabernet Merlot ($10.99)
85% Cabernet Sauvignon / 15% Merlot
juicy cherry, hints of blueberry - pleasant and easy drinking (****)

Volcanes de Chile 2010 Parincota ($30.00)
70% Syrah / 30% Carignan
15 months in 30% new oak - nice intensity of blackberry, blueberry, smoke and cinnamon;
good spiciness on a very intense finish (****+)
Concha y Toro 2012 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere ($13.95)
blackberry fruit with mocha and coffee (*** 1/2+)
Concha y Toro 2011 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95)
this one is so juicy and so delicious - red fruit, chocolate, vanilla, black berry and hints of licorice (****+)
Calcu 2010 Winemaker's Selection ($27.95)
60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 25% Cabernet Franc / 15% Carmenere
lots of chocolate and cocoa powder, hints of dried blackberry and nicely spice (****+)


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