On September 25th Vancouver hosted its annual Wines of Chile consumer tasting event to showcase the range of wines Chile is producing. If you were there then you had a chance to drink some amazing wines. If you weren't there, then allow me to walk you through what I tasted, and the influencers I met along the way.
Anakena
This winery is a perennial favourite of mine among the Chilean wineries.
- Riserva Chardonnay 2007 is spicy and very full bodied, and this year there's no malolactic fermentation.
- For $13 their 2007 Carmenere is a steal.
- Chile makes some great cool climate wines, and Anakena's Pinot Noir has a vibrant orange zest nose with woodsy and cherry flavours.
- Check out ONA, their Bordeaux style blend. It has good balance with lots of fruit and great tannins.
Icon Wines
Chile has been known for providing value, and one of the goals of this event is to introduce you and me to their higher end offerings. It's a real shame that so few of the examples they chose are available in local liquor stores. Regardless, there are times when you'll be traveling and find these available, so you should know about them and try them when you can.
- Santa Alicia Gran Reserva de los Andes Merlot 2005. This is a big, rich Merlot that I'd like to serve to Merlot haters so I could change their minds about this grape that's so often boring.
- Erazuriz Max Reserva 2006 is a blend of 96% Cab Sauv and 4% Petit Verdot. It's got huge ripe fruit up front, and would be a good move up for new world wine drinkers who are used to middle of the road fruity Australian Shirz. It's 14.5% alcohol packs a punch. This one's available and it's only $20. A definite good buy for home and for friends.
- Santa Carolina VSC 2006 blend of Cab Sauv, Carmenere, Malbec and Petit Verdot isn't available in town, but look for it elsewhere if you have a chance. It's very dark with black fruit, berries, plum, and baking spice.
Casas del Bosque
The best of this winery isn't available locally, but it was so good that I have to rave about it.
- Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008. Wow! Tropical fruit and gooseberry nose blasts into nectarine on the tongue. Seriously yum. Not to be confused with the Reserva Sauv Blanc 2008 which is available here, and is much lighter and not quite as elegant. $18 in BC liquor stores.
- 2007 Chardonnay is available at Liberty for about $18. Like most of the Chilean Chards I've tried it's full bodied and toasty, but this one doesn't lose the fruit which is a nice surprise.
- They also have a Reserva Syrah for $22 at private stores, and a Reserva Cab for $21 that's in government stores.
Check back soon for Part 2 featuring Concha Y Toro, Emiliana Vineyards, Geo and my interview with Juan Somavia, managing director of Wines of Chile.
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