Sensaciones Reserva Shiraz 2007

15.5 / 20

Producer: Chateau los Boldos

Region: Valle de Rappel

Country: Chile

Ruby on the glass, the nose on this Chilean Shiraz is clearly new world, with a strong vanilla and oak side to it, sharing center stage with a lot of intense ripe fruit, some spices and maybe a hint of flowers. As it breathes, there also appears a vegetable layer, sometimes bringing to mind a new world Cabernet Sauvignon.

Round and fruit-forward in the mouth, it strikes a good balance between a balanced acidity, oak and vanilla and ripe, almost jammy fruit. Strong finish, persistent, with lots of sweet fruit but thankfully a fresher acidity also comes into play, keeping it interesting.

Tasted on 2012-04-11

Chateau los Boldos Cuvée Tradition Sauvignon Blanc 2010

15.0 / 20

Producer: Chateau los Boldos

Region: Valle de Cachapoal

Country: Chile

Light golden in the glass, this Sauvignon Blanc from Chile has and interesting, although restrained bouquet. On first impact, a lot of tropical fruits - pineapple and passion fruit - appear. Discreetly, a vegetable streak also comes up.

Lightly structured in the palate, with vegetable and tropical fruit notes in a soft but interesting body. Acidity is quite controlled and there's a definite round feel to this. Average length finale wraps up an interesting, if not overwhelmingly exciting taste.

Tasted on 2012-02-02

El Cerrillo 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Bodegas Santo Domingo

Region: Colchagua Valley

Country: Chile

Greenish hue on the glass, this chilean blend of Chardonnay and Semillion turned out to be, in my opinion, quite interesting.

Tropical fruit on the nose, along with some more mineral notes, like rubber, it's the palate that delivers a few surprises. Fresh and dry, with a nice and interesting structure, it shows some pleasant spices notes - the semillion, maybe? - that give the wine an unexpected twist.

The ending is also noteworthy, since it reveals some lime and lemon - and just a hint of honey - in a dry, average length finale.

Tasted on 2011-10-08

Cono Sur Gewurztraminer 2010

15.5 / 20

Producer: Cono Sur

Region: Valle Central

Country: Chile

Straw yellow in color, this Gewurztraminer has an opulent and rich nose, filled with lychees and roses, along with other tropical fruits on the background (passion fruit came to mind).

The taste is equally rich and fruit filled, with loads of lychees again. A very noticeable floral side also marks the taste, resulting in a light, soft wine that still manages to carry a very good acidity, keeping it very fresh despite the richness of the fruits. Finishes with a medium persistence, in an elegant and relaxed fashion.

Interesting balance between acidity and the sweeter notes brought by the tropical fruits, this is an ideal wine to be enjoyed by itself in a summer late afternoon.

Would love to try this with a mild curry. I think it should be a great pairing.

Tasted on 2011-07-11

Casillero del Diablo Carmenere 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Concha Y Toro

Region: Vale de Rapel

Country: Chile

Carmenere is a grape type exclusive to Chile. Originally used in France, all vines were destroyed in the early 19th century by phylloxera. It was rediscovered in Chile in 1994. Like Malbec in Argentina, Carmenere seems to have found a good terroir in Chile and is quickly becoming Chile's flagship wine.

This one, from Concha Y Toro, is a very dark wine, almost purple. The aromas start in a definite vegetable, green fashion, reminiscent of bellpeppers. These are later subdued and replaced with intense, rich dark plums along with some nice oak/toast. Very attractive and intense, in a typical new world fashion.

Good fruit-forward mouth, vibrant and fresh, showing some dry, marked tannins that are maybe a bit too hard right now.

The finish is marked by dark plums, again, along with the same vegetable notes found in the bouquet. Good persistence.

Still a very young wine, it is already very drinkable and enjoyable. But maybe a year or so down the road will help those tannins tame a bit and make it even more enjoyable.

For me, a good first experience with Carmenere - will try to find more.

Tasted on 2011-07-03

Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006

16.0 / 20

Producer: Viña Montes

Region: Valle de Casablanca

Country: Chile

This wine as a bit of a surprise. I expected a new world chardonnay to be an oaked, heavy and buttery wine. Instead, I found a lively, dry and fresh wine. Although the aromas hinted of sweet fruit, there was a hint of some aspargus as well. In the mouth, it was dry, showing some fruit and a clear acidity. The alcohol shows itself a bit too much in the end. Refreshing to find a chardonnay that does not rely on wood all the way, although I think the alcohol should be a bit less upfront.

Great company for an oven cooked snapper.