Chilean Wine Overview/Blowout!

Posted by Edmund in Chile, Wine & Liquor | 0 comments

Wow, I can’t believe it’s already been 9 months of posting already! And in that 9 months, I’ve done quite a few wine reviews!

I know by now, though, that some of you must be sick of Argentine wines (after all, I have gone through 140 of them), so I’m going to turn my attention now to some other countries for a while, the first of which is in Chile. While studying in Argentina, I actually did have the chance to travel through Chile and do a wine-tasting expedition.

Unfortunately, the notes that I took on Chilean wines were lost immediately after I returned to Argentina. Still, I was lucky enough to notice in time to write down whatever I could remember of what I consider to be the best of the 50 or so wines I tasted in Chile.  While I can’t give a flavor profile for each wine, I will provide my personal score and a general description of each (region, varietal, and year, if I remember or can ascertain).

Also, be sure to check out the new Chilean Wine mini-section under the Helpful Notes Wine Page!

My recommendations are as follows:

Best of Bunch

Errazuriz Cenit, 2005
Viña Errazuriz
Unavailable on Wine-searcher
Overall Score: 4.5/5.0

Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve  (I’ve forgotten the year)
Viña Perez Cruz
About $13-$14 on Wine-searcher.
Overall Score: 4.3/5.0
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Keepers

Viña Von Siebenthal Montelig (I’ve forgotten the exact year, but there are only 2)
$64 for the 2003 on Wine-searcher. $58-$64 for the 2004 (though 1 vendor is selling it for $90).
Overall Score: 4.2+

EQ Matetic Syrah
I’ve forgotten the year, but the 2005 goes for $23-$27 (though 1 vendor is selling it for $33), and the 2004 for $25.
Overall Score: 4.2

Viu Manent “Viu” 2007
Viña Viu Manent
100% Malbec
$70 on Wine-searcher.com
Overall Score: 4.2. Very good for a Malbec. Stands up to most of the ones in Argentina with no problems. Only problem is the value. You can find as good, if not better, among Argentine wines for less.

Montes Alpha M 2003
Viña Montes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot
About $60-$80 on Wine-searcher.com
Overall Score: 4.2. This isn’t the greatest value among Chilean wines, nor among the wines of Montes in general. More like a 4.0, adjusted for value.

Montes Folly Syrah 2007
Viña Montes
100% Syrah
$50-$75 on Wine-searcher.
Overall Score: 4.3/5.0. 4.0 when adjusted for value. Horrible value—again, there are much better wines for the price range, and probably much better Syrahs in other parts of the world for less. Still, it is the best wine of Montes and surprisingly very good for a Syrah.

Montes Purple Angel (I’ve lost the year)
Viña Montes
92% Carmenere, 8% Petit Verdot
The 2006 ranges from $43-$64 on Wine-searcher, and the 2005 from $40-$50.
Overall Score: 4.3/5.0. 4.0 when adjusted for value. There are probably much better wines for $50, but this is still the cheapest wine from Montes and perhaps the wine most symbolic of Chile. It is also the 2^nd best wine of Montes.

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Keepers for Value (i.e. all the scores are adjusted for value)

Montgras Quatro 2006
Viña Montgras
53.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.15% Malbec, 14.15% Syrah, 18.0% Carmenère
$12-$18 on Wine-searcher.
Overall Score: 4.3. Top Choice of all Value Wines

Viu Manent Malbec Secreto
Viña Viu Manent
85% Malbec, 15% a secret (Only the enologist knows the 15%. In Chile, wineries may label any wine after the main varietal of grape used if that grape constitutes at least 85% of the wine)
$10-$12 on Wine-searcher.
Overall Score: 4.2/10. Surprisingly, very good for a Chilean Malbec, to the point that it can beat most of the Malbecs in Argentina, and it has in some international competitions. For $10, this is easily one of the best wines I’ve tasted, and for its $10 price point this wine gets a value rating of about 4.8.

Viu Manent Secreto Syrah
Viña Viu Manent
85% Syrah, 15% a secret. (Only the enologist knows the 15%. In Chile, wineries may label any wine after the main varietal of grape used if that grape constitutes at least 85% of the wine)
$10-$16.50 on Wine-searcher.
Overall Score: 4.2/10. For $10, this is easily one of the best wines I’ve tasted, though, and I’d easily give it a value rating of 4.8 (if I could get it for $10).