Felix Solis Avantis, Casa Solis, Carmenère, 2023, Chile
I generally like Carmenère very much but this one was quite a disappointment. It was flat, non descript and lacked that Carmenère wow. On the positive side it was drinkable and easy to knock back and tasted of red wine, it just lacked that solid black fruit flavours, oak, tobacco and intensity that you should get with a Carmenère.
Torreon de Paredes, Carmenère, 2020, Chile
Chile makes great Carmenère but this Torreon de Paredes from 2020 is outstanding. Soft and silky the tannins are subtle just doing their thing in the background. Aromas and flavours of plum, blackcurrant and hints of chocolate and tobacco with a little oak and smoke rounding it off. At £26 a bottle it’s not cheap but worth it.
Santa Rita, Triple C, 2020, Maipo Valley, Chile
If you like red wine then I suggest you just buy it, because this Triple C from Santa Rita is one of the best reds I have ever tasted.
A Bordeaux blend of Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Carmenere its a bold, dry red, with firm tannins and long black plum and blackberry flavour’s. There chunks of chocolate and a smokey, earthiness sitting in the background, oak and vanilla round this off beautifully.
At £15 a bottle from Majestic its a steal. Fantastic.
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot this red wine from the Maipo Valley has lots going on. Dry and rich it’s boldness would make this best with red meat. That said there are plenty of flavours of blackcurrent with cherry and hints of raspberry, with a little chocolate and vanilla in the background. The oak is a little heavy for me but that’s more personal.
At £15 a bottle it’s a bit pricy but worth a try.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Escudo Rojo, Grand Reserve, 2020, Chile
Chile produces great red wines and this Carmenere is a great example. Its bold, dry withĺ great length and softness that gives a feeling of exceptional quality, but at £15 a bottle it’s amazing value. There is tons of flavour with black fruits, plums, cherry and hits of tobacco, oak, vanilla, pepper and hints of coffee and mint.
San Pedro, Altair, 2017, Cachapoal, Chile
San Pedro know how to make wine and this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with a smaller proportion of Cabernet Franc and Syrah is quite amazing. There lots of black and red fruit, tobacco and coffee notes which have great length and smoothness on the taste buds. Its like an electric car, quiet, smooth and making you wonder why you have not got a cellar full of it. Then the price rears its head – at £40 a bottle that’s why you don’t have a cellar full of it. But a bottle or 2?
Indomita, Gran Reserva, Pinot Noir, 2020, Chile
I love Chile Pinot Noir and this one from Indomita is very good. I’m not sure its in the same league as Morande Pinot Noir but its half the price on a mix 6 at Majestic.
Dry, smooth and reasonable light with aromas of red fruit and notes of oak and coffee. There are flavours of redcurrant, strawberry, herbs and vanilla with hints of eathiness. Its the price where this really scores, at £8 a bottle its well worth buying.
TerraNoble, Lahuen, 2017, Chile
Chilean wine is great stuff in general, this red from Terranoble is excellent. This red has aromas of red fruit, oak and spice notes. the flavours are well integrated the smoothness is quite wonderful.
Of course there’s a but here and its with the price. £30 a bottle is way too much.Its very good but half it and its worth getting.
Maipo valley produces a lot of Chilean wine and most of it is actually really good, it’s consistent. I think this is a really good example Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon although not sure the Gran Reserva label adds to the taste.
It’s a dry red thats pretty bold with firm tannings. The aromas of red fruit, leather and a slight smokiness on the nose which is joined by plum and oak on the taste which has good length and under £10 a bottle this is really good value definitely ones are having especially with a lump of meat, game bird or tomato pasta dish.
Indomita, Gran Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017, Maipol, Chile
This Tali, Wild Swan Merlot from Chile is produced by I’ve been out that is a champion wildlife preservation and it is under £8 bottle from the co-op in the UK. It’s a pretty typical supermarket Merlot lots of fruit, plum, cherry and redcurrant with notes of blackberry and minerals. You can taste the heat of the Central Valley in the fruit. Low to medium tannins and reasonably dry. It’s easy drinking and cheap which sometimes what you need.
Yali, Wild Swan, Merlot, 2018, Chile