Past Issues: Drinks with Les Dames, feb/mar
2008 --
Cecilia Torres, Santa Rita
Wine Skinny Managing Editor Robyn Tinsley
is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an
international organization of women in the
food, beverage and hospitality professions.
Les Dames (or LDEI)
is a great community-based group that offers
a supportive network to its members and
participates in local educational and philanthropic
efforts like the LDEI
Civic Agriculture & Garden Initiative.
These are also some women who can really
get into a wine tasting, if you know what
we mean! Each issue, we'll bring
you the results of a Drinks with Les Dames
tasting -- what they liked, what they didn't,
food pairing ideas, and more.
We're broadening the scope of this ongoing
features - in addition to keeping up with
the goings-on of Les Dames d'Escoffier,
we'll be spotlighting the accomplishments
of women in the wine industry.
 For
example, Santa Rita's Cecilia Torres
was recently named the 2007 Chilean Winemaker
of the Year by Guia de Vinos de Chile, Chile's
most prestigious wine guide, created by
winemakers, sommeliers, journalists and
consumers. As the first woman to ever receive
the award, Torres has yet another reason
to be proud of her work with one of Chile's
largest and most prolific wineries.
Founded in 1880 in Chile's Maipo Valley,
Santa Rita was one of the first to pioneer
plantings of European grape varieties in
Chile. In 1980, the estate was acquired
by its present owner, Grupo Claro and has
shown remarkable growth under their direction.
These days the winery makes about 1.2 million
cases annually, making it one of the country's
top three wine producers. The range is equally
impressive, from high-end wines like the
Floresta and Triple C lines to some darn
good values in the 120 Series and "Reserve"
lines.
I had the opportunity to sit down with
Torres over lunch recently and taste a little
bit of this and that from Santa Rita's broad
portfolio. We had a great time, and the
wines offered a few surprises!
By far the most memorable was the
($45). Bold and concentrated, with black
currant and dark chocolate aromas and flavors
layered with pretty spices and toasty vanilla.
Lots of oak going on here, but the fruit
is so intense that it all seems to balance
out. Long, tightly wound finish. Ready to
drink now and over the next four or five
years.
Also in the top tier wines was the ($61). Pretty and aromatic,
with blackberry, sweet tobacco, clove, vanilla
and a touch of earth on a smooth, supple
frame. Lingering finish. Should age nicely.
Ready to drink now and over the next three
or four years.
At the other end of the portfolio was the
($9). A tasty little
wine that (thankfully) steered away from
green and headed straight for ripe, with
smooth plum and silky chocolate flavors
accented with just a dash of earthiness.
Would be a winner with casual backyard barbecue
or even a grilled hamburger. Ready to drink
now.
Here are a few other Santa Rita wines we've
tasted lately:
($19). Just an outstanding
value, with concentrated, beautifully structured
blackberry, currant and blueberry fruit
laced with earthy dark chocolate, espresso
and roasted herbal notes that fold into
a long, deep finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next three or four years.
($56). Blockbuster
stuff, with rich black currant and blackberry
flavors accented with sweet tobacco, earth,
mocha and exotic spices. Nothing shy about
this wine, from start to full-bodied finish,
with some definite grip throughout. A blend
of 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon,
15% Carménère. Ready to drink
now and over the next four or five years.
($56). A great example of how well Santa
Rita's upper-tier wines can age, this one
has smoothed out a bit and has taken on
a lusher quality than when it was first
released. Rich, ripe blackberry and currant
flavors, with roasted coffee, bittersweet
chocolate and sweet, smoky earthy notes
that fold together on a long finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next four or five
years.
Learn more about Santa Rita and its
wines at www.santarita.com.
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