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August/September
2008
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Wine Review Archive - Chile, Merlot &
Blends
($12). Fairly
herbal, with moderate blackberry and
plum flavors that pick up a slightly
gamy edge on the finish. Ready to drink
now. (Robyn's Picks 07/07)
($19). Appealing smoky
herb aromatics and flavors add interest
to ripe red berry and plum flavors,
with a wave of chocolate and toasty
oak that lingers through the finish.
Nothing shy here -- all big flavors
and supple texture. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years. (Weekend
Wine 06/05)
($25). All the fruit-forwardness and juicy
character of New World wines, with a smoky
flinty quality that (I swear) makes me
think Pomerol – or at least St. Emilion.
Whatever – these are rich, full-bodied
wines with outstanding tannic structure
that makes them age worthy as well as
delicious. Priced around $25, they are
worth every penny. The 1999 Colchagua
Valley vintage was jammy and bursting
with concentrated red berry fruit, milk
chocolate and vanilla extract notes, and
a generous finish. I for one can’t
wait to taste the 2000! (Robyn's Picks,
02/02)
($19). Pretty red berry and plum flavors
are accented with loads of toasty, vanilla
oak and tobacco leaf notes. Ready to
drink now. (Robyn's Picks 07/07)
($15). Really liked this
wine -- and a bargain at $15. Offering
fresh ripe blackberry and plum flavors,
with good concentration, and layers
of accents that include mocha, toasty
oak, a touch of earth and a burst of
fresh fruit acidity at the finish. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine 01/05)
($14). Unbelievable value here, with rich
varietal fruit accented with generous
toasty oak, smooth mocha, and anise. Big
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next year or two. (Weekend Wine, 08/02)
($10). Cracked black pepper and loads
of rosemary accent the red fruit aromas
and flavors, showing some concentration
through the finish. Needs food to balance
the strong herbal character. Ready to
drink now. (Weekend Wine 01/05)
($10). A
great value, with ripe plum and blackberry
fruit, toasty oak, and a bit of appealing
earthiness that adds interest and dimension.
A fun wine -- ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine, 01/02)
($25). We're definitely
enthusiastic about Chilean wines these
days, but this one was a bit of a letdown.
Perfectly nice and drinkable, this wine
is fruit-driven and features juicy berry
and plum fruit with spicy oak and vanilla
bean notes. Nice finish. Ready to drink
now. We just expected a bit more from
a Reserve wine at $25! (Weekend Wine,
01/02)
($13). A lot of bang for the buck in
this medium-bodied Chilean Merlot, with
rich, ripe red cherry and berry fruit
laced with milk chocolate, toasty oak
and appealing spice. Lush finish. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/03)
($8). Not much
going on here, with rather simple red
fruit and little else. Ready to drink
now.(Weekend Wine , 10/03)
($17). A blend of Merlot (46%), Cabernet
Sauvignon (31%) and Carmenère
(23%). Offers smoky blackberry and plum
flavors and aromas on a smooth, medium-bodied
frame. Picks up allspice, bittersweet
chocolate and roasted herb notes through
the long finish. Shows some grip at
the end. Ready to drink now and over
the next year or two. (Weekend Wine
03/07)
($10). Don't we wish all $10 Merlots
were this good? Pretty and balanced,
with plush red plum aromas and flavors
laced with chocolate and lightly spicy
oak that lingers on the moderate finish.
Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 12/06)
($16).
Lipsmacking blueberry, tobacco and vanilla
aromas and flavors, picking up bittersweet
chocolate and toasty oak on the finish.
A blend of Merlot (43%), Cabernet Sauvignon
(36%) and Carmenere (21%) from Chile.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 04/06)
($15). Ripe and supple, with juicy cherry
and blackberry fruit spiked with toffee,
mocha and toasty oak. Complex finish lingers
beautifully. Another value from Chile.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/03)
($7). Really didn’t care for this
wine. Tasted overripe and a little funky;
hard to discern the fruit. (Winery Spotlight,
10/02)
(Chile, $10)
-- Sweet juicy red fruit framed by layers
of oak, chocolate, coffee, and a bit of
earthiness make this easy and most enjoyable
to drink. Ready now. (Weekend Wine, 10/00)
($11). Dusty, earthy aromas
and flavors accent ripe red berry and
plum fruit. Roasted coffee and spicy oak
accents on the moderate finish. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 12/03)
($12). Spicy blackberry and blueberry
aromas introduce waves of ripe berry flavors
laced with baking spices and mocha notes
that linger on the finish. Ready to drink
now and over the next year or two. (Weekend
Wine 07/04)
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