Chile

This is Cabernet Sauvignon 94.5%, Carmenere 3%, and Syrah 2.5%.  Purple at the core with ruby color at the outside, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis and slight pencil lead and cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis and char.  Slightly complex.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This should improve a bit over the next year or two and drink well for seven to ten more after that.  A truly excellent value in Cabernet.  Delicious on its own, this will work well with roasted vegetables, meats or fowl.

It is not clear if this is a vintage wine.  The back label states "Assemblage 2018".  It is a blend of 31% Cabernet Franc, 26% Syrah, 22% Carmenere, 11% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Made from organic grapes.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an interesting minty streak.  Also some black pepper and a slight floral not with a bit of air.  On the palate, medium tannins.  Notes of black cherries and black raspberries.  Some peppery notes.  Nice finish.  This improved with about an hour of air.  Somewhat complex and very interesting.  This should drink

This is 90% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carménère, and 3% Petit Verdot from Chile.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with tobacco and black cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, and roasted Rosemary notes.  A bit of cherry candy on the finish.  Overall a more elegant Cab Franc that is drinking well now and should continue for the next decade.  This will work well with lamb stew or other slowly braised meat dishes.  

Just a bit behind the 2016 version but very similar.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, rosemary and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there has a soft texture.  Light tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  This is drinking well and should continue for another five to seven years.  A nice wine on its own and would work well with most roasted chicken or duck.  

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Merlot 5%, and Petit Verdot (5%).  In Chile this qualifies as a Cabernet but in the EU it does not for example (must be 85%).  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and smoke.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is ripe with good black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Nice acidity.  Seems to be close to peak.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Drinks well on its own, this would work well with chili con carne.  

As good a value as the regular wine is, the Grande Reserve isn't much more expensive for a step or two more in quality.  This took about thirty minutes to open up.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, rosemary and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some depth here.  Light tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and should continue for another five to seven years.  A nice wine on its own and would work well with most meat, fowl or pork dishes.  

Nice to try this with about 14 years of age behind it.  This is still youthful.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice, cigar box, and slight rosemary.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, slight black cherries over tobacco.  Delicious.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but should easily go another twelve to fifteen years.  Drinks well on its own but will work better with food.  A steak or other grilled meats would work well.  

And, yet another really solid, under $20 Cabernet from Chile.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, spice and slight rosemary.  On the palate, this has some sweetness to.  Perhaps some slight residual sugar or just ripe fruit.  With air that quality integrates a bit.  Firm tannins.  Cherry and black cherry fruit.  This drinks nicely on its own but would work with roasted fowl.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is a joint project with Baron Philippe Rothschild and Conch y Toro.  It is one of the top reds made in Chile although not technically a  Cabernet with  66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carménère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

One of the things Chile does well is making under $20 Cabernets that deliver for the price point.  This is another one.  It was very tight on opening but with about an hour of air, it got where it was going.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but then shows black cherries, spice and a slight roasted herb note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Black cherry fruit.  This drinks easy with no tannins.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next three to five years.  It drinks well on its own and will work with brisket or other fatty meat