Chile

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

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has a lot of Christmas spices on it with a bit of black cherry fruit.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there are firm tannins.  Solid black cherry fruit.  This got better with a bit of air.  Nice balance.  Another very good un der $20 value wine from Chile.  Drink over the next five years.  This drinks well on its own and would work nice with a burger or ribs off the grill.  

We drank two bottles of this, blind and side by side, with consistent results.  One purchased in Washington D.C and one purchased in Cleveland, Ohio.  There wasn't a lot of bottle variation.  This wine is a great value in an easy drinking red.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, smoke, maybe a hint of rosemary.  Drinking nicely with no tannins.  A good wine for a large party or BBQ.  Drink over the next couple of years.  This will work well with a burger and drinks fine on its own.  

This is a Bordeaux styled blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Carmenere, 11% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc from Chile.  It is also a very nice value for the quality.  Purple at the core with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens up to cassis, coffee and spice.  Nothing green on the nose.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, smoke and fresh tobacco.  Medium tannins.  Softer texture.  This is surprisingly open right from the start.  There is a nice complexity.  It drinks easily now and should continue for the next ten to twelve years.  A nice m