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As you’ll know, Chile is good at making reasonably priced wines which taste reasonable. Chile has positioned itself as a reliable producer of cheaper wines that aren’t too bad at all. At £4.99, Chile is hard to beat, but we don’t always want change from a fiver. Some big brands, such as Cono Sur and Concha y Toro, have done better than that and give us those reasonably priced wines which are actually very good, and more expensive wines that sometimes make the earth move.
This tasting was made up of cheaper wines, although I hadn’t specified a price range. However, one wine was a little more expensive and a lot, lot better. Next time you find yourself wanting Chilean wine, try adding a few extra quid. The average price of the other wines was £4.60, and our favourite was £8.69, or £6.95 if you buy 2, at Majestic. £6.95 is a very reasonable price for Concha y Toro, Winemaker’s “Rucahue Lot 12” 2006.
As you’ll see below, the other wines were fine. Reasonable wines you’d talk over. However, the Rucahue, which no doubt is pronounced very strangely at home in Chile, was a conversation stopper. The smell was very inviting, with oak, mint and intense fruit. Lorraine said it smelt like a real wine. The bubbles on pouring were dark purple and it stained the glass. It was tasty, delicious and savoury, with some coffee on the finish. I gave the taste 8.5 out of 10, which is something I do about twice a year. It had 14.5% alcohol, but it didn’t seem excessively hot, because the flavour was so intense.
Actually, Vina Chilcaya 2005, which is a very reasonable £5.55 from Somerfield was pretty good, as well. It wasn’t in the same league as the Rucahue, but is a creditable wine to have in the house. It’s quite often reduced in price and certainly worth stocking up on, especially if you buy 6 and get a further discount. It smells freshly and beautifully of garden mint and freshly picked blackcurrants. Lorraine found the mint too much for her, but the rest of us loved it. It had fresh, clean, zingy acidity wity garden mint and blackcurrants in the mouth as well.
Sainsbury’s SO Organic 2006 is £4.99 and smells nicely of vanilla and incense. It has quite a sweet, syrupy taste and is nicely herbal. The price is perfectly judged. Co-op Chilean Merlot 2006 is £3.99 and is simple, fruity, quaffing wine. The alcohol is 13.5% but seems higher. If you’re on a tight budget and your friends don’t care much, this is fine, but the following wine is even cheaper.
Santa Lucia Chilean Merlot NV is only £2.99 from Aldi. It has a screwcap, which is ideal for a party. If you really don’t care, this wine isn’t nasty. It smells of raspberry flavouring and the taste is sweet and simple. It’s cheap in both senses of the word.
Marks & Spencer’s Casa Leona was unacceptably dull. It had very little smell and the alcohol seemed too high. This is unusual for M& S and also for Chile. Perhaps just a duff bottle.