Mayu Selected Vineyards Syrah 2008

I was pleased to see this on offer from Waitrose. I am a big fan of Chilean Syrah, and quite frankly we don't see enough of it in the shops.

Mayu's Reserva bottling is frequently bandied about as a 5 star wine, and it's dirt cheap as well (I think it's around £12 if you can find it). It looks like I didn't give it a particularly great review (3/5) but I remember it being good at least. Some of the more recent Syrah I've had from Chile has made more of an impression though.

Either way this was worth trying and I did like it. Chilean Syrah has it's own character. Yes it has the pepper and spice and all that, but it also has a sharp, almost sour (in a good, savoury way) character to it that I always recognize, and it immediately makes my mouth water. It can be a bit rich - it's good for slow sipping. It has some chocolate notes as well which makes chocolate the first food match to come to mind when trying to pair a particularly rich example.

As far as this example goes, I think it's a good wine at a good price and would recommend stocking up before Feb. 15th when the offer ends.

Mayu

Selected Vineyards Syrah 2008

Elqui Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£6.99 (£9.49)

3/5

San Pedro Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009

Watershed moment. Good, cheap Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. I'll spare you the cliché tasting notes - we all know what this tastes like. The point is, it costs less than £7 and it isn't grim. In fact, it's good.

Perhaps its origin is a clue. It's from the Elqui Valley, which is among the highest (and therefore coolest) of Chile's vineyards. I am a big fan of Syrah from this region, and it's basically the reason I took a chance on this wine.

So, I encourage you to give this a try while it's on offer. This is good competition for Marlborough, New Zealand wines.

San Pedro

Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009

Elqui Valley, Chile

Majestic

£7.99 (£6.39 when you buy 2 or more)

3.5/5

Dona Paulina Chardonnay 2009

This is the last of my wines from the uh, budget-priced Dona Paulina range from the Wine Society. So far I haven't really enjoyed any of them, and this is no exception.

The problem with these cheaper wines is they don't have varietal character. This could have been anything. It wasn't offensive. It tasted like wine, but what kind of wine? Who knows? If someone handed me a glass of this in a pub I would have struggled - it could have been a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a blend, a Chardonnay, etc. It's just generic and boring.

Yes, it's cheap. Yes, it's not totally disgusting. For £2 more you can do much better.

Dona Paulina

Chardonnay 2009

Casablanca Valley, Chile

The Wine Society

£4.75

2/5

The Society's Chilean Syrah 2007

I'm becoming a fan of Chilean Syrah, especially from the northern Limari and Elqui valleys. It's more Rhone than Aussie Shiraz, and even at ridiculously low prices you get powerful, concentrated, characterful wines.

This example is from the Elqui Valley, and at £6.50 is a steal. It's a bit rougher around the edges than say the Maycas del Limari offering, but it's quite good, especially for this price.

Cliché tasting notes of these wines include black pepper and meat. I'm not sure I get that with this one, but I get what I think is a typical 'dark fruit' type character. Although these wines are 100% Syrah they remind me of southern Rhone wines from Lirac and Chateauneuf-du-Pape (which include Grenache among other things). Perhaps it's the high alcohol and ripe fruit. Either way, Chilean Syrah is good, and it's a new favourite of mine.

The Society's Chilean Syrah 2007

Elqui Valley, Chile

The Wine Society

£6.50

3/5

Dona Paulina Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

The Merlot got a 2, this gets a bit more.

This has a little more depth to it, and we were saying things like 'it's not that bad', or 'it's OK'. Structured, dense and serious? Certainly not. Party glugger? Why not? Plus, it doesn't have any cheap and nasty flavours to it.

Quick note: it looks like the prices of these have gone up since I ordered last week - they were £4.50 then.

Dona Paulina

Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Rapel Valley, Chile

The Wine Society

£4.75

2.5/5

Dona Paulina Merlot 2009

Both Dona Paulina Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon get rave reviews from Wine Society customers. They are both under £5, and if the reviews are to be believed, ideal candidates for glugging or party wine (at least that's what I would buy them for).

I didn't really like the Merlot. Yes, it's fresh, fruity and juicy, but I just don't like the flavour - a bit of a cheap taste comes through, and my days of buying wine like this are pretty much over. However, considering you can pay £8 for something like this from the supermarket makes it good value. A lot of people like this sort of wine. I don't, not because I'm a snob but because I know I can get something I would enjoy much more for maybe another pound.

Dona Paulina
Merlot 2009
Rapel Valley, Chile
The Wine Society
£4.75
2/5

Maycas del Limari Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Encouraged by tasting the Maycas del Limari Syrah recently, I decided to try their Sauvignon Blanc, also on offer at Sainsbury's.

Unfortunately it doesn't really measure up to the Syrah, although I wonder if it's just too old. It's a 2007, and I think Sauvignon Blanc is one of those wines best drunk young. It still has zippy acidity, but not much fruit. It has some varietal tomato-leaf character, and is thankfully devoid of that foul lingering rotten vegetable taste that some Chilean Sauvignon Blancs have.

I wouldn't buy it again. However, if a newer vintage came along at the same price I would try it, but that's now just running on the currency of the excellent Syrah.

Concha y Toro

Maycas del Limari Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Limari Valley, Chile

Sainsbury's

£6.74 (£8.99)

2.5/5

Maycas del Limari Syrah 2007

If anyone's disappointed with the premature end of the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference sale, then perhaps there's an alternative. This great value Chilean Syrah is on offer as well.

Again, I can't be too accurate with the price, as I have this bad (or good) habit of throwing out junk, including receipts. I can't stand clutter, and I always figure I can just look up the price online. But this was from my Sainsbury's fine wine section, and it's not available online, nor does it appear on any of the supermarket offer sites.

It's normally somewhere between £8 and £9 at various places, but it was on for £6-something at my Sainsbury's. It's also currently on for 18% off at Tesco online, where it's also apparently a 'non-vintage' wine. Come on Tesco - how hard is this?

Various wine writers were recommending this as far back as 2008, and I can see why. It has good structure, intense flavour and a nice, long complex finish. A bit of chocolate and mint character for those who need notes. Syrah from the Limari Valley (and Elqui Valley) are impressive and affordable. This bottle would have been good value at full price, never mind the discount.

UPDATE: It's on for £6.74 and is regularly £8.99.

Concha y Toro

Maycas del Limari Syrah 2007

Limari Valley, Chile

Sainsbury's

£6.74 (£8.99)

4/5

Isla Negra Reserva Merlot Rosé 2008

I first tried this at a café in Battersea park. I think it was last summer, but it may have been the one before that. It stuck in my mind, I remembered it. I thought it was strange that I liked a Chilean rosé so much. Usually I drink French rosé - Australian rosé is generally horrible, and unless you want to pay £10 - £12 for Pinot Noir rosés from New Zealand, France is my best option.

This is of the darker red style, one I usually don't really like. However it has a very tasty fruit character, with none of the oily bitterness that seems to accompany this style. I won't over-complicate things - it's just really tasty. The price is weird - £9? I got it for half-price, and I'd say that's a good deal. I'd pay £6 for it, but £9 is too much.

Isla Negra

Reserva Merlot Rosé 2008

Central Valley, Chile

Tesco

£4.49 (£8.99)

3.5/5

Isla Negra Cabernet Sauvignon

I confess I don't even know what vintage this was - we drank the bottle then immediately disposed of it, and now that I've finally got around to posting about it I don't know all the details (is it a 'Reserva'?). It's the one that was just half price at Tesco. Not very professional, but hey, I'm not getting paid for this. Also, I suspect it doesn't really make a difference.

This wine tastes like it was made in a steel tank the size of a nuclear cooling tower. It's soft and easy drinking - great, but not what I look for in a Cabernet Sauvignon. I suppose I shouldn't expect any more than the unstructured raspberry juice that this is, so I shouldn't complain. But then again, if I was paying the full price of £9 for this, I would return the empty bottle in the form of a Molotov cocktail through Tesco's front windows.

If you like unchallenging red wine for quaffing, and if it's half price, then by all means go for it. I think it's inferior to say, Casellero del Diablo's Cabernet offering, but whatever floats your boat.

Isla Negra

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chile

Tesco

£4.49 (£8.99)

2/5

Casillero del Diablo Malbec 2008

We all know that Malbec is Argentina's (or Bordeaux's) grape, but why not try a Chilean one? That was the rationale for buying this (just kidding, it was on offer). The Cabernet is also on offer, which is often touted as the best value Cabernet that ever existed.

I guess these wines are good value if you actually like them. I did buy the Cabernet as well, and although very drinkable, it tasted like oak. The Malbec is worse - it doesn't have the structure that the Cabernet has.

I would gladly sit around and quaff these wines - don't get me wrong, but they are the epitome of dullness.

Casillero del Diablo

Malbec 2008

Rapel Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£5.49 (£6.99)

2.5/5

Cono Sur Gewurztraminer 2009

If you like Gewurztraminer, or have been meaning to try it, then you won't get a better deal that this. Available for just over £5 (or £4.97 online), this is a great example of this variety. No notes to share really, except to say it impressed the (sometimes fussy) female drinkers, which is good enough for me.

Cono Sur

Gewurztraminer 2009

Bio-Bio Valley, Chile

Waitrose Wine Direct

£4.97 (with 25% off online)

3/5

Emiliana Coyam, 2006

This is one of the better wines I've tried from Chile. First tasted at a Wine Society tasting a few years ago, it still gets my attention. It's a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Mouverdre from the Colchagua Valley, which is becoming increasingly known for it's production of fine reds. It's also made from biodynamic/organically grown grapes.

This is a complex and dense wine, and seems more expensive that its £9.95 price tag. It's very vibrant and fresh, and could probably do with a few more years in the cellar, but if you like big, chunky reds and don't mind a bit of a mouthful by all means drink now.

The 2006 has sold out at The Wine Society, replaced by the 2007. However, the price has gone up to £12.50. Shame - it was difficult to find a better red for under £10.

Emiliana S.A.

Coyam 2006

Colchagua Valley, Chile

The Wine Society

£9.95

4/5

Waitrose Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Valdivieso 2006

Thought I'd give this a try, as I have a thing for Valdivieso, but perhaps for not much longer. I liked their single-vineyard Pinot Gris, and the Pinot Noir was interesting. This Cabernet however I found to be pretty dull, to be frank.

Sweet fruit, green pepper, and that Chilean green-ness, all for less than £7 (on offer). I'm not complaining at this price (yes I am), but it's underwhelming - that or I'm just not into this style. It's too fleshy, or something. I find the same thing with with Australian Cabernet. Perhaps you need to spend bigger to get real character.

Valdivieso

Waitrose Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Maipo Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£6.40 (£8.54)

2.5/5

Valdivieso Pinot Noir Reserva 2008

I picked this up on a whim yesterday on a trip to Waitrose to buy some cheese. I've tried a Pinot Gris from Valdivieso before that I thought was interesting, so I just grabbed this Pinot when I saw it, even though new world Pinot Noir isn't really my thing.

It is an interesting wine. The nose was more like a Pina Colada than a Pinot Noir - with notes of coconut and cherry. Palate was typical new world pinot though, except with more outright fruitiness than barnyard character. Not the most intense wine, or deep. It's more easy-drinking, I guess that's an accomplishment for Pinot Noir?

Valdivieso

Pinot Noir Reserva 2008

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£8.99

3/5

Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay 2006

I've been trying a lot of different Chardonnays recently. I'm sort of getting into them, and trying to work out my favourite style. I lean towards the oaky, buttery style. I think that Chardonnay definitely benefits from the oak treatment - it's full bodied character is nicely complemented by spicy oak flavours, and done well it makes a delicious combination.

Another contributing factor to the smooth, buttery style is malolactic fermentation. This wine features both oak treatment (fermentation and ageing take place in oak vessels) and malolactic fermentation. The wine is also left to age on its lees for added complexity.

The result is a complex wine that is great value for the price. When chilled it has a strong melon nose and flavour, along with hints of spicy oak. When it warms up a little bit it becomes a different beast altogether. It takes on a bit of a funky character (I hate that word, but it seems appropriate here). It develops an almost meaty nose, with layers of fruit and spice on the palate, finishing with good length and complexity.

I can't remember exactly what I paid for this - I got it from the Waitrose World of Wine Showcase for I think around £6 or £7. It regularly goes for £9.99 I believe. This is going onto my list of favourite under-£10 Chardonnays.

Errazuriz

Max Reserva Chardonnay 2006

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£9.99

3.5/5

Valdivieso Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Reserva 2007

I was placing an order with Bibendum, and I decided to add a case of this on at the last moment. I really like Pinot Gris, and I've never had one from Chile before. This particular one also got a couple of favourable mentions from wine writers that I religiously follow. It's currently going for £9.99 per bottle, but I got it for just over £7 during Bibendum's summer sale.

One thing that was mentioned by these writers is that this is a food wine. I completely agree with that. It's a very savoury wine - the pear fruit aromas and oily texture hide a wine with a bit of a grip to it - it would be slow going without food to complement it. A crude way to describe it would be to say it has a bitter finish, but that makes it sound unpleasant, which it isn't. I found it a good match with cheese, especially the Ossau-Iraty.

An interesting wine for sure.

Oddly, the wine is missing from Valdivieso's website in the "Single Vineyard" section for some reason.

Valdivieso

Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Reserva 2007

Lontue Valley, Chile

Bibendum

£9.99

3.5/5

Andes Peaks Reserva Chardonnay 2008

I was in The Grape Shop today, and I asked the proprietor for a good Chardonnay. I took the cheapest one he recommended because I was looking for an everyday-type wine, and it was this Chilean Chardonnay from the Casablanca Valley.

I found this wine a bit odd. It has the creamy texture of an oak-aged Chardonnay, but the nose and palate show some of the grassy, green characteristics of a Sauvignon Blanc. At first I was half-wondering if they got the label wrong. As it warmed up though, you get some more traditional citrus and pear flavours, and also some starchy (rice) hints.

Initally a bit weird, but overall pretty good.

Andes Peaks

Chardonnay Reserva 2008

Casablanca Valley, Chile

The Grape Shop

£7.75

3/5

Underraga Brut NV

I hate reviewing sparkling wines.  They hardly ever make much of an impression on me, probably because I only ever buy cheap ones.  This was meant to be an aperitif, but we ended up drinking it after dinner (because my host's wife wouldn't let him open the Pol Roger).

Produced by the charmat method, it's a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir from vineyards in Chile's Maipo Valley.  I thought it smelled like whisky.  It tasted OK though - fairly simple and light.  I paid just under £9 for it, which now seems like a rip off seeing that Majestic has it on offer for £4.99.

Underraga

Brut NV

Maipo Valley, Chile

The Grape Shop

£8.95

2.5

Majestic Rosé and Rioja

My brother-in-law was up for the weekend, and he brought up a couple of wines from his local Majestic in Devon.

First up was this Merlot rosé from Chile. We had it after a long day watching rugby at Twickenham, and to be honest I wasn't paying too much attention to it, but I do remember finding it pleasant and refreshing. Then I found out it was only £3.99. The next day we went to our local Majestic in London to do the wine shopping for an upcoming family holiday. This was all sold out, and no wonder. We settled for a couple of French ones, and some Rioja rosé instead.

The next day was this Rioja Crianza. I just kind of sipped at this, and it got me wondering about Tempranillo (the main grape variety in Rioja), and what made it taste like it does. I had a hunch that it made wines with low acidity, as they can sometimes taste very soft and lacking a bit of bite. Sure enough I was right, although in the better examples this is rectified by planting in higher vineyards in cooler climates, and blending with higher acid varieties. That's not to say this one was poor, it isn't, but I just seemed to notice a lower-acidity in it. It was actually very nice, with a good expression of fruit and a mellow smoothness.

Neblina Rosé 2008, Chile

£3.99 (£4.99)

3/5

Marques des Concordia

Rioja Crianza 2005

Rioja, Spain

£5.99 (£8.99)

3/5