Chile  –  New Releases

Chile’s warm, dry Mediterranean climate is near perfect for growing grapes and the large, fertile Central Valley a ready source of attractive, inexpensive wines. But in the search for better quality, growers have moved west towards the cooling influence of the Pacific or east and up into the foothills of the Andes. This increasing diversity has created a much wider range of premium wines, but do they justify the elevated price tag? In an extensive tasting, we found that three producers stood out: Cousino-Macul, one of Chile’s oldest estates, Viña Chocalán, a brand new venture in the Maipo Valley, and Concha y Toro, a large producer known for their highly drinkable entry-level wines, but also making some excellent premium wines.

Amongst the reds, Carmenere is proving to be Chile’s most distinctive variety, and the whites should certainly not be over-looked. If you would like to make you own selection from the wines listed, we offer free delivery. Alternatively, for those spoilt for choice, our Sampler case is discounted by over £10. Full details are on the back page.

COUSINO MACUL, Maipo Valley                                                                      www.cousinomacul.cl

Founded in 1856, Cousiño Macul is the oldest winery in Chile that is still owned by its founding family. The first vines were planted in 1863 in the Alto-Maipo near the capital Santiago. As the city expanded, this historic estate found itself under increasing pressure from developers. So in 1996, after an intensive 2-year search, the family purchased 300ha of land in Buin, 32km south west of Santiago but still in the Maipo Valley. A massive investment programme began and a dozen years later, the fruits of that labour are really showing in the wines.

The Estate style has always been one of balanced, elegant wines with a classic structure that reflects the unique terroir. Long serving wine-maker Matias Rivera has developed this approach and incorporated many of the methods used in Bordeaux such as leaf plucking and green harvesting. These techniques combined with the dry, Mediterranean climate produce pure, fruit driven wines that have a balancing restraint and finesse. All the wines are now include some fruit from the Buin vineyard and this has given them a degree of complexity that is rare in Chile. Cousiño Macul is a remarkable estate and their wines seem to capture the best of both the New and Old World.

CL0857W    Cousino Macul 'Dona Isidora' Riesling 2007, Maipo Valley,  14%             £7.25
A dry, flavoursome Riesling with pure, elegant aromas reminiscent of lime and grapefruit and hints of honey and flower blossom. Fresh and vibrant in the mouth with intense stone fruit flavours, a touch of minerals and an extremely long, zesty finish. This has plenty of body and alcohol, in the style of an Alsace Riesling, and though youthful, has an attractive, developing complexity. Drink to 2011

CL0887W Cousino Macul Sauvignon Gris 2007, Maipo Valley  14%    £7.95
Mid-straw colour. Aromas of peach, grapefruit and lemon with hints of tomato leaf. Relatively soft and balanced in the mouth, with ripe gooseberry, grape and mandarin orange flavours. Additional notes of peach and star anise make this a fresh, attractive and quite distinctive wine. Drink now to 2010

CL0766R    Cousino-Macul Merlot 2006, Maipo Valley  14.5%    £7.25
Deep red/purple colour with viscous tears on the glass. Attractive aromas of mocha, damson, black cherry and exotic spice. Rich and full-bodied with berry fruit flavours masking ripe tannins and fresh acidity. There is good complexity for a wine at this price and the unoaked, savoury style is lifted by a kick of red fruit on the finish. Drink to 2011

CL0976R    Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile  14%      £7.25
Deep purple in colour, this unoaked Cabernet has youthful aromas of ripe blackberry and plum with notes of cedar and cocoa. Medium to full-bodied with smooth, light tannins underpinning flavours of cassis, blackberry, black olives and fresh dried herbs. Finishes with a touch of black cherry. Enjoy to 2011

CL0956W    Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Chardonnay 2006, Maipo Valley  14% £8.99
Pale straw in colour, this reserve wine offers lively aromas of golden delicious apples, lime, pink grapefruit and hints of hazelnuts and crème brulee. On the palate it is youthful and elegant with flavours of apples, vanilla, tropical fruit and a trace of minerality. Good now, but better from 2009 to 2012.

CL0966R    Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reservas Merlot 2006, Maipo Valley  14%       £8.99
This reserve wine was aged 10 months in French oak barrels of which one third were new. Deep purple colour with expansive aromas of blueberry, cassis and plum and hints of violets and thyme. On the palate there are plum, cherry and berry flavours and complex notes of fresh herbs and clove. The finish is long with juicy fruit flavours overlaying fine integrated tannins.  Drink now through to 2013

CL0895R    Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Maipo  14%                            £8.99
Aged 12 months in French oak barrels. Deep and youthful red/purple colour. Powerful aromas of cassis, cherry, tobacco and spicy vanilla. Medium to full-bodied with good flavour intensity and an attractive balance between ripe berry fruit, integrated acidity and savoury tannins, which emerge on the finish, alongside notes of liquorice and tobacco. A comparatively complex wine that is developing well. It should improve through 2009 and keep to at least 2013.

VIÑA CHOCALÁN                         www.chocalanwines.com

The Viña Chocalán estate comprises 80 hectares in a part of the Maipo Valley not previously planted with vines. Renowned viticulturalist, Eduardo da Silva, discovered the site for the Moro family, whose main business is a glass factory. It is in the western half of the Maipo, near the Coastal Mountain range and therefore closer to the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. Mainly Bordeaux red varietals are grown and the young and talented winemaker Sebastien Allingri, advised by Bordeaux oenologist, Patrick Valette, has produced some promising wines. The Carmenere was particularly impressive and we are pleased to have secured a reasonable quantity, especially since Robert Parker gave the wine a 90 point rating. As the vines start to mature, we expect many more outstanding wines from this up-and-coming producer. So we will certainly be keeping a close eye on developments.

CL0776R    Vina Chocalan Carmenere Seleccion 2006, Maipo Valley  14% £7.49
Opaque purple colour and fragrant aromas of ripe cherry, plum, vanilla and musk. Rich, full-bodied, rather luscious flavours with plenty of sweet bramble fruit flavours, glycerol and hints of raspberry and red cherry. The rich flavours are kept in balance by integrated acidity and fine, chocolatey tannins. A stylish, opulent wine to enjoy now, though it will keep. Rated 90 points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate. Enjoy to 2011

CONCHA Y TORO                                www.conchaytoro.com

This dynamic producer was established in 1883 by Don Melchor Concha y Toro, who first imported and planted Bordeaux vines on his Pirque estate in the Maipo Valley, the source today of the Marques de Casa Concha wines. The business grew steadily but really came to prominence during the 1980s under the guidance of Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, who embarked on a thorough modernisation process. State of the art technology and the inspirational skills of winemaker Ignacio Recabarren have driven the company to the forefront of the Chilean wine industry. Headed by the world class Cabernet ‘Don Melchor’, the wines are divided into a number of ranges, each giving outstanding value at its price point.

CL0757W    Concha y Toro 'Mountain Range' Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Central Valley  13%           £5.75
Very pale straw colour, youthful and bright. Lively aromas of citrus, gooseberry and herbal notes. Fresh gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours with a touch of lime and cream on the finish together with crisp acidity.  Still very young and vibrant so best given a little time to breathe. Enjoy now to 2010

CL0796W    Concha y Toro 'Mountain Range' Chardonnay 2006, Central Valley  13% £5.75
This unoaked Chardonnay has a bright pale straw colour and aromas of pineapple, apricot, ripe pear and hints of minerals and butter. Medium bodied on the palate with tropical fruit flavours enlivened by fresh acidity and lovely mineral notes. Good persistent finish with some creamy notes and attractive mineral lift. Really very impressive for a wine at this price point. Drink now to 2011

CL0866P     Concha y Toro 'Mountain Range' Merlot Rosé 2006, Central Valley  13% £5.75
Pale ruby coloured dry rose with delicate aromas of red cherry and raspberry and a subtle spiciness. Generous red fruit flavours with a touch of raspberry and cream coming through on the lingering finish. Fresh, juicy and very tasty. Great now but can be enjoyed to 2010

CL0725R    Concha y Toro 'Mountain Range' Shiraz 2005, Central Valley  13.5%     £5.75
This Shiraz has been left unoaked to let the pure fruit flavours show through. Intense plum and black cherry aromas with notes of musk and spice. Full bodied and flavoursome with exotic spices over a background of ripe, berry fruit flavours, which really do shine if the wine is given time to open up. The finish is long and perfumed with an attractive hint of violets. Drink now to 2010

CL0715R    Concha y Toro 'Mountain' Carmenere 2005  13.5%       £5.99
This unoaked Carmenere has enticing aromas of crushed berry fruits with a touch of liquorice, smoke and exotic spices. Very smooth, almost luscious in the mouth with juicy fruit flavours, fine tannins and good acidity. Still youthful, the wine opens up to reveal a deliciously long, aromatic finish. Drink to 2010

CL0746W    Concha y Toro 'Explorer'  Sauvignon Blanc 2006,  Casablanca Valley  13%                            £6.50
'Explorer' wines are selected from specific vineyards and are characteristic of the vintage and terroir. This unoaked Sauvignon has intense citrus and gooseberry aromas with floral hints. Gooseberry, lemon and grapefruit flavours with notes of tropical fruits and a long fresh finish. A clean, pure and vibrant wine to enjoy to 2010.

CL0736R    Concha y Toro 'Explorer' Merlot 2006  13.5%                                              £6.99
This Merlot is simply a stunning wine for the price. The class is immediately apparent on the nose, which shows complex characters of ripe plum, liquorice, mocha and fresh vanilla pods. Silky smooth berry fruit flavours are enhanced by creamy oak and balancing acidity. The flavours glide across the palate to the lingering, gently spicy finish. Drink to 2010

CL0875R    Concha y Toro 'Explorer' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Central Valley  13.5%                             £6.75
Savoury spicy cassis and liquorice aromas with a touch of pepper. Predominantly blackcurrant and damson fruit flavours with hints of cedar and sloe berries. Leaning towards a classic French style with ripe tannins and long spicy finish. Drink now to 2010

CL0806W    Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2006, D.O. Pirque  14%                 £8.50
The vineyard from which this wine comes, in the sub-region of Pirque in the Maipo Valley, was originally planted by the Marques and hence the aristocratic name. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, aromas of grapefruit and pineapple blend with wet stone, vanilla spice and caramel. A creamy, full-bodied and powerful wine with the ripe, tropical flavours and integrated oak balanced by mineral notes. The finish is very long and fresh with some aromatic development. Rich enough to enjoy now but will keep to 2012.

CL0945R    Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, DO Puente Alto 14.5%                         £8.50
Another impressive single vineyard wine, aged 14 months French oak barrels. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, pepper and Asian spices. Good weight and velvet-like texture on the palate with cassis, cherry, mocha and liquorice hints of smoke, cedar and tobacco. Very fine tannins come through on the long finish but these are nicely ripe and softened with notes of vanilla and fig. Enjoy now or keep to 2015.
‘Lush but structured, with layers of black currant, tobacco, loam and dark licorice pushed by ripe, solid structure. Long, dark finish. Always rock solid. 91 points’ The Wine Spectator

Discover a great range of styles and flavours in this case of 6 whites and 6 reds. It contains two bottles of each of the wines listed below and the price of £86.95 includes FREE delivery, a saving of over £10!

£86.95 delivered                              SAVE up to £10.38                            Code: CLC004M

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