Last night my value group met to taste some Chilean reds. The “rules” for this group are that all wines are $20 to $40 and available on local (Ohio) shelves. For this tasting, this proved difficult so we lowered the minimum to $15. In retrospect, this is a terrible category for Chilean wines. They have some very nice QPR wines closer to $10 and some quite good wines over $40. To the extent this sampling is relevant, they middle market is not very good. This was possibly the worst tasting group from top to bottom I have attended. I should qualify that as all of the wines were drinkable, but nothing was outstanding. The biggest fault most of these wines had were that they are boring. It seemed like I kept writing down words like “innocuous” and “non-descript”. Many of these wines are available for much less money in the free world making them at least decent wines for cook-outs, etc.
All wines served blind and tasted over 2.5 hours.
Our host Lou R. started us off with a white.
2008 Casa Lapastolle Sauvignon Blanc Rapel Valley
I think I liked this more than the group. It was what it was. Slivery/green in color, clear and bright. The nose is grassy with tropical fruits. On the palate, papaya, slight grapefruit, and grassy. Nice acidity. Thin but refreshing. 50+2+12+15+4=83
The Reds:
2004 Casa Lapastolle Cuvee Alexandra Syrah
Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, rosemary and dust. On the palate, this is bitter and tastes slightly under ripe. Some black cherries. Bitter finish. Drinkable but would need food. 50+4+10+14+4=82
2007 Montes Alpha Pinot Noir
Ruby in color with some purple hues, mostly clear and bright. The nose has raspberries. On the palate, this is sweet turning cloying on the finish. One of us (not me) thought it might be a Pinot. 50+3+11+13+3=80
2006 Veramonte Primos
A blend of 36% Cab, 31% Syrah, 17% Merlot, and 16% Carmenere. Ruby with purple hues. Mostly clear and bright. The nose is quite herbaceous. Also some black raspberries. Thin on the palate. Somewhat smooth but innocuous. Shows nothing of interest. Perhaps some root beer on the finish. This is around $22 and not worth $10. 50+4+10+14+4=82
2007 Terra Andina Reserve
Around $15 and the overwhelming WOTN and mine as well. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has powdered raspberry drink. On the palate, slightly port like but a nicer complexity. Fuller bodied than the others. A reasonable wine for the money. 50+4+11+16+6=87
2006 Montes Alpha Syrah
Purple in color with some ruby hues. Cassis and black raspberries on the nose. Smooth. Non descript. Dark cherries and root beer. I guessed this to be Syrah as it reminded me of some bad RRV pinots. Clipped finish. Easy enough to drink but this is over $20, so why? 50+4+11+15+5=85
2006 Castile de Molina San Pedro Riserva
Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cranberries and cherries. Thin. Tart on the palate. Cranberry juice. Not sure of the grapes. 50+3+10+12+3=78
2006 Casa Lapastolle Cabernet Sauvignon
Ruby/purple in color. The nose is herbaceous with black raspberries. Slightly tart. Some heat. Innocuous. No there here. 50+4+11+15+5=85
2006 Casa Lapastolle Cuvee Alexandra merlot
Ruby/purple in color. The nose is dusty and almost non-existent. Slightly bitter but non-descript. Fine wine to serve at a benefit if it costs $6. I bought this and paid $24. 50+4+10+14+4=82
2007 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marques de Casa
Purple in color, slightly ruby at the rim. Mostly opaque and bright. The nose has raspberries and rosemary. A nicer complexity on the palate. Slightly tart on the finish. Much better on the palate. This finished a close 2nd for me and the group. 50+4+11+16+6=87
2005 La Playa Claret Block selection
Purple in color with ruby hues. The nose is dusty and then nothing. Some camphor with air comes out. Nothing much on the palate. Generic non-descript red wine. Some heart. Had some tannins though. 50+4+10+14+3=81
2007 Los Vascos Reserve (Baron Rothschild Lafite)
Purple in color with slight ruby hues. Some barnyard to the nose made this at least interesting. Nice texture. Black cherries on the palate. Tart finish. I thought someone said this was $17. Overpriced, but not as much as some of these were. 50+4+12+15+4=85