The Auswine Forum

Has anyone tasted wines from Chile? I tried a couple and I was impressed... (I did not know what to expect) - one of them was Carmenere. I put a topic on that which I believe is a remarkable story... any feedback on Chilean Wines... any recommendations?

OK I'm cheating. I've tried Chilean wines in Australia - but I bought them in Santiago.

Yes, the rediscovery of Carmenere is a remarkable story, and Chile is producing some good quality wines at all price ranges.

But remember- Chilean wines in Australia are about as common as Australian wines in Chile!

Wizz wrote:OK I'm cheating. I've tried Chilean wines in Australia - but I bought them in Santiago.

Yes, the rediscovery of Carmenere is a remarkable story, and Chile is producing some good quality wines at all price ranges.

But remember- Chilean wines in Australia are about as common as Australian wines in Chile!

I am cheating too....I tried Chilean wines, but I never been to Australia

Tried a Chilean wine a year or so ago at a round the world tasting, apparently Chile's first super premium Shiraz. Can't remember the name but remember being very impressed. Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something. This is no help I know, can someone perhaps let me know the name of this wine

Tried a Chilean wine a year or so ago at a round the world tasting, apparently Chile's first super premium Shiraz. Can't remember the name but remember being very impressed. Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something. This is no help I know, can someone perhaps let me know the name of this wine ?

I'm happy enough to drink Australian wine

Yes I've been very impressed with the Chilean wines I have tried, although I've not tried them in Oz. The best so far has been the 2003 Almaviva.

What I would like to find is a good link to Chilean wine that is not a retail site - all I can come up with at present is Asociación de Viñas de Chile which is not in English.

Mike

Mr Cynic here
I must admit to being made a bit wary by two posts, both focused on Chile. There are plenty of stealth marketeers on the web these days and this is the sort of thing I'd expect.

Perhaps Mrobles would be kind enough to put my mind at rest, or declare any interest.

regards

Ian

Yes...quite a few recently.,,
GW

I love Chilean wine (being Mexican) and being used to drink 1) Spanish, 2) Argentinian and 3) Chilean which I miss living in Australia now... you can find the usual "Concha y Toro" cheap stuff but by no means anything of medium to high quality... If anyone know where and what is worth a try, please let me know...

jester wrote:Tried a Chilean wine a year or so ago at a round the world tasting, apparently Chile's first super premium Shiraz. Can't remember the name but remember being very impressed. Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something. This is no help I know, can someone perhaps let me know the name of this wine

This would be Montes Alpha.
GW

mrobles wrote:I love Chilean wine (being Mexican) and being used to drink 1) Spanish, 2) Argentinian and 3) Chilean which I miss living in Australia now... you can find the usual "Concha y Toro" cheap stuff but by no means anything of medium to high quality... If anyone know where and what is worth a try, please let me know...

Just try some Australian wines if you are living here. Much easier to find too.

Mrobles may find it useful to have a look at Shaggy's www.tintoyblanco.com.au reviews site, which covers both Spanish gear available in Australia, and also Australian wines made from Spanish varietals.

mrobles wrote:Has anyone tasted wines from Chile? I tried a couple and I was impressed... (I did not know what to expect) - one of them was Carmenere. I put a topic on that which I believe is a remarkable story... any feedback on Chilean Wines... any recommendations?

Quite a good selection coming into NZ though www.goldmedalwines.co.nz. The Cono Sur wines are impressive, including Viognier, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer and Riesling as well as the usual.
Also impressive are the Viu Manent wines made by NZ'er Grant Phelps.

Cheers,
Sue

mrobles wrote:I love Chilean wine (being Mexican) and being used to drink 1) Spanish, 2) Argentinian and 3) Chilean which I miss living in Australia now... you can find the usual "Concha y Toro" cheap stuff but by no means anything of medium to high quality... If anyone know where and what is worth a try, please let me know...

My apologies for the earlier comment.
Chilean wines still present great value IMO, but I wonder if Argentinian wines have stolen a march in the higher quality (and higher price) market. In particular I was very impressed by the Masi Tupangato wines (Passo Doble and the pricier Corbec). There are others who are very much pushing the quality threshold, though I have been pretty much unimpressed by some overworked chardonnays.

If you like the Chilean Cabernets, then perhaps Coonawarra might interest you and as for Merlot, perhaps New Zealand versions might be worth considering.

anyway, welcome and sorry

Ian

Gary W wrote:

jester wrote:Tried a Chilean wine a year or so ago at a round the world tasting, apparently Chile's first super premium Shiraz. Can't remember the name but remember being very impressed. Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something. This is no help I know, can someone perhaps let me know the name of this wine

This would be Montes Alpha.
GW

Gary
Are you sure it's not Montes 'Folly', the Alpha series being the range below that (probably ~ Aus $35 with Folly being nearer ~ $100 ... I'm guessing the rough prices based on UK/conversion rates/a bit added on for WET/GST)
regards
Ian

Ian S wrote:

Gary W wrote:

jester wrote:Tried a Chilean wine a year or so ago at a round the world tasting, apparently Chile's first super premium Shiraz. Can't remember the name but remember being very impressed. Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something. This is no help I know, can someone perhaps let me know the name of this wine

This would be Montes Alpha.
GW

Gary
Are you sure it's not Montes 'Folly', the Alpha series being the range below that (probably ~ Aus $35 with Folly being nearer ~ $100 ... I'm guessing the rough prices based on UK/conversion rates/a bit added on for WET/GST)
regards
Ian

Montes Folly is the Syrah based wine, Alpha M is the Bordeaux blend.

Montes this, Montes that. Jester write the wine "Came in a very fat bottle with a dark blueish label, grapes grown on 45 degree slopes or something."

That does sound like Montes Folly. Never tried the wine - a mere $60-80USD/bottle for the 2004 so I doubt it will be among the line up of Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz set up for this Saturday.

Mike

Montes Alpha is the premium bordeaux blend with a white label and comes in a bordeaux bottle. Montes Folly is the expensive syrah wine and comes in a heavy rhone/burgped bohaped bottle with the biggest punt I have ever seen. Next time you see a bottle just pick it up and feel the weight, then, stick your fingers into the bottom and watch your fingers disappear!

Argentina does makes very good wine but their specialty remains malbec. Cabernet (and syrah I think) are relatively new plantings. I think Chile is still better at Cabernet.

Concha y Toro entry level wines are good value if that is what you want but try their 'Marques de Casa Concha' series (cab, merlot syrah and chardonnay)---a definite step up in quality and concentration and worthy of a few years cellaring. Even better is their 'Don Melchor' a single vineyard cabernet. It regularly gets accolades from the Wine Spectator, Robert Parker and Wine and Spirits as being one of the best wines from Chile and scoring in the 90s. I know at least one retailer in the Sydney area that used to carry both the Casa Concha and Don Melchor but may have discontinued it as a sales staff said he was able to pick it up for $40 on sale. That is about the same price as in Canada.

If you like wine why wouldn't you occasionally drink Chilean if the price was right, or Argentinian, or New Zealand or Italian, etc. etc.

Cheers.................Mahmoud.

Have to agree with Mahmoud re Concha Y Toro. I have blabbed about these wines several times in the past on here, but I still think there is not a better value portfolio (in QPR terms) of wines on Earth than their Casillero Del Diablo range. They can be had for about $12 a bottle here in Canada and they wipe the floor with their Australian and European competitors at the same price point. They have real varietal character (ie the grape tastes like it is supposed to and isn't just some overly sweet oak chipped red or white concoction) and in good vintages they are cellar worthy. Scary thing is they are only getting better.

The Marques De Casa Concha range (around about $20 a bottle here) is simply stunning, the Cabernet and Merlot are my faves. Finally, the much vaunted Don Melchor Cabernet is a regular in my cellar. I just cracked open a 1999 and it's still a pup. The 2001 and 2002 show great promise. At under $40 here it gives similarly priced Aus cabs a run for their money.

Just my 2c worth

mrobles wrote:Has anyone tasted wines from Chile? I tried a couple and I was impressed... (I did not know what to expect) - one of them was Carmenere. I put a topic on that which I believe is a remarkable story... any feedback on Chilean Wines... any recommendations?

Hi mrobles! My wife and I went on a holiday to Chile a year and a bit ago and were very impressed with the quality of the wines. It was a bit of a surprise to us, because Chilean wine has a reputation in Australia as being cheap and nasty.

We got interested enough to look around when we returned to Sydney to try to buy some Chilean wine. We found a few (not many!) and most were reinforcing the cheap but not outstanding stereotype. A couple of exceptions were:
- Cono Sur (under $15 per bottle, but very good quality for the price)
- Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo (also quite cheap but pretty good value)

We did see a couple of top end Chileans at Dan Murphy's (Don Melchor or Almaviva).

BUT we found almost nothing in the $20 - $40 range and got to thinking... we contacted some of the wineries we had been impressed with and have started importing Anakena's wines to Australia. We have one straight Carmenère and one red blend that includes Carmenère.

Our company Fine Wines of the Americas will have stands at the Melbourne and Sydney Good Food & Wine Shows, so of course we would love to have you drop by and try the wines there. I think the Melbourne show is 1 - 3 June 07, and the Sydney show is 15 - 17 June. We have a few free passes to give away, so if you want one just send me a message.

Happy hunting, and keep posting if you have found good Chileans in Aus!!!