On the Road with the Grape Guy

Love Wine Love Chile – November 2018

05 Dec 2018

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Chilean Wine Fair, Toronto ... Chile continues to impress with their wines and their seeminglyever expanding breadth of country in which to grow grapes … Once Casablanca and Maipo were the only two Valleys to be recognized, but now there are 16-18 valleys spread out over three main regions (Andes, Costa and Entre Cordilleras) – look for these Valley names (listed below) on the bottles you buy, as I am sure they will begin to be more prevalent going forward.

The Valleys: Copiapo Valley, Huasco Valley, Elqui Valley, Limari & Choapa Valleys, Aconcagua Valley, Casablanca Valley, San Antonio Valley, Maipo Valley, Cachapoal Valley, Colchagua Valley, Curico Valley, Maule Valley, Itata Valley, Bio Bio & Malleco Valleys, Cautin Valley, Osorno Valley.

Here is a list of 38 wines that impressed me, during an afternoon filled with more than 130 wines; you will also see a full review of my top five wines ...

Three Plus Star wines … (3+ stars)
Ventisquero 2017 Grey Single Block Pinot Noir – Leyda Valley

Three and a Half Star wines … (3 ½ stars)
Anakena 2016 Ona Andes Blend – Cachapoal Valley
Casa Silva 2017 Romano – Colchagua Valley
Casas del Bosque 2017 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Garces Silva 2018 Boya Rosé – Leyda Valley
Indomita 2017 Gran Reserva Carignan – Maule Valley
Miguel Torres 2017 Las Mulas Cabernet Sauvignon – Central Valley
Miguel Torres 2018 Las Mulas Chardonnay – Central Valley
Santa Alicia 2016 Anke – Maipo Valley
Santa Alicia 2016 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Sutil 2014 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Veramonte 2015 Primus The Blend – Colchagua Valley

Three and a Half Plus Star wines … (3 ½+ stars)
Carmen 2016 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Casa Silva 2011 MicroTerroir Carmenere – Colchagua Valley
Casas del Bosque 2017 Gran Reserva Pinot Noir – Casablanca Valley
Casas del Bosque 2017 Syrah Pequenas Producciones – Casablanca Valley
Emiliana 2016 Coyam – Colchagua Valley
Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay – Aconcagua Valley
Indomita 2017 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Luis Felipe Edward 2014 Single Vineyard Red Blend – Colchagua Valley
Luis Felipe Edward 2014 360 Series Carignan – Maule Valley
Perez Cruz 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition – Maipo Andes
Perez Cruz 2014 Chaski Petit Verdot – Maipo Andes
Tarapaca 2016 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Ventisquero 2016 Grey Single Block Carmenere – Maipo Valley
Veramonte 2015 Neyen – Apalta / Colchagua Valley

Four Star wines … (****)
Aresti 2014 Family Collection Assemblage – Curico Valley
Concha y Toro 2017 Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Cono Sur NV Sparkling Rosé – Bio Bio Valley
Cono Sur 2018 Bicicleta Viognier – Chile
Emiliana NV Sparkling Tradicional Method – Casablanca Valley
Errazuriz 2016 Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Aconcagua Valley
Garces Silva 2015 Amayna Syrah – Leyda Valley
Indomita 2016 Zardoz Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley
Montes 2014 Alpha M – Colchagua Valley
San Pedro 2016 Sideral – Cachapoal Valley
Sutil 2014 Acrux – Colchagua Valley