On the Road with the Grape Guy

Chilean Wine Tasting 2024

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(November 2024) … I have said much about Chilean wine on these pages of my website. It was my first real love in the wine world, mainly because it was wine I could afford easily and consistently when I was starting my wine education and cellar. Today, Chile still holds a special place in my heart; so when it is time for the annual Chilean Wine Fair I get excited to find out what great wines are coming from the long, thin, perfect-place-to-grow-grapes known as Chile; and what affordable gems will see my cellar (Or the video series).

(All wines in this report were tasted, but may not be available in Ontario)

Four Star Plus Wines

Montes 2020 Montes Wings
($67.95 - #33354) – a Carmenere / Cabernet Franc blend that really impresses: silky smooth, slightly earthy, with blue and black fruit and hints of pencil shavings on the finish.

Montes 2021 Purple Angel
($109.95 - #62364) – always a killer bottle with a deep dark fruit core with acidity for balance. This is a great age-able wine.

Montgras 2022 Intriga by Montgras – Cabernet Sauvignon
($23.95 – n/a) – consistently a good bottle of wine, each time I get to try it I’m impressed, vintage-to-vintage; and it is still great value at under-$25. Lots of dark fruit with hints of spice.

Montgras 2022 Rare Grenacha Handcraft 6
(no price – n/a) – this wine really floated my boat cause I love a good Garnache. Easy, fresh and clean – pure raspberry with notes of red licorice; super pleasant with a drink-all-day-ness to it.

Perez Cruz 2023 Pircas – Cabernet Sauvignon
(no price – n/a) – silky and smooth; lots of vanilla, black cherry and all with a good acid punch.

Vina Vik 2020 VIK
($250.00 – n/a) – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc well-structured with tobacco, spice and dark fruit – quite elegant.

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Four Star Wines

Concha y Toro 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Marques de Casa Concha
($19.95 - #337238) – lovely dark fruit with smoky and vanilla notes all wrapped up by good tannins structure.

Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay
($15.95 - #230565) – this Chard tastes premium, for a base model price: good acidity with lots of zip, zig and lemon pop.

Garces Silva 2022 Boya Cabernet Franc
($19.95 - #1162713) – fresh, clean and easy. A good fruit forward wine with notes of raspberry and strawberry. Not your average Cab Franc. Boo-ya.

Luis Felipe Edwards 2021 Marea Syrah
(no price - n/a) – silky and slightly meaty with a lovely black cherry seam on the mid-palate.

Montes 2022 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
($22.95 - #322586) – has always been a good value, and age-worthy bottle at the LCBO; this year it is a tasty mix of blackberry and mint.

Perez Cruz 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Piedra Seca – Cabernet Sauvignon
($22.95 - #36167) – a little floral and good fruit that leans mostly red dominant.

Vina Las Ninas 2022 Casa Bollen Carignan
($15.95 – n/a) – not available in Ontario, but if you can put your hand on a bottle I thoroughly recommend it. Fresh and fruit driven with notes of blue and black berry, black cherry and spice.

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Three-and-a-Half / Three-and-a-Half Plus Stars
(wine without a sku number my or may not be available at a later date or through an agent)

+ Carmen 2020 Delanz Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Jahuel ($29.95 - #41879)
Concha y Toro 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Reserva Privada ($19.95 - #570754)
+ Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier ($11.65 - #64287)
Luis Felipe Edwards 2020 360 Cabernet Sauvignon (no price)
+ Luis Felipe Edwards 2020 Dona Bernarda Red Blend (no price)
+ Montgras 2022 Montgras ANTU – Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95)
Montgras 2022 Montgras Day One Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.75 - #35975)
+ Santa Carolina 2020 Reserve de Familia – Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 – #408658)
+ TerrAustral 2020 Santa Isle Selected Vineyards ($19.95)
Vina Las Ninas NV Las Ninas Traditional Method Sparkling ($19.95)
+ Vina Las Ninas 2022 Organic Las Ninas Ella Syrah ($13.95)
+ Vina Vik 2022 VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon ($48.00)
+ Vina Vik 2021 Milla Cala ($100.00)
VSPT Wine Group 2022 Leyda Reserva – Pinot Noir ($16.00)

DonnaFugata Podcast Tie-in – The Wines

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(March 2024) ... Jose Rallo, of Donnafugata, a Sicilian winery, came to town to host a lunch and kick off the launch of her new wines. We spoke to her in this podcast, so if you want to know more about the winery, click here. As for the wines tasted at lunch – see reviews below:

DonnaFugata 2023 Rosa - Dolce & Gabbana

Let’s forego the price and just talk about the wine: fresh and fruity, which is a good thing for a rose.  (*** ½)

DonnaFugata 2022 Anthilia
Grapefruit pulp and pith, nice acidity, pleasant floral component and there’s nice length on the finish.  (*** ½+)

DonnaFugata 2021 Sedara
Smoky with notes of blackberry plus subtle tannins and a finish that doles out some cassis.  (*** ½+)

DonnaFugata 2020 Tancredi
Lots of dark fruit and mocha – a pleasing red.  (*** ½+)

DonnaFugata 2019 Mille e Una Notte
A thousand and one nights has a smooth, silky palate with mocha, black fruit, rugged tannins and a finish that goes on for days. This wine is made for the long haul. Keep some in the cellar for those Arabian movie nights.  (****)

DonnaFugata 2022 Ben Rye
Cereal note, along with honey and apricot, creamy and smooth across the palate with a lovely long finish.  (****)

DonnaFugata 2019 Sparkling
Chardonnay / Pinot Noir ... Acidity is a little muted, but the palate shows nice biscuity and Bosc pear with some pleasant citrus backing - more than I expected from a Sicilian bottle of bubbles.  (*** ½+)

DonnaFugata 2020 Mille e Una Notte
The newer version of 1001 is approachable now, but has the stuffing to last years in the cellar: lots of dark cherry and cassis, while tannins coat the mouth.  (****+)