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10 Wines from Chile for Both Special Occasions and Everyday Drinking

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10 good reds and whites from Chile.

In many ways, the Chilean wine industry is similar to that of California: Both rely largely on Bordeaux varieties for red wines and chardonnay for whites; both have hot interiors and foggy coastal areas; and both have long experience is producing both affordable everyday wines and more complex, longer-lived “serious” ones.

Here is a selection from two primary producers: premium Alcance wines from a producer owned by California-based Jackson Family Wines and the Casillero del Diablo and Ribera lines of less expensive wines from the venerable Concha y Toro wineries.

Concha y Toro Casillerodel Diablo Chardonnay 2015 ($9).

Full and round with lots of apples, some citrus notes, and a crisp finish.

Concha y Toro Ribera delRapel Colchagua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2015($17).

Very weedy aromas and flavors — intense green — with medium body and good acidity.

Concha y Toro Casillerodel Diablo Carmenère Reserva 2014($9).

Tart fruitiness with some vanilla notes.

Concha y Toro Casillerodel Diablo Malbec 2014($9).

Crisp and lean but with lots of cherry fruit in the finisè.

Concha y Toro Ribera delTinguiriricaMarchigueCabernet Sauvignon 2014($17).

Big, harmonious, rich, and juicy, with an almost sweet fruitiness, but also assertive, with good acidity.

Concha y Toro Ribera del Cachapoal Peumo Carmenère 2014 ($17).

Modest red fruits, with some spice, green olive, and cherry-stem notes — quite nice for this style of wine.

Alcance Valle de Maule Merlot Gran Reserva 2014($20).

Somewhat plump, with red raspberry flavors, a little cream, and a savory finish.

Alcance Valle de Maule Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2014 ($24).

Ripe and juicy, but still some old-style green savory notes plus good tannins and nice finishing acidity.

AlcanceVigno Valle de Maule Old Vines Carignan 2013 ($34).

Very fresh with lots of spicy red fruits, some hints of oak, and a good finish — a red-berry wine.

Alcance “Bravura” Valle de Maipo Proprietary Red Wine 2013 ($50).

A concentrated Bordeaux blend with enjoyable dark chocolate and cherry flavors and a hint of vanilla oak in the finish.

 

By: Roger Morris

***Grabbed from: http://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/10-wines-chile-both-special-occasions-and-everyday-drinking?oas_referrer=wine