I’ve been down this road before with this blend, and wanted to have a revisit. What we have here is the Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Single Block 2018. This is from the D.O. Valle de Colchagua specifically the Apalta Vineyard. It is a Mediterranean styled blend of garnacha (62%), cariñena (19%) and mataro (19%). The Apalta Vineyard is located not far from the Tinguiririca River. The soils consist of stone and sand, with red clay making it ideal for these particular varieties. It spent six months in French oak. Continue reading
Month: May 2020
My Wine and Music Pairings
One reason why I love wine is its ability to engage all your senses. Its shiny hue entices you to the glass. It’s a reflecting pool or a transparent prism to see yourself and the world in a different way as you take each sip. Of course it engages your sense of smell and taste, but equally as important is how it feels in your mouth and glides down your throat as the alcohol slowly relaxes your nerves. However, the sense that is least engaged directly is hearing. Perhaps the sound of the cork being popped and the wine being poured conjures up some Pavlovian response. Sparkling wines also have a sound and that may actually indicate the size of the bubbles and hence the quality. Otherwise, there’s not much that wine directly adds to your sense of hearing. Yet, some of the greatest conversations you’ve had were over a glass of wine. You’re listening acutely to who and what’s around you as your other senses are enthralled in pleasure. And if there’s the right music around you, it can enhance your overall drinking experience too. So how do you find the right wine and music pairing?
Wine Review: 2017 Villard Expresion Reserve Pinot Noir Casablanca
Less than 25km from the Pacific lies Villard Fine Wines. Here the cool ocean breeze and morning fog make it perfect for Pinot Noir. The French but Swiss-raised founder, Thierry Villard, met his wife in Chile and eventually created his own winery in 1989, when Casablanca was still largely underdeveloped as a wine region. Despite its high quality, it remains a small family boutique winery and is part of the independent winemaker movement, MOVI.
Wine Review: Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2016
The other night we had a virtual wine tasting, thanks in part to the mandatory social distancing orders from the Chilean Government. So we decided to try something a little more, well, international. Continue reading
Great Chilean Wines while Social Distancing
One consolation for much of the world practicing social distancing is we have more time to enjoy cooking food and drinking wine. As a consequence, at home wine consumption and online wine purchases have increased dramatically. When you buy online with more time on your hands, it’s also easier to explore how many different types of wines are out there. While you can’t travel to Italy at the moment, you can at least try an Etna Rosso from Sicily for the first time to go with your pasta. At the same time, a lot of us have to watch our pocketbook while buying wine, especially these days. Therefore, for my first article in The Wine Diplomats, I want to give you some ideas for affordable Chilean wines to try during the pandemic. Continue reading
Wine Review: 2017 Vita Vitis Aglianico Maule
Vita Vitis is a collaboration between Italian winemaker Maurizio Castelli and Chilean winemaker Andres Sanchez. Both have worked in Italy for such producers as Grattamacco in Tuscany. Their mission is to introduce lesser known Italian varietals into Chile rather than just the typical French varietals. That’s what makes this wine unique because Aglianico is rarely found outside of Italy. Besides Aglianico, they have planted other reds like Montepulciano, Sagrantino, Primitivo, Cesanese, Dolcetto, Terrano (Refosco), Barbera and Cannonou (Grenache). They’ve also planted whites like Fiano, Falanghina, Incrocio Manzoni, Pinot Blanco, Verdicchio, and Grechetto de Todi. Production here is small and they currently don’t export outside of Chile. Continue reading
Wine Review: 2019 Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc Maule
The 2019 Laberinto Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is from the eastern part of the Maule Valley closer to the Andes where you can find volcanic soil. Winemaker Rafael Tirado actually has part of his vineyard planted in the shape of a labyrinth, hence the name. Most Chilean Sauvignon Blanc comes from the coastal regions of Casablanca and San Antonio, so this wine is already unique in that it comes from Maule. The different terroir makes a huge difference in this wine. Typical Chilean Sauvignon Blanc tends to be generous in fruit and citric freshness along with some notions of minerality, salinity from the ocean air, and herbal notes. However, the Laberinto is dominated by minerality and acid with a bit of fruit in the background. The nose is complex: flinty and minerally with some herbs and spice. No doubt this is from the volcanic soils. The palate is very acidic with saline minerality along with a touch of herbs and something bitter. There’s a faint underlying green apple fruit. It’s a little fuller and more complex than an average Sauvignon Blanc although it sees no malolactic fermentation. It does spend some time in lees to gain complexity. Continue reading
Wine Review: 2018 Volcanes de Chile Tectonia Grenache-Petite Sirah-Mourvedre Central Valley
Bodega Volcanes de Chile is an interesting project using only grapes grown on volcanic soil. Although they source grapes from all over Chile, their wines tend to be fresh because they are at higher altitude and are minerally reflecting the volcanic soil. There are over 2,900 volcanoes in Chile for them to explore. Winemaker Maria del Pilar Diaz works with 3 main vineyards in Cachapoal, Maule and Malleco. This is owned by the same company that owns Undurraga, so you can find their wines at the Undurraga shop in Maipo, and they have the ability to distribute in many Chilean wine shops, the US and the UK. Although it’s listed at around $20 elsewhere, I found it for less than half the price in Chile. Continue reading