If you didn’t know, we currently have over 800 tasting notes of Chilean wines uploaded and we’re still in the process of uploading more. Then, I’m going to convert the spreadsheet into something more easily searchable on the site. In the meantime, we’re constantly drinking more wines, so here’s a rundown of what I’ve had lately.
Tasting Notes
2017 Kudaw (Vintae) Nativo Cinsault Itata Vineyards over 40 years old, goblet trained and organic, in the area of Guarilihue (Itata Valley). This has a pretty nose. Quite expressive. Very floral with some red fruit and a touch of earth. The palate is light, elegant with red fruit and low-medium acidity. Fairly simple on the palate, but it’ll be flexible with all sorts of lighter foods. I had it with white fish. This is a nice introduction to Cinsault. Sometimes Cinsault in Chile can be a little more rustic, but this is quite clean and pure even though it is also made with traditional or natural methods like many of the other producers do in Itata and Maule. It gives more modern wine drinkers a taste of what Cinsault has to offer. The producer Vintae is a Spanish company looking to revive these old vines and traditions in Itata. “Kudaw” means “the work of the earth” in the Mapuche language. 90 pts AC.
10,000 CLP ($12) at Supermercado Diez in Vitacura. They also sell primarily in Spain since it’s a Spanish company. Find here.
2013 Cousino Macul Finis Terrae Maipo 75% Cabernet S. 25% Merlot. Initially there’s a lot of dry savory herbal notes of sage and tobacco, caramel and smoky oak with a touch of plum fruit. It needs about an hour of decanting to let some of that oak and herbal notes integrate and reveal more fruit. On the palate it’s silky smooth with dark cherry fruit, some spice and vanilla. Medium acid. No hard edges. There are still some tannins that are fine with food, but it indicates at least a few more years of maturation. Although it’s definitely New World, this comes off more as modern Bordeaux rather than modern California or Australia. This showed better when I tasted it at the property. It should get better with a little more air or aging. About 4,500 cases made. 91+ AC.
I bought it for around $15 on sale at a supermarket, but it’s normally around $25. Find it internationally here.
2015 Santa Rita Triple C Maipo A blend of Cabernet Franc (65%), Cabernet S. (30%) and Carménère (5%). 100% New French Oak aging. About 30 minutes of decanting. The nose shows ripe red berry fruits with some leafy and savory herbal notes with a touch of mint. However, the herbal notes are not dominating like some Chilean wines. They’re in the background. The palate is a bit heady at first but the alcohol settles in with big dark berry fruit and ripe raspberry and some creamy vanilla and cocoa in the end. It’s quite typical of modern Chilean Bordeaux blends and Santa Rita, which is one of the most common red producers you find in Chilean restaurants. However, this is a notch up in intensity. Yet, it manages to keep the alcohol and oak integrated. It’s pricier though at 20,000 CLP ($24) on sale, which makes it properly priced internationally but expensive in the Chilean market. I also don’t really feel the Cabernet Franc stands out enough despite being 65% of the blend. 91 AC.
I bought it at Mundo del Vino. Find it internationally here.
2014 Bluwines Bluhands Carignan Maule PnP. This is a dead ringer for a nice Tuscan Sangiovese like many Chilean Carignan. There’s a lot of dry herbs, balsamic notes, and a bit of earth on the nose with sour cherry on the palate and also a savory streak on the back end. Chilean Carignans tend to be better with a little age when the acid calms down some, and some of the Maule earthiness integrates, so it was round and easy drinking at 6 years of age. It’s a great food wine with the acid and salinity playing together with just enough red fruit to make it fun. This is a project of a Chilean and Swedish couple. 92 pts AC.
I bought it for around 11,000 CLP ($13) at CAV.
Conclusion
If I had to pick a winner of the week, the Bluhands was the best for the money. Most Chilean wines are not going to get that much better with age, but I’m finding Carignans are the exception with their high acidity. Therefore, to get a 6 year old Carignan for only $13 is a nice deal for current consumption. However, the Finis Terrae also has some age on it and could age longer. It might be better than the Bluhands in a few years and will please those with more of an international palate. I’d give the Kudaw a try too if you’ve never had Cinsault as a single varietal.
