Sunday, October 19, 2008

Report from ... Chilean Icon Tasting - October 10, 2008

With the rise of Chile on the world wine stage you know it was only a matter of time before Icons started to emerge - it happens in all good wine regions. Today the four big boys: Errazuriz, Montes, Casa Lapostolle and Sena, showed off their big gun wines (11 in total), here's what I tasted and some info about each producer.

Casa Lapostolle …
Founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle ... of Grand Marnier fame.

Wine of choice:
Cuvee Alexandre 2005 Chardonnay – Casablanca Valley, Atalayas Vineyard
- soft buttery fruit, toasted notes with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg.

Montes ...
Founded in 1988 by four partners ... the winery takes its name from one of those partners, Aurelio Montes.

Wine of choice:
Alpha M 2005 – 80% Cabernet Sauvignon / 10% Cabernet Franc / 5% Merlot / 5% Petit Verdot
- great mint aromas come barreling out of the glass - blackberry, cherry, herbs and spice dance around on the palate carried by silky smooth tannins.

Looking for more spice in your wine? Then the 2005 Folly Syrah is for you.

Errazuriz …
Founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errazuriz ... currently run by Eduardo Chadwick (fifth generation of his family involved in the wine business).

Wine of choice:
Kai 2005 – 88% Carmenere / 7% Petit Verdot / 5% Shiraz
The name means "plant” in the native Indian language where the grapes are grown. A nose and taste that reels you right in with chocolate, blueberry, blackberry an amazingly smooth finish ... this one comes off as an incredibly juicy endeavor.

The Don Maximiano 2005 is also a great wine to take note of.

Sena...
A partnership between Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick started in 1995.

Wine of choice:
Sena 2005 – 57% Cabernet Sauvignon / 25% Merlot / 9% Carmenere / 6% Cabernet Franc / 3% Petit Verdot
This 100 percent bio-dynamic wine has got a nose that accosts your senses with powerful minty smells, the taste follows with mint and eucalyptus along with raspberry, cherry and herbal notes. Elegant and smooth, this one's ready now but will age another five to ten years.

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