Colchagua

Another of the catch-up-on-tasting-notes posts (see intro HERE if that doesn’t make sense) Casa Silva Cool Coast Pinot Noir 2012, Paredones, Chile (£15.95 Avery’s, WoodWinters, Fullers Brewery, Vesuvio, Stainton Wines, The Wine Tasting Company, Roberts & Speight, Peter Graham Wines, Portland Wine Company, Duncan Murray Wines) I tasted this around this […]

Three Pinot Noirs plus a close relative

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…in two rather different styles Villalobos Viñedo Silvestre Carignan 2012, Colchagua, Chile (~£18 Les Caves de Pyrene) I like the floral daintiness here, with a whiff of hops alongside the slightly smoky blackcurrant flavours, but there’s also something a little confected – do they still make Cola Spangles? – plus […]

Two Chilean Carignans

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De Martino Viejas Tinajas Muscat 2013, Itata Valley, Chile (£13-£14 Les Caves de Pyrene, Whole Foods Market, Winemakers Club, Exel Wines, Bijou Bottles) It’s the heady, heavy grapiness you notice first, along with an exotic Gewürz-like rose petal and lychee character. Then a clay-like terracotta roof tile earthiness makes its […]

Aromatic White Wines from Chile

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Let’s see if we can understand why the Chileans mistook Carmenère for Merlot for so long… Montes Alpha Merlot 2012, Colchagua Valley, Chile (£12.99 Philglas & Swiggot, D.Byrne) Typical Chilean imprint of blackcurrant pastilles, also note sof rosehip and mulberry, but while the fruit is generally quite juicy, there’s also […]

Merlot and Carmenère – can you tell the difference?

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Grown-up Chilean Savvy Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Paredones, Colchagua, Chile (£15.95 Oxford Wine Company, Fine Wines Direct, Averys) Precise, high-cheekboned style, with a minerally citrus spine round which some richer nutty, creamy pineapple flavours are wound, elegant, lithe and very tasty. S

Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Chile

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Louis Jadot Côte de Beaune Villages 2011, Burgundy, France (£16.75 Majestic, NISA, Constantine Stores, Bacchus Wine, Noble Green Wines, Village Wines, Cotswold Vintners, Eagle Wines, Partridges of Sloane Street, winedirect.co.uk) Typical young Jadot style, with great depth of plummy red berry fruit and an earthy undercurrent in a firm, tannic […]

Pinot Noir from Chile, Burgundy and California

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