Wines of Chile

The wine trade went back to school this week with The International Wine Challenge Dinner on Tuesday night and the Wines of Chile Annual Trade Tasting yesterday. Here are some of the wines I really enjoyed at this tasting.
Anakena’s Chardonnay/Viognier 2011, Valle Central, £5.99 rates

as one of the best value whites at the tasting and really is a delicious dry, fruity quaffing wine that will always be a crowd pleaser. I have enjoyed the 2010 available in the Co-op on many occasions, with the 2011 in store soon. Concha y Toro are rightly highly respected for their range of wines with Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Sauvignon Blanc 2010 £9.99 from the Limari Valley a good example of how to produce subtle, elegant Sauvignon Blanc with tropical fruit flavours and mineral character.Contact Concha y Toro UK. Other impressive Sauvignon Blancs were the Fairtrade Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Curico £7.99, contact J Fells, the very classy Valdiveso of Chile Single Vineyard Wild Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Leyda,contact Bibendum Wines and Santa Rita’s Gran Hacienda Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Valle Central, contact Berkmann Wine Cellars – both of these wines are available in restaurants only. Moving on to Chardonnay with the Errázuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2010, Casablanca £10.99 which is dry, medium bodied, spicy, with refined oak and an appealing freshness versus some of the richer, fuller Chardonnays on offer from Chile. Stockists: Majestic, Wimbledon Wine Cellars, Cambridge Wine Merchants.
There was a sensational Syrah theme included in the tasting, and one I really liked was the well-priced Viña Tabalí’s Reserva Especial Syrah 2008, Limari £9.75 which is minty, earthy, integrated, well structured, with softening tannins and just really very good. Stockist: The Wine Society. In contrast, elsewhere at the tasting I enjoyed the light – medium bodied, brambley, soft red and dark fruits and subtle backbone of Montes’ Alpha Pinot Noir 2010, Casablanca £12.99. Stockist: everywine.co.uk . The Los Boldos Sensaciones Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Alto Cachapoal £9.99 is medium-full bodied smooth and delicious has herbaceous, damson fruit, spicy and vanilla character. Stockist: Stevens Garnier Shop.