South American Wine Guide, Independent Guide to the Best Wines in South America for Visitors to Peru

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South American Wines

An Introduction to the Wines of South America for Visitors to Peru

Wines from Chile: Introduction / Regions / Notable Producers / Reviews

Reviews

Wine Spectator Top Wines from Chile:

Classic Wines: 96 points / 95 points / 94 points

Outstanding Wines: 93 points / 92 points / 91 points / 90 points

Very Good Wines: 89 points

93 Points

Viña Almaviva Puente Alto 2004 93 $75
Offers nice alluring aromas of cocoa powder, cedar and currant preserve. This is admirably ripe for the vintage, with well-structured plum sauce, graphite, loam and spice flavors moving through the fine-grained finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. Drink now through 2013. 9,500 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Maipo Issue Date:
May 31, 2007

Viña Almaviva Puente Alto 2006 93 $85
Muscular and broad-shouldered, with lots of bittersweet cocoa, dark currant and braised fig notes, followed by a long, loam- and coffee-filled finish. There's also plenty of iron-tinged grip for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2010 through 2015. 12,500 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Maipo Issue Date:
Mar 31, 2009

Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2004 93 $70
Offers gorgeous aromas of crushed plum and boysenberry fruit, with notes of sweet tobacco, mocha and vanilla. Delivers a plush, silky texture through the fruit-filled finish, with a fine, buried minerality. Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2014. 3,000 cases imported. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Rapel Issue Date:
Jul 31, 2007

Viñedo Chadwick Maipo Valley 2006 93 $180
A big, dense wine, especially for the vintage, with an impressive core of loam, melted black licorice and macerated currant fruit supported by ripe, well-embedded tannins and a long, polished finish that drips with fruit and minerality. Back on form after the subpar 2005. Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2013. 820 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Maipo Issue Date:
Mar 31, 2009

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor 2004 93 $50
Shows alluring coffee bean, currant paste and fig aromas and flavors, with ample loamy tannins and a ripe, muscular finish where cocoa and tar notes hang on for added effect. Accessible now, but will improve with cellaring. Drink now through 2013. 17,000 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Maipo Issue Date:
Aug 31, 2007

Viñedos Emiliana Gê Colchagua Valley 2005 93 $90
Impressively rich, with loads of blueberry compote, braised fig, graphite and roasted earth notes waiting to emerge fully from behind the wall of dark, spice-laden toast. There's great buried acidity and a long, grip-filled finish. Loaded with character, this is built for the cellar. Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2010 through 2013. 300 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Rapel Issue Date:
Feb 28, 2009

Viña Montes Folly Santa Cruz 2004 93 $93
Shows lovely crushed blueberry and currant fruit aromas and flavors, with well-integrated toast and plenty of mineral, briar, mocha and bacon notes on the round, full-bodied finish. Could use some modest cellaring, but this is approachable now. Syrah. Drink now through 2009. 2,000 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Rapel Issue Date:
May 15, 2007

Viña Montes Folly Santa Cruz 2003 93 $82
Dense, large-scale wine, with thick layers of blackberry, boysenberry, mocha and espresso flavors supported by lush, powerful tannins. Big, smoky, tarry finish. The oak is dominant now, but the stuffing is certainly here. One for the cellar. Syrah. Best from 2007 through 2011. 1,200 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Rapel Issue Date:
Nov 30, 2005

Viña Quebrada de Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Domus Aurea 2004 93 $55
This is alluring, with mint, sage and warm cocoa aromas leading the way for dried currant, licorice, loam and coffee notes. There's plenty of grip, particularly for the vintage, with extra waves of currant and mint on the lengthy finish. Back on form after the awkward 2003. Drink now through 2016. 2,430 cases made. –JM Country:
Chile Region:
Maipo Issue Date:
Jun 15, 2008

South American Wines - An Independent Guide to the some of the Best Wines from Peru, Argentina & Chile.