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Chilean Red Wine

Chile is probably the biggest success story in the world of wine in the last ten years. There's a vast array of inexpensive Chilean wine everywhere, but the quality varies enormously. It's vineyards stretch over seven hundred miles north to south in a series of lush valleys between the Andes and the Coastal Ranges. Just like California, and with a very similar climate, Chile's vineyards are more affected by their location east to west between two mountain ranges, rather than north to south. Whereas east facing slopes of the Coastal Ranges receive less rainfall and warmer temperatures, the best vineyards are sited on the west facing slopes of the Andes, which benefit from cool night time temperatures producing high levels of acidity and good concentration of fruit.

Like Argentina, Chile is capable of producing some world class reds, and some whites too, most noticeably Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. If you avoid the mass produced low end brands it's possible to find some exceptional wines which are fantastic value for money.
 
 

O Fournier Alfa Centauri Red Blend 2008 75cl
91 points Stephen Tanzer

Selected for Decanter New World Icon Wine Master Seminar

91 points Descorchados Wine Guide 2011 Chile.

Decanter Bronze Medal

These awards were just for the cask sample! (The wine has only recently been released in bottle and is so limited they don't see the need to enter any further competitions).

O Fournier are regarded as one of the world's finest small wine companies with award winning wineries in Argentina, Chile and Spain (Ribera del Duero). Amongst a very impressive array of awards they were selected four times for Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (100 Best Wineries Worldwide) and selected five times for Wine Spectator Grand Tour (200 Best Wineries Worldwide). Take a look at their website for more info and awards.

The Chilean operation is a relatively new venture for them and this 2008 is the first vintage produced of this premium Alfa Centauri Blend. In fact José Manuel Ortega of the O.Fournier group spent nearly three years looking for the best location to site their vineyards in Chile, and found an ideal site already planted with established vines. For the red grapes he finally selected for Maule on the basis that it is "capable of producing some of the most incredible wines in the world", while for the whites they opted for Lo Abarca in the San Antonio Valley, which has helped them produce exceptional Sauvignon Blanc too.

This Alfa Centauri is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot, all from low yielding old vines - some 120 years old. The vines were hand pruned, the grapes hand harvested into small 15kg boxes to avoid damage and the need for spraying with sodium metabisulphite powder, then the grapes were further hand sorted at the winery so only the best were used. The different varietals were fermented separately in stainless steel then aged for 18 months in new French oak.

To me the label looks a little plain for such a premium wine, but it represents the astrological formation Alfa Centauri which according to Chilean legend was formed by a great hunter throwing his "boleadoras" at a giant ostrich where it got stuck in the heavens creating the astrological formation! So it clearly has significant meaning locally if not internationally! Like so many of the best Spanish and Italian wines, the producers simply do not understand the importance of presentation to the UK consumer - the wine is superb, so they just expect us to know about it!

O Fournier Website

Further Information on O Fournier Alfa Centauri Red Blend 2008 75cl

Price: £24.00



Sulphite Content:
Awards:

DEC
John's Rating

92 Points

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O Fournier Alfa Centauri Red Blend 2008 75cl
 
 
Teillery Organic Wines

Teillery is a family owned, dedicated organic producer in Maipo Valley, Chile's premier wine growing district. Pictured here are Solange (head of marketing) and her father (and owner of the business) Jose Teillery.

The business was origninally founded by Jose's father, Joseph. In the 1990s Jose began growing his grapes organically and subsequently achieved certification from IMO Switzerland for organic production. Teillery have since gone a step further and are now cerified as "Fairtrade for Life" as well, with long term sustainable farming practices and responsible social practices for both staff and the local area.

Jose did his thesis on sulphur free wines all the way back in the 1960s, and this has been a subject close to his heart all his life. As regular visitors to our site will know, the over zealous use of sulphites in wine (and other foods) is something we're passionate about trying to stop, so we were delighted when Solange approached us to import their wines. Last year they produced Chile's first ever "no added sulphite" wine. It's a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon (listed below). All their wines are very good, all low in sulphites and made as naturally as possible. We've imported four of their best below. Please give them a try, they are delicious and good for you!

Teillery Website

Please note these wines are bottled unfiltered to retain the wine's natural full flavour. There will be some sediment (completely harmless grape particles) so you may want to decant or pour carefully. 		Teillery Organic Wines
 
 

Teillery Gran Reserva Syrah 2008 75cl
Teillery's ultimate wine, made in the style of a big Barossa Valley Shiraz (as opposed to old world Syrah). This wine is something special. Ruby red with purple hues. Big, powerful and packed with fruit. Some savoury dark chocolate flavours and a little white pepper too. Superb balance with noticeable acidity, intergrated tannins and a very long finish. Superb!

Please note these wines are bottled unfiltered to retain the wine's natural full flavour. There will be some sediment (completely harmless grape particles) so you may want to decant or pour carefully.

Teillery Website

Further Information on Teillery Gran Reserva Syrah 2008 75cl

Price: £17.99


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Sulphite Content:
Awards:
John's Rating

93 Points
Free Sulphur (Current)
8 mg/l
Organic Wine
Fairtrade
Sustainable Farming

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Teillery Gran Reserva Syrah 2008 75cl
 
 

Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl
This is a single vineyard (called "Las Vertientes") wine, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc from the Aconcagua Valley. It's a hand crafted boutique wine from a relatively new winery which is the pet project of renowned winemaker Eduardo Chadwick. The grapes are picked by hand, then they undergo a rigorous selection process ensuring only perfect fruit is selected. After fermentation the wine is blended then aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with virtually half the oak being new so as to impart a range of different flavours. It's deep ruby in clour with a huge nose of black fruits. There are big red and black fruit flavours on the palate. It's a big, juicy, powerful wine, very smooth and silky with a dry finish.

Arboleda website

Further Information on Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl

Price: £12.95



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John's Rating

90 Points

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Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl
 
 

Aresti Estates Family Collection Blend Rio Claro 2007 75cl
Grand Hyatt - Gold Medal 2010 for the 06

Please note this is a library photo of the Carmenere. This blend has fantastic presentation - it looks similar but is in an even larger heavy weight bottle.

14.5%abv. Made up of 45% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. Made from hand picked grapes, aged for 18 months in French oak. This wine is a brand new release for Aresti and is the premium wine of the estate. It isn't even on their website yet. It's stunningly good! Purple colour with ruby hints, with a big nose. Intense fruit flavours on the palate balanced by the oak, with a little white pepper, and vanilla on the finish. It's very very smooth, full in the mouth with a very long finish. It also doesn't really need to breathe, it can be opened and enjoyed almost instantly - rare for such a big wine. It's very good indeed but also rare with limited availability.

The new stock has pretty much been and gone already! Just a few cases left.!

Aresti Website

Further Information on Aresti Estates Family Collection Blend Rio Claro 2007 75cl

Price: £17.99



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Hyatt
John's Rating

92 Points

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Aresti Estates Family Collection Blend Rio Claro 2007 75cl
 
 

Aresti Estates Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl
Previous vintages were awarded 88 Points Wine Spectator for 07, IWC Silver and Decanter Bronze for the 05.

This is a great limited production wine from the Curico Valley. Selected vines were hand harvested with gentle destemming by hand. 20% of the grapes were fermented in French oak. The resulting wine is superb, really showcasing Chile's value for money. I was very impressed with the quality, even more so when I found out the price. Being a hand made, limited production wine it's also very low in free sulphur. It's deep ruby red, hinting at at what's to come! A strong nose with fruit, eucalyptus and a little spice. On the palate it has rich fruit flavours with a full mouthfeel and good body. Very very smooth with a long lingering finish. A great example of Cab Sauv at a super price. Beautiful on it's own, even better with food.

Aresti Website

Further Information on Aresti Estates Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl

Price: £10.16


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Sulphite Content:
John's Rating

90 Points

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Aresti Estates Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 75cl
 
 

Aresti Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 75cl
The 05 was awarded a Bronze Medal at the Wines of Chile Awards.

Another delicious wine from Aresti ideal for every day drinking at this price. Again the grapes were hand harvested and aged in French and American oak. Also low in sulphur so Jane could drink it without any reaction - a lot of Chilean wines are comparatively high in free sulphur so we were both delighted and surprised to find one at this price point which was so low. Smooth, good fruit flavours with medium body, well balanced with a dryish finish. Simply good every day wine, well made and at a great price.

Aresti Website

Further Information on Aresti Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 75cl

Price: £7.99



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Aresti Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 75cl
 
 

Von Siebenthal Carabantes 2007 75cl
14.5% abv. This is a delicious blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot aged 6 months in oak. The winery only produces hand crafted wines of superior quality with their flagship wine, Tatay de Cristobal, achieving Wine Spectator's highest ever ranking for a Chilean wine at 97/100. When I first tried the Carabantes at a busy tasting I simply wrote down 'excellent'. I'll get it retasted and post tasting notes asap, but in the meantime I still recommend you try a bottle!



Further Information on Von Siebenthal Carabantes 2007 75cl

Price: £16.28



Sulphite Content:
John's Rating

90 Points

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Von Siebenthal Carabantes 2007 75cl
 
 

Von Siebenthal Parcela 7 2008 75cl
14% abv. This is a cracking Bordeaux blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot 10% Petit Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc aged in French oak. The winery only produces hand crafted wines of superior quality with their flagship wine, Tatay de Cristobal, achieving Wine Spectator's highest ever ranking for a Chilean wine at 97/100. Please note the sulphur level, while way lower than in mass produced wines, may be a little too high for people with a sulphur allergy. If you are sulphite intolerant I recommend opting for either the Aresti Blend or Aresti Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Limited Release instead.

Further Information on Von Siebenthal Parcela 7 2008 75cl

Price: £10.51



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Von Siebenthal Parcela 7 2008 75cl
 
 

Casa Silva Quinta Generacion 2007 75cl
Previous vintages have won many awards including Citadelle Du Vin Trophee Prestige, and Grand Gold Medal at the Hyatt Awards.

14%abv. This is the top annually produced wine from Vina Casa Silva in the Colchagua Valley, Chile's most awarded winery which is particularly famous for it's Carmenere. It's a blend of 45% Carmenere, 27% Shiraz, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. The grapes are sourced from their three vineyards at different altitudes to get the best from each varietal. After fermentation the wine is aged in new French oak for thirteen months. It's deep ruby in colour with red fruits on the nose. There's strong red fruit flavours on the palate with a savoury note of dark chocolate. It's very smooth with good solid body and a long dry finish. The Carmenere fruit is beautifully balanced with the savoury characters.

Casa Silva Website

Further Information on Casa Silva Quinta Generacion 2007 75cl

Price: £15.60



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Casa Silva Quinta Generacion 2007 75cl