I attended the Chilean wine event in the distillery district on Toronto. This is my first time to the press event. I have been to the public event and found it over crowded to the point of fighting to get near the wines. The press event was much more manageable for me.
The event has a lot more general list wines in comparison to other events. This means there are a lot more simple wines which is a different but not bad thing. A lot more wines are below the $15 mark and only a few above $40. This sets the stage for expectations.
Event Summary
I started the event by focusing on whites. I don’t have a lot of experience with whites from Chile so this was a great opportunity. I discovered Chile make some lovely rich vibrant Sauvignon Blancs for very reasonable prices. I only found a few Chardonnays that were to my tastes. From a red point of view Chile have some Shirazs but they are much more a syrah than a Shiraz with little to no pepper on the finish. They really need to embrace the syrah. Chile also make a number of Cabernet Sauvignons. Their cabs are quite different than say a Napa cab and don’t have that distinctive deep cassis cherry flavor that Napa is famous for. There are lots of smooth well balanced cabs to enjoy. Chile is well known for there Carmenere. This is a grape well known to Chile and generally is a well balanced fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon like grape. I didn’t find one Merlot that I thought was good. There was food at the event but to be honest I was still full from lunch so I didn’t try any of it.
The event is fast and furious and it’s not possible to taste everything (at least not for me) and the reviews end up being mini reviews. I ended up tasting 44 wines. Some wines I have chosen would be be worthy of a follow up in which case I’d like to get a bottle and do a more thorough tasting.
Wines that stood out that are in the LCBO
Here are the wines that stood out for me that are currently available in the LCBO (that I could find listings for):
Cono Sur Viognier 2008 $9.95
– this was the biggest longest wine of the evening. For the price this wine is a bargain. Jump out and grab some of this and try it for yourself
– quite tart
– totally unexpected for a Viognier
– slightly vinegary on the finish
– worthy of a more detailed review
From LCBO Web site:
CONO SUR VIOGNIER LCBO 64287 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 13.7% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal
Tasting Note
Pale gold colour; tropical fruit aromas with melon, peach and orange blossom notes; dry, medium bodied, with great acidity and flavours of grapefruit, peach, green apple and pineapple; good length on the finish.
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review
Errazuriz Estate Sauv Blanc 2008 $11.90
– very New Zealand like grassy smell and flavor
– reminded me a lot of Kim Carawford at half the price!
– nice fruit med length
– best of show sauv blanc!
Full review
From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 263574 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.40
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 11.90 Now: $ 10.40 Save: $ 1.50 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Tasting Note
Pale straw in colour, this medium bodied white has fresh grassy aromas, with lots of citrus and green apple, the citrus carries through on the palate and the finish is dry and refreshing
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review
Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2007 $17.95
– mild on the nose
– no pepper more of a syrah than a shiraz. Some cab flavors
– quite dry
– worth a more detailed review
From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVE SHIRAZ LCBO 614750 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.85
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Tasting Note
Dark purple in colour; aromas of spice, wood & cigar; full-bodied with flavours of black cherry & spice; tannic finish.
Check LCBO stock
Tarapaca Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.99
– mild light easy drinking not bad at all for the price
From the LCBO web site:
VINA TARAPACA SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 414185 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.15
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 9.90 Now: $ 9.15 Save: $ 0.75 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala
Tasting Note
Light yellow straw colour; aromas and flavours of gooseberry, herbs and green apples; dry, light- to medium-bodied with softer acidity; with a soft finish
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review
Santa Carolina Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.95
– mild bouquet
– slightly tart, nice finish worth a longer look especially based on the price
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA SAUV BLANC RSV LCBO 337535 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina
Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; fresh, green apple aromas with a hint of lime zest; dry, medium bodied with a lemony palate.
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review
Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay 2008 $10.95
– med fruit slightly buttery and smooth, for the price this is well worth another look!
More detailed review of this wine
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA CHARDONNAY RSV LCBO 304022 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina
Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; light toasty notes with peach and apple fruit; medium-bodied with toasty, tropical fruit flavours
Check LCBO stock
Valdi Vieso Reserva Chardonnay $17.95
– lovely smooth buttery california style chard. Quite good. Well worth another look!
– second best chard of the evening (there single vineyard was even more intense but not available)
From the LCBO web site:
VALDIVIESO RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2006 VINTAGES 981621 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.25
Wine, White Wine, 14.1% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Valdivieso S.A. Release Date: Dec 6, 2008
Description
A veritable fruit salad of flavours and aromas, this Chardonnay is packed with juicy pear, nectarine, banana and peach. Vibrant and inviting, it provides a flavourful counterpoint to chicken in cream-based sauces.
Check LCBO stock
Montgras Sauv Blanc Reserva 2008 $11.95
– mild bouquet
– nice fruit, lighter on the finish
From the LCBO web site:
MONTGRAS SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVA LCBO 58362 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Montgras
Tasting Note
Pale lemon yellow colour with hints of green; intense fresh scents of citrus, gooseberry, and cut grass; light bodied, racy acidity, displaying flavours of lemon zest, grass, and green apple.
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2008 $10.95
– varietal colors, bouquet and flavors
– light on the finish typical of a pinot
– bargain for the price!
From the LCBO web site:
CONO SUR PINOT NOIR LCBO 341602 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.95
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal
Tasting Note
Ruby red colour; cherries, earth and berries with a touch of spice in both aroma and flavour; dry, light to medium-body, quite lively on the palate, with mild tannin and a rounded fruity finish.
Check LCBO stock
Other wines tasted
Anakena Single Vineyard Sauv Blanc 2008 $14.95 (not in the LCBO for now)
– smooth easy drinking varietal sauv blanc
Anakena Single Vineyard Carmenere 2007 $14.95
– quite nice not as fruit forward as some
– more cab like flavors
– worthy of a more detailed tasting when it comes out
– not available in LCBO for now
Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier $14.95
– quite good, tasty
– suppose to be coming out in January
– not available in LCBO for now
Anakena Single Vineyard Cab Sauv $14.95
– non descript light in flavor
– not available in LCBO for now
Carta Vieja G7 Reserva Carmenere 2008 $14.95
– not bad slightly tart on the finish
– some cab like fruit
– slightly oaky
– not available in LCBO for now
Carta Vieja G7 Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2007 $17.95
– this is a lovely California style chard. Slightly buttery, lovely chard bouquet.
– third best chard of the show!
– not available in LCBO for now
Vina Chocalan Malvilla Chardonnnay 2008 $23.45
– more Sauv blanc than chard, slightly tart not a great chard for the money
– suppose to be LCBO number 145524 but I could not find it
Concha Y Toro Trio 2008 Chard/Pinot Grigo/Pinot Blanc Blend $12.95
– got a 90 from Robert Parker
– slightly tart, more chablis in style than a california style
– suppose to be released in Feb
Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay $17.95
– Nov 7th release
– slight tart more chablis in style, no butteryness
– no secondary fermentation
– lots of fruit in the flavors!
Cono Sur Merlot 2008 $9.95
– a mild wine with some varietal Merlot flavors
– some mild mid pallet fruit flavors
Check LCBO stock
Cono Sur Organic Cab Sauv/Carmenere 2008 $13.95
– not available at the LCBO
– the carmenere was dominant in the flavors
– fruit forward, slightly sweet
Cousino Macul Sauvignon Gris 2008
– not available in the LCBO
– this is not a blend but a unique grape
– green grassy smell
– wood, light on the fruit
Cousino Macul Don Matias Sauv Blanc $12.95
– not available in the LCBO
– smooth light slightly fruity
– varietal bouquet
Errazuriz Max Reserva Cab Sauv 2007
– smooth lighter on the finish slightly dry not a bad Chilean cab
Check LCBO stock
Estampa Reserve Carmenere/Cab Sauv/Cab Franc $15.95
– not in the LCBO
– totally non descript with a blend like this I was expecting a whole lot more. A disappointment
Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Shiraz 2007 $16.95
– more of a syrah than a shiraz, nice and smooth no pepper quite reasonable
– not in the LCBO
Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Camenere 2007 $16.95
– smooth non descript nothing special
– not in the LCBO
Luis Felipe Edwards Rosa Blanca Cab Sauv 2007 $13.95
– smooth easy drinking cab, lighter side
– not in the LCBO
Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Malbec 2008 $12.95
– 14% alcohol which is quite noticeable
– lots of dried fruit flavors
– totally nice for the price
– not in the LCBO
Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Carmerere/Syrah 2008 $19.95
– not in the LCBO
– smooth easy drinking wine
Vina Maipo Reserva Merlot 2008 $13.95
– not at all varietal Merlot
– smooth easy drinking wine
Check LCBO Stock
Montgras Intriga Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $19.95
– yummy smooth deep cab, deep on the finish
– supposedly LCBO number 57901 but I couldn’t find it
Nativa Gran Reserva Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
– Dec 5th release LCBO number 975359
– slightly bitter mild cab
Nativa Cabo de Hornos Cab/Syrah/Malbec $80
– smooth easy drinking wine but not worth the price
Nativa San Pedro 1865 Cab Sauv 2007 $24.99
– lovely and smooth worth another look, unfortunately not in the LCBO
Tarapaca Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $19.99
– not a whole lot better than the non reserve, not worth the extra money
– not in the LCBO
Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2007 $18.95
– lighly oaked mild in flavor more of a chablis style
Check LCBO stock
Santa Rita Casa Real Cab Sauv 2005 $59.95
– smooth easy drinking but so not worth the money for my tastes
– not in the LCBO
Sena Arboleda Merlot 2007 $18.95
– not varietal non descript … yawn
Valdi Vieso Reserva Cab Sauv 2006 $17.95
– deep medium fruit
– dry not sweet at all, slightly bitter
Check LCBO stock
Valdi Vieso Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 $22.60
– even better than the one above, quite deep rich chard very yummy for the price. Unfortunately not in the LCBO
– best in show Chard
Vina Ventisquero Reserva Shiraz 2008 $13.95
– sweeter fruit forward wine not great
Vina Ventisquero Queulat Syrah 2007 $18.99
– lovely deep and rich syrah, shame it’s not in the LCBO
Vina Tabali Reserva Syrah 2007 $16.95
– slightly bitter not all that smooth definitely one of the more edgey syrah’s of the evening (but not in a good way)
Check LCBO stock
Vina Terra Noble Gran Reserve Carmere $16.95
– smooth easy drinking not fruit forward Carmenere
Check LCBO Stock
