BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

87
Korta 2009 Estate Bottled Cabernet
Sauvignon (Lontué Valley);
$8. Dark, fruity and common in every way, but
sometimes that’s all you need. The wine has a
clean, ordinary cassis and berry nose followed by
a juicy palate with dark fruit flavors that show
accents of vanilla, spice and chocolate. Totally
drinkable and likable. Imported by MJM
Imports. Best Buy. —M.S.
87
Veo 2008 Última Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley);
$10. Sweet and chunky to start, with vanilla and
red fruit aromas. The flavors are raspberry and
cherry, and while it’s kind of short on complexity,
it more than gets the job done for $10. Clean,
fresh and something you can drink without a lot
of pondering. Imported by Prestige Wine Group.
Best Buy. —M.S.
87
William Cole 2008 Columbine Special
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
(Colchagua Valley); $18. Big, muscular and
herbal, with olive, spice and driving black fruit
aromas. The acidity is high-toned and elevated, so
the palate is jumpy and electric, with raspberry
and currant flavors. Delivers a jolt and tang, but
overall the flavors and harmony are good.
Imported by Global Vineyard Importers. —M.S.
87
Undurraga 2008 Aliwen Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère
(Rapel Valley); $13. Thick and meaty on the
nose, with aromas of cola and spice. The palate
has a tight structure, some sharpness and spicy,
braised-fruit and tobacco flavors. Finishes mostly
in the spice zone, with dried fruits and a spot of
leftover acidic bite. Good for a basic Cabernet-
Carmenère blend. Imported by Undurraga
USA. —M.S.
86
Maniña 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Central Valley); $13. Rubber and
black fruits carry the standard nose, then comes a
zesty palate with upfront acids and related zingy
berry fruit flavors. Despite a touch of scour, this
brings freshness and a clean, tasty fruit level. Perfectly
good for Central Valley Cabernet.
Imported by Winery Exchange. —M.S.
86
MontGras 2009 Reserva Cabernet
Sauvignon-Syrah (Colchagua Valley);
$12. Dark, baked, warm and spicy, with a
touch of soupiness but nothing too scary or dominating.
The palate is thorough and fairly lush,
with black fruit flavors accented by spice and
baked notes. Finishes slightly burnt notes, with
licorice and ripe softness. Imported by Palm Bay
International. —M.S.
86
Peñalolen 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Maipo Valley); $18. Full and
concentrated but also a little flat and pruney. This
wine pushes ripeness to the max level, and the
result is a heavy, tannic Cab with a lot of power
and flavors of prune, chocolate, molasses and fig.
Thick and chunky on the finish, too. Soft and
dense enough to drink now through 2011.
Imported by Global Vineyard Importers. —M.S.
86
Viña el Aromo 2007 Barrel Selection
(Maule Valley); $19. Fiery
cherry/berry aromas mix with leather, herbal
scents and mocha. The palate is angular and
mildly sharp, with zesty red fruit, pepper
and herbal flavors. A driving, acid-propelled
blend of Cabernet Sauvignon along with Carmenère
and Petit Verdot. Imported by Simone
International. —M.S.
86
Viña el Aromo 2008 Winemaker’s
Selection Cabernet-Syrah (Maule
Valley); $16. Starts out smoky and savory, with
aromas of jerky and baked black fruits. The palate
is fairly juicy and lively, with a good feel and then
flavors of cherry and roasted plum. Tastes a bit
roasted as well on the finish despite some lingering
juicy acidity and snap. Imported by Simone
International. —M.S.
85
Veo 2009 Grande Cabernet
Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley); $7.
Bargain hunters should like this mildly medicinal
Cab because it’s got raspberry and black fruit
character and only minor faults, i.e. slight medicinality.
Otherwise it’s fruity, steady and
respectable, with good body and mouthfeel.
Imported by Prestige Wine Group. Best
Buy. —M.S.
84
Indomita 2008 Duette Cabernet
Sauvignon-Carmenère (Maipo Val-
ley); $20. There’s a lot of individuality to this
wine, just not all good. The nose has cigar box
and over-the-top sweet and baked aromas, yet the
palate has a grating, acidic feel but also spice and
raisiny flavors. All of it makes you more confused
than confident; it has its good traits but seems
out of whack. Imported by David Milligan Selections.
—M.S.
84
Undurraga 2008 Aliwen Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah (Rapel
Valley); $13. Leathery and horsey on the nose,
with cherry fruit and warmth. The palate has
some edge and bite to it, with lean tannins in support
of generic raspberry and standard herbal flavors.
Quick and cleansing on the finish, with
another wave of herbal flavor. Imported by
Undurraga USA. —M.S.
84
Vistamar 2006 Gran Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah
(Maipo Valley); $17. Oaky stuff, with sawdust,
roasted fruit and dark, floral berry aromas. The
palate is surprisingly high in acidity and choppy,
but lumbering oak adds some heft to the berry
fruit and cola flavors that lead the charge. A bit
smacking and medicinal, and herbal to boot.
Imported by Vistamar USA. —M.S.
83
Tamaya 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Limarí Valley); $13. A cool-climate
CS with briar and sharpness from the get-go.
There’s also herbal red fruit aromas the precede
a pointed palate of cherry, raspberry and acidity.
Pretty good flavors but hardly any softness, texture
or finesse. Imported by Ecosur Group,
LLC. —M.S.
82
Indomita 2008 Reserva Cabernet
Sauvignon (Maipo Valley); $15.
Odd and unfamiliar, like most wines from
Indomita. The nose is off the grid and grainy,
while the palate is flat, heavy and tastes of herbal,
sweet, vegetal berry fruits. Candied on the finish
and unconvincing. Imported by David Milligan
Selections. —M.S.
82
Pacifico Sur 2006 Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon-Merlot (Curicó Valley);
$15. Vegetal is how I’d describe it, with
strong aromas of tomato leaf, olive, briar and wet
earth. The palate is snappy to the point of being
sharp, and the flavors are rooty yet pointed, with
notes of baked cherry and plum showing up. A
very herbal, stripped-back type of wine. Imported
by Rio Joe’s Brands Inc. —M.S.
82
Sun Valley 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Lontué Valley); $8. Cherryberry
aromas mix with a hint of vinegar and
cleanser to create a sketchy, foreboding bouquet.
The wine is a little blocky in the mouth, with both
weedy-herbal and plum-berry flavors. Finishes
with tolerable but noticeable bitterness and burn.
Imported by MJM Imports. —M.S.
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