June 2013 - enter here

Styles reach across a broad spectrum.Fortunately, and impressively, though,value is the glue that holds the diversitytogether. Wines at the budget end, suchas Viña San Pedro’s Epica and Casillerodel Diablo’s new Winemaker’s Blend aresmooth, juicy and easygoing. Jumping upin price toward $20, the wines show morestructure and intensity. And toward $40and up, Chilean red blends are big, seriousand complex. The pricing is in synch withthe wines’ character—and in most cases representexcellent value compared to similarlypriced blends from California and Europe.Chile is clearly in the midst of a learningphase with respect to red blends. Littleis being taking for granted, and chances arebeing taken. For example, Montes—whomade their first Bordeaux-style “M” fromthe 1996 vintage—is going Rhône with anew wine under their Outer Limits label.Rodrigo Soto, chief winemaker atHuneeus VintnersMatías Barros, marketing manager for thewinery, says “CGM,” a Carignan-Grenache-Mourvèdre, is the product of extreme highdensityplantings at the highest elevationsin Colchagua’s acclaimed Apalta sub-zone.“The three grapes each add something,”he notes, “and the blend was born of playingwith them. Carignan is the elegantnose, Grenache the pure fruit, Mourvèdrethe backbone.”Especially at higher price points, effortsare being made to express both quality anda sense of place. Emiliana’s “Coyam,”now in its tenth vintage and hailingfrom a vineyard fresh off Biodynamiccertification, is an example of how blendsare works in progress. Winemaker NoeliaOrts explains: “Over the years, Coyam haschanged as we came to better know ourvineyard—the special plots, the appropriatemanagement for each variety like pruning,leaf thinning, green harvest, sun exposure,etc., the precise moment to pick the grapes.We taste lots of berries to decide whenthey are ready. And of course each yearCoyam has different grape percentagesand the varieties can even change. There isno recipe.”Taken as a whole, the upswing in Chileanred blends is itself best viewed as a blend—of experience and novelty. Americans canlook forward to a steady flow in vintagesto come, as Chilean red blends representsome of the most interesting wines in theSouthern hemisphere. nTASTING NOTES: CHILEVERAMONTE RESERVARED BLEND 2012Central ValleySimplydelicious.This wineis a perfectexample ofthe wholebeing moreimportantthan theparts; full of fruit but not tuttifrutti.Just enough structureto make it food-ready. Superbvalue. SRP: $12HACIENDA ARAUCANO“CLOS DE LOLOL” 2009Lolol ValleyImpressivley structured andelegant, reflecting French roots(Francois Lutron); aromas ofjam and tobacco, then veryround in the mouth with tanninappearing in the balancedfinish. Refined, complex.Blend is 38% Carmenere, 28%Cabernet Sauvignon, 20%Syrah, 14% Cabernet Franc.SRP: $24MONTGRAS “QUATRO” 2011Colchagua ValleyJuicy without being overripe,smooth but not soft, fullflavoredbut not heavy, thisblend of Cabernet Sauvignon,Carmenère, Malbec and Syrahhas a dressy-casual feel. Openfor dinner…or for a party. Nicered fruit from start to finish.SRP: $15PRIMUS “THE BLEND” 2010Colchagua ValleyPlenty ofplum fruitand just akiss of oakhere. Atonce freshand rich;harmonious,with velvetytanninspeekingthrough in the finish. Blend is39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28%Carmenere, 23% Syrah, 10%Merlot. SRP: $19.99LOS VASCOS “GRANDERESERVE” 2010Colchagua ValleyAt 75% Cabernet Sauvignon,this blend’s character leanstoward Bordeaux. Cherry,plum and blackberry mix withcedar, pencil and spice notes.Elegant, balanced; excellentbang for the buck. SRP: $20EMILIANA “COYAM” 2010Colchagua ValleyThis generous wine displays itsSyrah (38%) prominently; alsohas Carmenere, Merlot, anddollops of other grapes. Stylisticallydark in fruit, but bright andvibrant. Vanilla, pepper andfloral notes provide complexity.Fine structure. SRP: $37SANTA RITA “TRIPLE C” 2007Maipo ValleyVery Bordeauxlike,with abalance ofearthinessand fruit, thiswine is 65%Cabernet Franc,30% CabernetSauvignon, 5%Carmenere;each grapeis vinified andaged separatelythen blended just beforebottling. Develops beautifully inthe glass. SRP: $38NEYEN “ESPIRITU DEAPALTA” 2008Colchagua ValleyBig and beautiful, thisCarmenere-Cabernet blendhas ample fruit, oak, tanninsand length, with herbal and tobacconotes adding complexityto concentrated red fruits. Surprisinglyyouthful impressionbodes well for aging as well.SRP: $50