Sept 27th.
I attended the annual Chile tasting here in Edmonton. The trade session was in the afternoon and was fairly well attended. There were around 40 tables but I missed the entry level type wines, trying to spend more time with the reps who had the good stuff! There were a few CEOs from Chile as well as a couple of winemakers.
The Whites.
`05 Montes Alpha Chardonnay. Initial hint of spritz on tip of tongue, lacked a mid-palate. Average.
`07 Montes Sauv Blanc. Bought in by hand from Chile, n/a yet. Not too aggressive, nice acidity, floral, herbal, mineral component. Best SB there by far.
`05 Amayna Chardonnay. Mineral, papaya, terrific mid-palate right through to a long finish. SB was good too.
`06 Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay. No oak, very average, tip of tongue acidity attack. So so.
`05 Cono Sur Gewurztraminer. Always have a bottle handy, winner again. Nice sample of correct varietal. Dry, lycee, tangerine and a good price. QPR forumites!
`05 Amelia Chardonnay ($32 Cdn), not yet available. Toast, vanilla, round, served too warm, good finish.
The Reds.
For comparison, one table had 3 Syrah side by side.
`05 Valdivieso. Candied and funky, tannic lacks fruit, poor wine like many from here.
`06 Cono Sur "Vision". Not bad, nice depth of color, no nose. Pretty soft tannins w. cherry, blackberry, average.
Finally `05 Casa Marin, outright winner. Only 5th harvest here, good nose, nice depth. Black fruits, meaty, currant, berry. I met CEO at another table later.
`05 Antu Syrah MontGras. Only $18 Cdn, winner. 12 % cab added, Paul Hobbs here, pepper, blackberry QPR forumites. Has replaced Limited Edition.
`05 Gran Reserva Cab Sauv Espiritu de Chile. New winery, central valley, currants black fruits. Floral perfumed, they will get there in time.
`03 Finis Terrae Cousino-Macul. Cab and merlot, elegance on nose, oak, vanilla. Bell pepper does not distract from overall felling here. Soft tannins, nice.
`05 Casa Silva Carmenere Reserva. Not bad, silky tannins, elegant, good tannins. Drink now in my book.
Casa Marin. My new discovery and met CEO lady/winemaker. 2 brilliant Pinot Noir (burgundian in style), lovely dry Gewurz, smashing SB.
The `03 Pinot Noir "Litoral" was a first vintage. Fr oak, 3 yrs in bottle, nose had that funky barnyard aroma. Terrific fruit, still some tannins, very nice. The `03 PN "Lo Abarca Hills" needs 2 yrs, terrific again as above. Check this winery out at http://www.casamarin.cl
Thats it!!!
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