Chilean cabernet reccomendations?

[Jenise]

For next month's neighborhood wine tasting, I've been charged with rounding up six Chilean cabernets. Price is an issue as I can spend an average of about $25 a bottle, so a $10 wines will help me afford at least one in the $50 or so range and I'd like to cover the spectrum.

The CyT Don Melchor is reflexively my first choice at the high-end, but that's because I like the wine and don't drink high end Chilean cabernets as a rule so I'm relatively uninformed about what's out there.

The Cousino Macul Antigua Reserve is another that I've been impressed with for it's totally traditional style and value.

Beyond those two, I'm at a loss. Like everyone else, I've had various of other wines over the years--Errazuris, Santa Rita, Montes--some vintages of which have been quite good for the price and others of which have been green and savagely herbaceous giving me the impression that vintage variability is huge. I'm leery to buy without tasting.

Going in, can anyone generalize for me about recent vintages? And are there any wines I should really not miss?

[David M. Bueker]

I can't generalize, but I tend to drink a lot of Chilean Cab at business events. It's usually the best thing available.

A few that have recently been decent or better:

Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon (this was very recent - probably a 2005 or 2006)
Cono Sur (yep!) Cabernet Sauvignon
Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon
Viu Manent Cabernet Sauvignon

They all must be cheap, as they were being poured by the glass.

I think Casa Lapostolle rules the low end of this market.

I agree on the Lapostelle cheapies.
A couple of years ago Oswaldo kindly invited me to an Executive Wine Seminar on South American reds. Tasted a lot of Chilean and Argentine wine. My favorites of the Chilean Cabs/blends were the '01 Casa Lapostelle "Clos Apalta" and '01 Viña Montes "Alpha M". Though I can't say I went looking for either (the best wines of the night were the single vineyard Achaval Ferrer Malbecs).

Unfortunately, the Casa Lopostolle Clos Apalta goes for something like $60. I 'd go for the Cuvee Alexandre

Montes Alpha is about $17, and gets a Cellar Tracker average of 88.4.

Chile is one of those countries I have not explored much, but what I have tried does not generally encourage me to look much further. The big exceptions for me are Montes Alpha wines. Their Cab Sauv is a decent drop, and good VFM.

For some reason I have not visited Chilean Cabs in many years. A long time ago the Los Vascos and Santa Rita were both good QPRs. Curious if they still are or has price increased and/or quality droped?

I agree, Dale. The Ferrer are very good. I also liked the Bodegas Caro Amancaya Gran Reserva, also Argentine.

The CyT Don Melchor is reflexively my first choice at the high-end, but that's because I like the wine and don't drink high end Chilean cabernets as a rule so I'm relatively uninformed about what's out there.

The Cousino Macul Antigua Reserve is another that I've been impressed with for it's totally traditional style and value.

Beyond those two, I'm at a loss. Like everyone else, I've had various of other wines over the years--Errazuris, Santa Rita, Montes--some vintages of which have been quite good for the price and others of which have been green and savagely herbaceous giving me the impression that vintage variability is huge. I'm leery to buy without tasting.

Jenise, the Montes wines I can recommend the Alpha series. at $20 they are hard to beat. And they can stand up to some aging too.

[Jenise]

I agree on the Lapostelle cheapies.
A couple of years ago Oswaldo kindly invited me to an Executive Wine Seminar on South American reds. Tasted a lot of Chilean and Argentine wine. My favorites of the Chilean Cabs/blends were the '01 Casa Lapostelle "Clos Apalta" and '01 Viña Montes "Alpha M". Though I can't say I went looking for either (the best wines of the night were the single vineyard Achaval Ferrer Malbecs).

[Jenise]

I agree on the Lapostelle cheapies.
A couple of years ago Oswaldo kindly invited me to an Executive Wine Seminar on South American reds. Tasted a lot of Chilean and Argentine wine. My favorites of the Chilean Cabs/blends were the '01 Casa Lapostelle "Clos Apalta" and '01 Viña Montes "Alpha M". Though I can't say I went looking for either (the best wines of the night were the single vineyard Achaval Ferrer Malbecs).

I've been hearing such good things about Lapostelle for years, you'd think I'd have tried one by now, but no. And I've heard a lot about Clos Apalta without realizing that was a Lapostelle. Good reccos. Also the "M". I liked it so much a few years ago at a dinner Bill Spohn and I both attended that I bought a few bottles for my cellar. Strangely they're not on my inventory. Better go look...oh no wonder. It was the 01 Errazuris Chadwick we bought, though I know I've had and liked the M. All would be good for the high end category in this tasting, though if I understand the Apalta style it might be a bigger, more vivid wine, which would work better in this tasting. Most of the people who attend are unfortunately not looking for sublety and elegance at $50.

Montes Alpha is about $17, and gets a Cellar Tracker average of 88.4.

I agree. I like the Montes Alpha also. Though its a bit over $20.00 down this way.

Richard

Alas, unlike some Argentinean malbecs, I have yet to taste much typicity in Chilean wine, even the Carmeneres. I've found the cabs (including most of the above, but not the Erraruriz) mostly quite competent, but they have usually come across as Bordeaux wannabes, some with a peculiarly new world flavor twist because aged in American oak.

If Chile could deliver some of the French experience at half the cost, there would be a place for it at parties and weddings. Ditto if Chilean wine demonstrated a peculiarly Chilean (as opposed to generic new world) typicity. Neither applies, in my experience. I hope your tasting is a success, Jenise, but perhaps the odds are stacked against it. Would love to be proven wrong, so I'm very curious about the results.

[Jenise]

If Chile could deliver some of the French experience at half the cost, there would be a place for it

You hit the nail on the head, Oswaldo. South Africa's already doing that, but Chile has never managed to convince the marketplace that there's a reason to spend more than $20ish on Chilean wine.

The one or two times I had the Clos Apalta, I was very impressed by the fruit and structure, it is (or was) not your typical overripe overextracted overalcoholic junk. I think Michel Rolland consults and we can criticize him as much as we like but I still think he makes very serious wines, ok, not much personality in most of them, and not very terroir driven to say the least, but still very serious good wines.

The Cuvee Alexandre from Casa Lapostolle is a step below but still very good.

I would also look at two other Cabs along with the Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alxandre; The Cousino Macul was always a good value and so was the Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo.

That said, and to reiterate Oswaldo's point, I don't think anyone should buy Chilean wines for their typicity; then again, I could say the same about 80% of the California wines these days.

[Jenise]

The one or two times I had the Clos Apalta, I was very impressed by the fruit and structure, it is (or was) not your typical overripe overextracted overalcoholic junk. I think Michel Rolland consults and we can criticize him as much as we like but I still think he makes very serious wines, ok, not much personality in most of them, and not very terroir driven to say the least, but still very serious good wines.

The Cuvee Alexandre from Casa Lapostolle is a step below but still very good.

I would also look at two other Cabs along with the Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alxandre; The Cousino Macul was always a good value and so was the Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo.

That said, and to reiterate Oswaldo's point, I don't think anyone should buy Chilean wines for their typicity; then again, I could say the same about 80% of the California wines these days.

Thanks Jacques and everyone--I've jotted down notes from your very useful comments and will use them in my shopping.

Jenise, while shopping pick up new issue of Decanter..big Chile taste-off.

I have always liked the Santa Rita Casa Real - I visited the vineyard when I lived in Argentina