WTNs: Two cabs from Chile (Los Vascos & Ventisquero)

At my nephew's birthday barbeque:

2004 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 13.2%
This is the regular bottling. Promising nose of church incense (I find anything unusual promising). Cherry and pepper, some tannin, a bit hot and slightly dilute. But not as bad as I'm making it sound. Decent barbeque quaffer from the house of Lafite.

2001 Ventisquero Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (alcohol not noted)
Nice to run into a Chilean wine no longer in diapers. For the first time, I detect passion fruit in a red wine, provoking sensorial double-take. Good mouthfeel and acidity, though also a bit hot and peppery. Lush plum and cherry fruit flavor with a halo of tar and smoke. Richer and more complex than the Los Vascos, but a bit disjointed, so not as good as I'm making it sound.

At least my long-standing complaint that I have yet to find local flavor in Chilean wine got a minor jolt from the church incense and passion fruit. Will be on the lookout for recurrence!

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks for the notes Oswaldo. So how did the wines go with the pulled pork and ribs?

Thanks for the notes Oswaldo. So how did the wines go with the pulled pork and ribs?

Swimmingly!

Oswaldo,

Here is my note from the 2004 Los Vascos regular bottling:

Nose: Soft cherry and leather.

Taste: Cherry and dark fruit. Some spice. Noticeable tannin, but not overpowering. Moderate finish. May need a year.

Oswaldo,

Here is my note from the 2004 Los Vascos regular bottling:

Nose: Soft cherry and leather.

Taste: Cherry and dark fruit. Some spice. Noticeable tannin, but not overpowering. Moderate finish. May need a year.

Thanks, Sam, replace incense with spice, and we're not so far off!