($71, Austral Wines):  Made entirely from Carménère, arguably Chile’s signature grape, grown in the famed Apalta sub-region, this juicy bottling displays a wonderful combination of red and dark fruit with spice and other non-fruit, savory notes.  Like the Vertice, the tannins are present, yet supple and not intrusive, so this hearty red is ready for mid-winter fare. … Read more

($29, Austral Wines):  This bold blend of Syrah and Carménère, combines attractive elements of each grape.  Together, it’s a harmonious blend of dark fruit, leafy notes — Carménère speaking — and smokey peppery nuances of Syrah.  A suave texture allows you to enjoy this weighty, yet not overdone, wine now. … Read more

($20, Park Street Imports):  Lying about 50 miles west of Santiago, the Leyda Valley sits on the cool Pacific coast, which explains, in part, why this Pinot Noir is so engaging.  Restrained, not overblown or over-ripe, this mid-weight red delivers a harmonious mix of savory and leafy notes intermixed with red fruit ones. … Read more

($146, Winebow):  Clos Apalta has become one of Chile’s most acclaimed red wines, and deservedly so.  The 2019 certainly merits that accolade.  Despite a 15 percent stated alcohol, the 2019 Clos Apalta is balanced and suave.  Intense and rich, yes, but not flamboyant or over-the-top. … Read more

($151):  Before Seña, Almaviva, Clos Apalta, or Viñedo Chadwick appeared on the scene, there was Don Melchor, standing head and shoulders above every other Chilean wine.  Formerly, Don Melchor was the flagship of the Concha y Toro winery.  Since 2019, it has become its own entity and winery within Concha y Toro, hence the subtle change in producer to Viña Don Melchor. … Read more

($14, Gonzalez Byass USA):  Also made with organically grown grapes, the Veramonte Reserva Pinot Noir is darker and more structured than Alto de Casablanca’s Ritual bottling.  It also delivers more savory notes.  Taken together, this youthful Pinot Noir calls both for more robust fare and either a year or two in the cellar or an hour in the glass.… Read more

($21, Gonzalez Byass USA):  Made with organically grown grapes, this Pinot Noir conveys an enticing combination of red fruits and savory qualities, all touched with a hint of toasty oak.  The suave texture of this fresh and juicy mid-weight Pinot Noir makes it ideal for current consumption, with, say, grilled salmon.… Read more

($21, Eagle Peak Estates):  Despite a similar ripe dark fruit quality and the same 14.5 percent stated alcohol as the Carménère in this line, Concha y Toro’s Marquis de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon has a very different flavor profile.  This bold Cabernet displays a lovely hint of olives, mint, and other savory notes that balance and enhance its dark berry flavors. … Read more

($22, Eagle Peak Estates):  Carménère, a grape once mistaken for Merlot in Chile, often displays an alluring, slightly herbal component.  A hint of that character peeks through the quite ripe — 14.5 percent stated alcohol — profile of this one.  A perception of sweetness accompanies its ripe dark fruit character. … Read more

($25):  Valle del Limari, in the north of Chile, is hot and dry, not exactly the conditions that Pinot Noir loves.  But Concha y Toro’s shines, in part, because of the vineyard’s location on the banks near the Limari River, which cuts through the coastal range of mountains and allows cooling Pacific Ocean air to bath the grapes. … Read more

($25):  Carmenere (often spelled Carménère), originally and still planted in Bordeaux, has taken off in Chile.  Growers there confused the grape with Merlot (which was often planted in the same areas long before precise record keeping became the norm) and wound up harvesting it too early, which led to weedy, green flavors in the wine. … Read more

($18, Vinecrest Co):  Made with organically grown grapes, this is a hearty and well-balanced blend of Cabernet Franc (31%), Syrah (26%) and Carmenere (22%), with the balance filled out by equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It’s a powerhouse, to be sure, but thankfully it is not over the top. … Read more

($39):  This robust blend of mostly Syrah (42%) and Carmenere (39%) works beautifully.  For those who are interested in things like this, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Malbec, Carignan, Tempranillo, and Mourvèdre fill out the blend.  There’s red and black fruit flavors, spice, and herbal notes, all wrapped in silky tannins. … Read more

($14, Baystate Imports):  Though considered Argentina’s signature red, Malbec is grown all over the world.  This rendition, from neighboring Chile, is a lighter style of Malbec, weighing in at a modest 13.5 % stated-alcohol.  A hint of earthy nuances balances its fruitiness. … Read more

($17, Eagle Peak Estates):  The heart of Chile’s Colchagua Valley, one of the prime areas for growing red varieties, lies 30 miles or so inland, east of the Pacific Ocean.  Marchigüe, a lesser-known area with the Colchagua Valley, sits on the cooler coast. … Read more

($14, Taub Family Selections):  Los Vascos consistently produces an excellent-value Chardonnay.  The 2020 fits that mold.  Zesty acidity balances delicate tropical fruit-like flavors in this mid-weight Chardonnay.  Those looking for the rich, buttery style should look elsewhere.  Those who want a spritely rendition will love it and its price.     … Read more

($22, Taub Family Selections):  This Cromas Gran Reserva is the new name for Los Vascos’ mid-level Cabernet Sauvignon, below Le Dix in stature, but above their straight Cabernet.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) with Syrah and Carménère, it’s ripe and plush. … Read more

($13, Miguel Torres USA):  This Sauvignon Blanc, the white equivalent of Torres’ Las Mulas Cabernet, is, like the red counterpart, balanced.  It delivers a pleasant bite characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc without shaking you by the lapels.  Lively and fresh, it’s another excellent buy.… Read more

($22, Miguel Torres USA):  Miguel Torres has vineyards throughout Chile to match grapes with areas particularly well suited to them.  The grapes for this one come from the Maipo Valley, an area renown for top Cabernet Sauvignon.   Very aromatic, this Cabernet has good weight and delivers a mix of dark black fruit interspersed with spicy savory notes. … Read more

($54, Miguel Torres USA):  Named for Manso de Velasco, the Governor of Chile during colonial times and the founder of the city of Curicó, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes exclusively from 100-plus year-old vines grown on the estate of the same name. … Read more

($14, Miguel Torres USA):   Miguel Torres, one of Spain’s leading producers, expanded to Chile in 1979, becoming the first foreign investment in that country’s wine industry, according to their website.  Torres introduced the Las Mulas line — the wines are made entirely from organic grapes — in 2010. … Read more

($10, Taub Family Selections):  It’s not really a 94-point wine, but I have to get your attention.  This wine shows the deficiency of using points to rate a wine. It’s spectacular in the context of a $10  bottle Sauvignon Blanc.  If there’s a more enjoyable one out there at the price, please let me know. … Read more

($10, Taub Family Selections):  If there’s a better ten-dollar Chardonnay on the market, please tell me.  Racy and vibrant, with a touch of spice, it is delicate, but not vapid.  It has surprising weight and depth for the price.  If you’re looking for opulence kissed by vanilla from oak aging, you will not embrace this wine. … Read more

($61, Taub Family Selections):  Los Vascos, the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) property in Chile, unsurprisingly makes great red wines.  This one, Le Dix, is their top-of-the-line offering, and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85 percent) with equal amounts of Syrah, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. … Read more

($17):  The oversized bottle suggests this will be an oversized wine.  But it’s not.  Rather, mineral-y, savory flavors balance its ripe fruitiness.  A suave texture adds to its appeal.  Wonderful acidity keeps it fresh and amplifies its charms.  A hint of sweetness appears in the finish. … Read more

($30, Banfi Vintners): This is an impressive Carménère released in Concha y Toro’s Terrunyo line. New World ripeness and suppleness are apparent, but the inherently earthy character of Carménère still shows, which makes for a succulent, layered wine. 92 Michael Apstein Dec 6, 2005… Read more

($22): This Carménère from Alcance, a Chilean winery under the umbrella of the Jackson Family Wines Collection, is a good introduction to this grape.  Carménère was formerly planted in Bordeaux but has fallen out of favor there because it is a late-ripening variety that often failed to reach maturity there. … Read more

($24): This is a marvelous $24 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Black fruit flavors, a savory green olive component and the structure provided by its suave tannins means it’s a great choice to accompany a slab of beef this summer or fall. … Read more

($30): Emiliana is Chile’s leading producer employing organic and biodynamic methods.  The wine is so appealing, it’s worth unraveling the label.  Signos de Origen is one of Emiliana’s lines of wines that highlight the origin of the grapes — in this case from a sector of the Casablanca Valley known as La Vinilla. … Read more

($125): For decades, Don Melchor has traditionally been Chile’s emblematic wine.  Despite competition from other top Chilean producers with their top Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, Don Melchor remains a Chilean icon.  The 2011 shows why:  Enticing, hard to define aromas capture your attention immediately. … Read more

($15, Trinchero): Is it just a coincidence that a producer named Carmen should excel with Carmenere, which is arguably Chile’s national grape?  Coincidence or not, they’ve excelled with this 2011.  The Apalta area, one of the most famous ones in the Colchagua Valley, supplied the raw materials and the winemaking team at Viña Carmen turned them into excellent wine. … Read more

($125, Excelsior Wine and Spirits): Don Melchor is the flagship wine of Concha y Toro, one of Chile’s leading producers.  It is always ones of Chile’s best wines.  And the 2010 is no exception — it is simply stunning and all the more so as it sits in the glass. … Read more

($22, Excelsior Wine and Spirits): Cabernet is king in the Maipo Valley and especially Puente Alto region, which explains why some of Chile’s finest Cabernet-based wines carry this appellation. For example, Don Melchor, the iconic — and expensive ($100+) — wine from Concha y Toro, one of the country’s leading producers, hails from Puente Alto. … Read more

($82, Palm Bay International): The grapes — entirely Cabernet Sauvignon — for Casa Real, the flagship wine from Santa Rita, come from their vineyard surrounding their home estate in the Maipo Valley, one of the best regions in Chile for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. … Read more

($18, Vintus): Errazuriz, one of Chile’s leading producers, is based in the northerly Aconcagua Valley, instead of near Santiago, home to most of the other leaders in the industry.  Their “Wild Ferment” Chardonnay has always been one of my favorites, especially at the price. … Read more

($20, Vintus): Aconcagua Costa is a subregion of Aconcagua, Chile’s most northern most premium wine growing area.  Closer to the Pacific Ocean, it is a cooler area, perfect for Chardonnay, a grape than expresses itself best in cooler climate.  Errazuriz has taken advantage of the location to making a stunning $20 Chardonnay (if it carried a Napa Valley appellation it would be at least twice as much.) … Read more

($24, Vineyard Brands): Cono Sur has done it again with their top-of-the-line, “20 Barrels” bottling.  Their 20 Barrels Pinot Noir (previously reviewed) was excellent.  This Cabernet Sauvignon shows they’ve mastered more than just one variety.  Not a massive wine, it’s pure Cabernet delight with a seamless interplay of fruit, herbs and savory notes. … Read more

($11, Vineyard Brands): This fruit-focused Pinot Noir manages to avoid the sweetness trap so many fruit-focused wines fall into.  Subtle savory notes help balance the overt fruitiness found here.  Tannins, predictably, are polished to allow for immediate enjoyment.  What’s most startling is this kind of quality in Pinot Noir at this price. … Read more

($25, Vineyard Brands): Cono Sur’s “20 Barrels” bottling represents their best lots — a reserve bottling, essentially.  This Pinot Noir is bigger and more concentrated than their superb value regular bottling without going over to the dark side.  They’ve managed a seamless combination of fruit and savory notes enrobed in glossy tannins. … Read more

($14, Vineyard Brands): This wine bears six references on the front and back labels and the capsule to organically grown grapes.  Whether it’s the organically grown grapes or just solid winemaking, this fresh and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is a delight.  A zesty, grapefruit-like zing awakens the palate without assaulting it and balances its pure and precise fruitiness. … Read more

($20, TGIC Importers): A bright lemony finish adds balance and a welcome restraint in this fruit-focused Chardonnay.  Hints of spice balance the lively pineapple-like nuances in this easy-to-recommend wine.  Its mid-weight character will not overwhelm so it’s as easy to sip before dinner as it is at the table.… Read more

($18, T.G.I.C. Importers): Aurelio Montes was one of the pioneers of the premium wine industry in Chile when he and his partners founded the Montes winery in the late 1980s.  His dogged determination has helped draw the world’s attention to Chile as a source of upscale wines. … Read more

($80, T.G.I.C. Importers): With their “M” bottling, which they don’t produce every year, Montes has consistently demonstrated the heights that Chilean red Bordeaux blends can achieve.  Indeed, the M could stand for “marvelous” or “magnificent.”  It explodes on the palate delivering dense ripe and savory components that play off beautifully against one another. … Read more

($15, Vineyard Brands): Despite coming from the Casablanca Valley, a cool coastal area of Chile where you’d expect more delicacy in Pinot Noir, this one is a riper, more intensely styled wine with hints of bacon fat.  Tannins are similarly ripe and supple, which means it’s a good choice for current drinking. … Read more

($12, Vineyard Brands): Chile’s geography–a long narrow strip of country protected by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes on the other–explains why it’s a leader in organic agriculture, including grapes and wine.  Cono Sur trumpets that this wine was made from organically grown grapes in four places, twice on the capsule and twice more on the label, just in case you might not get it. … Read more

($12): Chile’s Casablanca Valley’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean with its cooling influences has made it a popular source for lively white wines that focus on freshness.  And this Sauvignon Blanc does just that.  A grapefruit-like zing and mouth cleansing acidity makes it a good choice for this summer to accompany lighter seafood dishes. … Read more

($14, Opici): Chile’s location, a long thin country squeezed between the natural barriers of the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, is well known for their pesticide-free organic agriculture.  So it’s no surprise that we see lots of wines “made with organic grapes” coming from that country. … Read more

($12, Vineyard Brands): Viognier can be a difficult grape to vinify because the window between ripeness and over ripeness is narrow.  Cono Sur has succeeded admirably with this attractive, bargain-priced rendition.  They’ve captured the spice and floral nature of Viognier while avoiding heaviness and warmth of excessive alcohol. … Read more

($20, Huneeus Vintners): This collaborative effort by two giants, Chilean icon Agustin Hunees, and California star, Paul Hobbs, will appeal to those who like power in their Pinot Noir. Ripe black fruit notes a hint of seductive toasty oak come together in this rich full-blown wine.… Read more