Over the last couple of decades Chile has mounted a successful invasion of the American market by producing large quantities of extremely inexpensive wine. This is fine for those whose horizons never venture above the $7 shelf, and the wines have been a commercial, if not aesthetic, triumph.
At the same time, spurred on my the growing awareness in Europe and North America of Chile as a legitimate wine producer, foreign investment flowed in intent on producing high-end, prestige wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to rival, in terms of image, quality and inflated price, the best of California.
These have not generally been a great success, at least in my kitchen.
Somewhere between these two extremes lurk a group of wines all too easily overlooked. These are wines that get the quality/price equation right. My favorites among the reds at least, tend to be the Cabs. So, if you want a good, every day Cab that doesn’t taste like over-ripe California cola wine, or unripe Bordeaux acid juice, Chile is often a good place to look.
One fine example, this week’s Five Star Nick’s Wine Of the Week, is the Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Alto 2009 ($15)
Whoever put this wine together knew what they were doing – there’s an abundance seductively ripe red-fruit up front finely balanced by a refreshing acidity along with a judicious use of oak, and all given a bit of real structure by the presence of fine, mellow tannins.
Don’t look for a lot of complexity at this price, just enjoy it for what it is – a delightful, unpretentious every-day red that can be drunk with everything from pizza to barbecue.
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To find this wine near you try Wine Searcher
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