In this week’s Wine O’ Clock column, Giles Luckett says he’s a ‘huge fan’ of Chilean wines…
As regular readers of this column may have gathered, I’m a huge fan of Chilean wines. I’d contend that when it comes to offering beauty on a budget, even Spain can’t compete with Chile.
While some of their finest wines have got pricey, a bottle of (the amazing) Vinedo Chadwick will cost you around £250, many of their wines offer exceptional value for money as this foursome from Errazuriz proves.
Wine O’ Clock with the Lynn News. Photo: iStock
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc marries new world exuberance with old world complexity. The Errazuriz Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Morrison £9.50) does this by offering a bouquet of gooseberries, nettles, and green peppers, with softening touches of peach and pear.
The story continues in the mouth, where green fruit vibrancy and yellow tropical fruit richness create a satisfying whole.
If I had a penny for every New World Chardonnay that was oakier than Thetford Forest, I’d have, well, enough to be living in Burgundy sipping Montrachet. Oak and Chardonnay are natural bedfellows, but balance is all.
The Errazuriz Reserva Chardonnay (Waitrose £10) offers honey, peach, tropical fruits, and lemon zest. The vanilla oak is noticeable, but it’s in the chorus rather than the lead.
Making great Pinot Noir is something every winemaking nation aspires to, and it’s an aspiration most never fulfil. Chile is blessed with the climate and soils to make great Pinot, and the Errazuriz Reserva Pinot Noir (Tesco £9) has consistently proved itself one of the best.
Medium-bodied and easy-going, it avoids jamminess or tartness, offering red berry and cherry fruit, a rounded mouthfeel with highlights of spice and a touch of cream to the finish.
I’ll finish with a new wine (to me), the Errazuriz Reserva Syrah (Ocado £8.75 on offer). Destined to be one of my wines of the year, aromas of cassis, sour cherries, and thyme leap from the glass. This is followed by a fresh, black pepper-edged wave of black berries, cherries and juicy strawberries.
The finish is dry, and savoury, and has a lot in common with its big brother, the Las Pizarras Syrah (London End Wines, £63). Wow!
I hope you’ll try some of these exceptional wines. Next time out, I’ll be looking at some autumnal reds.
Dining and Cooking