The presenting winemakers/winery representatives included:

• Cristian Aliaga, Veramonte
• Felipe Tosso, Viña Ventisquero
• Rafael Urrejola, Undurraga
• Brett Jackson, Valdivieso
• Vivianne Alamo, Viña Santa Rita
• Matias Rios Langevin, Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery
• Cecilia Guzman Arriagada, Viña Haras de Pirque
• Arnaud Frennet, Viña Casa Silva

They answered questions and shared personal stories on top of discussing their own wines and their love of Sauvignon Blanc in general. Most of the bloggers, including me, were tweeting during the event. If you’d like to review the stream, check out #SBChile.

In addition to tasting wines, I thoroughly enjoy it when I have the opportunity to visit with winemakers and kick the dirt in the vineyards. While my first choice would be to visit in person, I am thankful for the technology that allowed me (and my fellow bloggers) to visit with winemakers on another continent. One of these days I hope to be able to visit Chile so that I can complete the experience and kick the dirt in the vineyards, as well as meet some of these talented winemakers in person.

My favorite wine of the tasting was the 2009 Undurraga T.H. (Terroir Hunter) Sauvignon Blanc from the Leyda Valley. It was very refreshing and had screaming acidity. In fact, it reminded me a lot of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which I love. The Undurraga is an excellent sipper by itself and also great with food. While we tasted through all eight wines without food during the online event, Wines of Chile had sent a recipe for a shrimp and scallop ceviche that they thought would pair well with the wines. So the next day, we made the ceviche to accompany our dinner of blackened halibut, wild rice, and mixed vegetables and drank the Undurraga T.H. with it. The ceviche and halibut were scrumptious, and the Undurraga really shined with food.

If you have not had Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, I encourage you to give it a try.

Here are the wines we tasted, listed in my personal order of preference:

2009 Undurraga T.H. Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley, Chile): T.H. stands for Terroir Hunter. Pale yellow in color. Very aromatic with grapefruit, melon, and citrus fruits on the nose. More citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit, melon, and a hint of bell pepper come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with screaming acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish. Reminds me of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $15.99 – $16.99

2009 Santa Rita Medalla Real Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish yellow. Grapefruit, grass, and some green vegetables on the nose; lots of lime, lemon, grapefruit, and some green notes on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Good balance and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

2009 Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc (Paredones Estate, Colchagua Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Grapefruit aromas lead to flavors of grapefruit, lime, pineapple, tropical fruits, and toasted nuts. Medium-bodied and very crisp with a slight effervescence. Good balance and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $22.99

2009 Cono Sur Organic Sauvignon Blanc (San Antonio Valley, Chile): Pale yellow in color. Tropical fruits and minerality come through on the nose; more tropical fruits, particularly pineapple, on the palate. Medium-bodied and very crisp with good balance and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $13

2009 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Fresh, grassy aromas lead to flavors of lime and melon with a hint of saltiness. Light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10.99

2009 Haras de Pirque Haras Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Maipo Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Minerality, creosote, and petrol aromas on the nose; minerality and faint citrus notes on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Suggested Retail Price: $12

2009 Ventisquero Queulat Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish yellow. Minerality and citrus aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Very different and not very pleasant.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Suggested Retail Price: $17

2009 Valdivieso Single Vineyard Wild Fermented Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley, Chile): Medium golden yellow in color. Unusual nose with aromas of petrol, kiwi, and honeysuckle. Heavy on the palate; tastes like a hardware store. Medium-bodied and lively with a long finish. A very different style from the others. Not my cup of tea.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Suggested Retail Price: $21.99

Full Disclosure: We received these wines as samples.

Wines of Chile: Exploring Chilean Sauvignon Blanc was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 18 May 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Last week, we had the pleasure to take part in an online tasting hosted by Wines of Chile. Eight Chilean winemakers convened in Santiago, Chile, to talk about their wines via video conference to wine bloggers across the United States.

The presenting winemakers included:

• Magdalena Sosa, Santa Carolina
• Arnaud Hereu, Odfjell Vineyards
• Grant Phelps, Viu Manent
• Matias Rios, Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery
• Gonzalo Carcamo, Viña La Rosa
• Felipe Tosso, Viña Ventisquero
• Oscar Salas, Terra Andina
• Sebastián Labbé, Viña Carmen

This group of winemakers was a fun and lively group. They were more than willing to answer questions and share personal stories on top of discussing their own wines and their love of Carmenere in general.

In addition to tasting wines, I thoroughly enjoy it when I have the opportunity to visit with winemakers and kick the dirt in the vineyards. While my first choice would be to visit in person, I am thankful for the technology that allowed me (and my fellow bloggers) to visit with winemakers on another continent. One of these days I hope to be able to visit Chile so that I can complete the experience and kick the dirt in the vineyards, as well as meet some of these talented winemakers in person.

My favorite wine of the tasting was the 2008 Viña La Rosa ‘La Capitana’ Carmenere from the Cachapoal Valley. It was bigger, bolder, and more complex than the others. Rounding out my top three were the 2007 Viu Manent Carmenere Reserva and the 2004 Carmen Wine Maker’s Reserve Red.

If you have not ever tasted Carmenere, I encourage you to give it a try.

Here are the wines we tasted, listed in my personal order of preference:

2008 Viña La Rosa ‘La Capitana’ Carmenere (Cachapoal Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Oak and alcohol come through on the nose but it’s not oaky on the palate. Instead, it boasts dark chocolate covered raspberry flavors. Bigger, bolder, and more complex than the others. Medium-bodied with medium tannins. Smooth and well-balanced with a long finish.

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $18

2007 Viu Manent Carmenere Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Tons of green peppers, even a hint of jalapeño, on the nose. Ripe red fruits and some oak on the palate. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a long finish.

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $14

2004 Carmen Wine Maker’s Reserve Red (Maipo Valley, Chile): 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carmenere, 20% Petite Sirah, and 10% Merlot. Has a gorgeous nose. Aromas and flavors of dark fruits, spice, and chocolate. Full-bodied with medium to high tannins and a long, smooth finish. A big, bold wine. The Cab really shows through in this one.

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $44

2007 Cono Sur Vision Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 85% Carmenere, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Syrah. Cono Sur means Southern Cone (i.e. the tip of South America). Smoked meats and black pepper on the nose. Good acidity but also getting some cherry cough syrup action on the palate.

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $15

2007 Odjfell Armador Carmenere (Colchagua and Maipo Valleys, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Pine needle and black cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with low tannins and some spice notes on the finish.

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $13

2007 Ventisquero Grey Carmenere (Maipo Valley, Chile): 85% Carmenere, 7.5% Syrah, and 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Burnt crème and a little barnyard on the nose. Also getting syrupy red fruits and chocolate on the palate, and some bitter, pine needle notes on finish. Full-bodied with medium tannins.

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)

QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)

Suggested Retail Price: $25

2007 Santa Carolina Reserva Carmenere (Rapel Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Red fruits, coffee, and lots of oak. Medium-bodied with low tannins. A bit of a bitter finish.

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)

QPR: NR (not recommended)

Suggested Retail Price: $10

2007 Terra Andina Altos Carmenere – Carignan (Central Valley, Chile): 60% Carmenere, 40% Carignan. Stewed tomatoes and sweaty gym socks on the nose. Raspberries, blueberries, and green pepper on the palate. Medium-bodied with medium tannins. Didn’t get a lot from this wine, the finish trails off.

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)

QPR: NR (not recommended)

Suggested Retail Price: $18.99

Full Disclosure: We received these wines as samples.

Wines of Chile: Exploring Carmenere was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:09 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

When I think football, I’m thinking leather, dirt, locker rooms, and sweat, so I’m looking for some good inexpensive wines that will give me a little of that football feeling and that will hold up to this crazy diet. Several wines that immediately come to mind are:

• 2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet  (Australia), approx $8
• 2006 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Chile), approx. $8
• 2006 Atlas Cumbres Malbec (Argentina), approx $10
• 2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz (Washington), approx  $7

With 34 games, you’ll want to buy these by the case and save another 10-15%. Since I’m sure that you expect your teams to win, just as I do, you’ll also want to stock up on some bubbly to celebrate after the game. A couple of good inexpensive sparkling wines to consider are:

• Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs (Washington), approx $9
• Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava (Spain), approx $8

To make bowl season even more interesting, the Wine Peeps have decided to host a contest. Leave a comment below with your picks for the following 12 bowl games (one game for each bottle of wine in that case you’re going to buy) before Saturday, December 20, at 11am EST. The reader with the most correct picks wins a Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator.

In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker goes to the reader who correctly picks the winner of the National Championship game followed by who submits their picks first.

All times Eastern
Pioneer Las Vegas (12/20, 8pm, ESPN): BYU vs. Arizona
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (12/23, 8pm, ESPN): Boise State vs. TCU
Emerald (12/27, 8pm, ESPN): Miami (FL) vs. California
Valero Alamo (12/29, 8pm, ESPN): Missouri vs. Northwestern
Pacific Life Holiday (12/30, 8pm, ESPN): Oklahoma State vs. Oregon
Brut Sun (12/31, 2pm, CBS): Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi (1/1, 4:30pm, ABC): Penn State vs. USC
FedEx Orange (1/1, 8:30pm, FOX): Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
AT&T Cotton (1/2, 2pm, FOX): Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech
Allstate Sugar (1/2, 8pm, FOX): Utah vs. Alabama
Tostitos Fiesta (1/5, 8pm, FOX): Ohio State vs. Texas
FedEx BCS National Championship Game (1/8, 8pm, FOX): Florida vs. Oklahoma

Football Watching Wines for Bowl Season was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

“Chilean winemakers have been developing a distinct style for their Cabernet Sauvignon, producing an easy drinking wine with soft tannins….” –Wikipedia

While other varietals are starting to come on the scene, Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely king in Chile. Chile has been producing wine since the mid-1800s when Europeans brought vinifera grape varieties from Bordeaux. Thankfully this was before the phylloxera and powdery mildew outbreaks in Europe so Chile boasts some very precious European vine cuttings that avoided the plague.

The first bottle that I selected was the 2006 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. I was intrigued by this wine because Los Vascos is owned by Domaines Baron de Rothschild of France (of Lafite Rothschild fame). I was curious to see what an $8 bottle of wine from a company known for their $300 bottles would taste like. While it is a decent sipper, it certainly bears no resemblance to its more prestigious cousin.

Since we at Wine Peeps believe in blind tasting, I wanted to find another bottle to taste against the Los Vascos. To keep the tasting fair, I wanted to find another wine from the same vintage at a similar price point. Once my choices were narrowed, I selected the 2006 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva from the Valle Central of Chile. While the Calina was better than the Los Vascos, neither knocked our socks off.

Neither of these wines was as big as most traditional Cabs. For me, that was disappointing. However, if Cabs tend to generally be too bold for you, one of these might be good to try. And for $8, what would it hurt to give it a shot?

2006 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Valle Central, Chile): Dark purple with dark berry aromas. Spicy and earthy. A decent sipper; not a big traditional Cab. Medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue), $7.49; Available elsewhere, $8 to $10

2006 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua, Chile): Ruby red in color and somewhat transparent. Aromas of chili peppers and bell peppers lead to a distinctive baked cherry pie flavor on the palate. A decent sipper; not a big traditional Cab. Not very complex, not well-balanced, short finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue), $7.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $20

Wine Blogging Wednesday #52: Value Reds from Chile was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:50 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

“I’m a big fan of Shiraz…great quality and value.” –Francis Ford Coppola

While virtually every wine lover is familiar with Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France and Shiraz [sha-RAZZ] from Australia, I am more and more impressed with the quality of Shiraz/Syrah from areas not traditionally known for this grape, such as Washington and California in the United States as well as Chile and South Africa. It is beginning to look like Shiraz/Syrah might become the new Cabernet Sauvignon; a grape that dominates some regions but also makes good wine almost everywhere it is grown.

For example, legendary Penfolds Grange winemaker John Duval from Australia not only has his own Shiraz/Syrah label Down Under [Entity] but also has projects in Washington State [Sequel] and Chile [Pangea].

In California, the Wine Spectator’s James Laube says that Syrah is proving to be that state’s most versatile grape, with two dominate styles emerging. He says that “one features spicy, peppery, wild berry flavors, with tight tannins and pleasant earthy notes, modeled after the wines of Northern Rhone. The other is a riper, more opulent, berry-centered style, more reminiscent of Aussie Shiraz.”

Speaking of Australian Shiraz, many wine aficionados mistakenly think Australia is a newcomer to the wine production business because their imports to the United States have only exploded since the 1980’s. However, when you visit Australia, you quickly realize that the wine industry there is actually older than in the USA when you see winery cornerstones dated from the 1840’s and 1850’s. In fact, Australia has some of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in the world, some over 100 years old. The reason for these ancient vines is that Australia has been free from phylloxera, the pest that ravaged the vineyards of France and California making it necessary to replant vines in those areas by grafting onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock.

It will be interesting to follow the evolution of Shiraz/Syrah in the many new areas of production and see if it will in fact become the next Cab.

What is the best Shiraz/Syrah that you’ve ever had?

Is Shiraz/Syrah the next Cab? was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Mon, 26 May 2008 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

We followed the same format as last time for the tasting. All four of us Wine Peeps got together one afternoon, put all 13 bottles out on the table and tasted them one-by-one, discussing them as we went.

Eleven out of the thirteen bottles we tried this time were white wines. Unfortunately, this set of wines was not as solid as the wines in the last tasting, but we did find four new wines that we would like to try again sometime.

All in all, it was another fun tasting! After checking off the boxes on our Wine Century list, Dad (John) and I both have now had over 100 different grape varieties. It’s time to turn in our applications for membership in the Wine Century Club.

Just because we’ve officially met the requirements for our Wine Century lists doesn’t mean that we are done trying new grape varieties. We have learned so much, discovered new wines, and uncovered some great values. Therefore, we’ll remain on the lookout for new varieties to try.

The next time you’re buying wine (in your local wine shop, online, or in a restaurant), consider trying something new and then come back and tell us about your experience.

Here’s a rundown of the wines that we tasted (regions listed in parentheses).

Our favorites:

2007 Dominio del Plata “Crios de Susana Balbo” Torrontes (Salta, Argentina): Grape: Torrontes. Soft, golden straw color. Fragrant aromas of apricots and magnolia blossoms with a hint of sweetness. Apricots and orange peel come through on the palate. Similar to a cross between Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. Well-balanced with medium plus body, refreshing acidity, and a smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $12.99

2005 Bleasdale Verdelho (Langhorne Creek, Australia): Grape: Verdelho. Light gold with aromas of burnt toast and butter. Too much oak for me but a great value for a California Chardonnay fan.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $9.99

2006 La Posta del Viñatero Cocina Blend (Mendoza, Argentina): Grapes: 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, 20% Syrah. Deep, dark, inky purple like Welch’s grape juice. Aromas of cherry pie and oak. Ripe fruit flavors with some sweetness on the back end. A good sipper with subtle tannins and a short finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $13.99

2006 Pra Soave Classico Superiore (Veneto, Italy): Grape: Garganega. Deep, rich gold with fruit salad aromas. Citrus, almond, nutmeg, and spice on the palate. Crisp acidity and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $13.99

The others:

NV Bortolomiol Prosecco Brut Prior (Veneto, Italy): Grape: Prosecco.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $14.95

2006 Val de Lainos Verdejo (Rueda, Spain): Grape: Verdejo.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $10.99

2005 Teruzzi & Puthod Vernaccia di San Gimignano (Tuscany, Italy): Grape: Vernaccia.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $9.95

2006 Weingut Schmelz Grüner Veltliner “Pichl Point” Federspiel (Wachau, Austria): Grape: Grüner Veltliner.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $15.99

2006 Emiliana “Natura” Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Grapes: 87% Carmenere, 4% Syrah, 4% Petite Verdot, 1% Malbec.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $8.99

2006 Mancini Vermentino di Gallura (Sardinia, Italy): Grape: Vermentino.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $11.99

2006 Domaine de la Pépière Classique Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie (Loire Valley, France): Grape: Melon de Bourgogne.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $11.99

2005 I Favati Fiano di Avellino (Campania, Italy): Grape: Fiano.
Quality: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $17.99

2006 Ermacora Tocai Friulano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy): Grape: Tocai Friulano.
Quality: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $15.99

What is the best “non-major” grape variety that you’ve ever tasted?

Wine Century Club Tasting II was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:40 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

“You only have so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one.” –Len Evans

Wine prices are not inherently linked to quality and pleasure. As we’ve said in the About page, we’ve tried wines in and from almost every major wine-producing area in the world. We’ve had blind tastings and wine tasting dinners to compare what we thought were our favorites from each region and each varietal.

My conclusion: A high price does not necessarily make a great wine. In fact, the least expensive wine has actually been the consensus favorite more often than the most expensive wine in our tastings. That is why we started this blog with the post, You can’t taste the label. Here are some examples of wineries I have found that produce great wines at reasonable prices:

United States
Washington:
Columbia Crest
Domaine Ste. Michelle (sparkling)
California:
Pedroncelli
Rosenblum
Sebastiani
Villa Mt. Eden

Australia
Jacob’s Creek Reserve
Penfolds (Koonunga Hill Range)
Peter Lehmann
St Hallett
Thorn-Clarke
Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Canada
Jackson-Triggs

Chile
Concha y Toro

France
Chateau Branda
Chateau Potensac
Chateau Thieuley
Guigal

Italy
Gabbiano
Michele Chiarlo

New Zealand
Kim Crawford
Nobilo
Matua Valley
Saint Clair

South Africa
Fairview

Spain
Las Rocas de San Alejandro

We’ll make specific vintage and varietal recommendations from many of these wineries in coming weeks and months as well as identify other great value producers from around the world as time goes on.

You can buy great value wines for under $20 (some under $10). was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:26 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.