Chilean Wine Tasting at WWWB

“There is truth in wine, but you never see it listed in the ingredients on the label”
― Josh Stern

I guess wine is considered to be above the law when it comes to the FDA and other organizations that regulate what we consume.  Even though most wines are made with very little other than the grapes themselves, there is no way to know based on the label, it is one of the only products that you consume that does not have a list of ingredients- even bottled water is required to have a list of ingredients today.

The best wines today are made with either: sustainable, organic or biodynamic practices and this is not only to make better wines but to maintain better vineyard health.  Just like it is bad for us humans to take antibiotics every time we have a little sniffle or cough, the vineyards are healthier and will live longer more productive lives if they are maintained with natural principles.

Like one of the top wines from Chile we will be showing at our Chilean Wine tasting on Friday, August 5th which is made from a vineyard planted in 1890!  There are very few places where you can find old vines like this, especially ones that are planted on their own rootstock!  This wine from Neyen winery is one of the best wines that I have tasted from Chile and is on par with some of the best wines that you will find from anywhere in the world today.  This is only one of the thirty + wines that we will be showcasing this evening

I have been touting the everyday wines from Chile for a long time now but the iconic wines like this Neyen also prove to be great values in the world of fine wines.  Try to find one of Napa Valley's top level wines at under $50 today or better yet try to find something from Bordeaux that is under $50 in the classified growth section.  The wines that are considered to have the best dirt go for big bucks in most of the world's established wine growing regions but in areas like Chile's Colchagua Valley you can still find wines from top vineyard sites selling at incredible prices and this tasting contains a plethora of great values including many of the iconic wines from this South American sleeping giant. 

Check out everything that we have in the store from Chile which is also included at the end of the list of tasting wines- yes every wine on this offering before you get to the menu are the wines that we will be serving on Friday, August 4th.

This is a walk around tasting and is limited to 35 tasters; the fee for this event is $45 + tax for reservations call 954=523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Neyen Apalta Red - An Ancient vineyard producing world class wines

2012 Neyen Apalta Red Colchagua Valley
Price: $56.50      Sale $49.72         6-pack $289

Patrick Vallet formerly from Chateau Pavie is the Consulting winemaker at this property where the original vineyard was established in 1890, making it the oldest in the Colchagua.  The vines produce less than 1 kilo per plant, so they naturally get very very low yields, a blend of 80% Carmenere and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  A good amount of dark plum and dark cherry, currant  fruit on the nose with fresh earth, mocha, espresso and dark spices, very complex bouquet.  Velvety and silky from the Carmenere and structure from the Cabernet Sauvignon both of which come from the 1890 vines.  Neyen means "Spirit" ion the local language and this wine has some of that minerality from Chile but has lots of everything else also.  Very complex on the palate with layers of spice dark fruit and exotic spices, big and chewy but has wonderful freshness through the finish.  Finish 50+  Most Excellent

Chilean Wine Tasting at WWWB
Friday, August 4th
7:30pm

Southern Wine

2013 Vina Almaviva Puente Alto Chile
Price: $118.75    Your Price: $104.50

(94 points) The 2013 Almaviva couldn't have had a more different growing season from 2012, as 2013 was wetter and cooler than the average. It was a good year for Cabernet Sauvignon, which took the leading role with a 72% in the final blend alongside 19% Carmenère (a grape that tends to suffer in cooler years), 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot. It had a classical vinification in stainless steel and an élevage of 18 months in 74% new French barriques. In the last few years, the blend comes from approximately two-thirds older vines (37-years-old) and one-third from younger ones (11-years-old); for other parts of the world, this might seem young, but in this part of Chile where the vines do not tend to have a long life, they are relatively old. 2013 was also a higher yielding vintage, which somehow helped produce balanced juice. The wine is fresher and more fluid, not as concentrated as previous vintages. It has a subtle nose with very nicely integrated spicy aromas from the élevage. The palate is very approachable, soft and velvety, with very good balance and a fine texture because of the very fine tannins. In a way it reminds me of the texture of the 2006, which is possibly the most Burgundian of their vintages. Yes, it's still a baby, but a baby that is approachable from now on, and should have a long life and development in bottle. 165,000 bottles were filled between January 5th and 14th of 2015. (12/2015) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Los Vascos Le Dix 2012
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

Deep ruby red color with light shades of brick. Bouquet of ripe red fruit such as plums, cherries and raspberries which blend with light notes of liqueur. Maturing in French oak barrels from the Tonnellerie de DBR (Lafite) cooperage gives the wine pleasant toasted notes which are well-integrated with flavors of black olives, black pepper, chocolate brownie, walnuts and chestnuts, all underscored with a hint of fresh figs, tobacco and cedar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with good structure, volume, and tannins which combine to offer a wine of outstanding elegance, balance and personality

Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 2015
Price: $13.75       Sale $    12.10     Case $141

Intense ruby red color. The nose is rich in fruit aromas, offering fresh plums, cherries, and ripe raspberries followed by pleasant black currant notes. Fruit aromas mingle harmoniously with hints of licorice and white pepper.

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley 2015
Price: $13.75       Sale $    12.10     Case $141

Pale yellow color with glints of green. On the nose, aromas of fresh pineapple, pear, green apple and honeydew melon combined with citrus notes of grapefruit and lime, and hints of tarragon and thyme. The palate has exceptionally well-balanced acidity, with a pleasant coating sensation and good persistence.

Ritual Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $202

(90 Points) "The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Ritual is sourced from a plot called La Gloria that is situated next to a forest, which is like a natural air conditioning, on granite, mica and quartz soils. It aims at being aromatic but it's also a wine with volume and texture. After pressing the full clusters, the juice fermented in egg-shaped concrete vats, stainless steel tanks and well seasoned barriques to provide more complexity and dimension. The nose is subtle and shows incipient complexity, bay leaf, gooseberries and some herbal notes. The focus here was on adding texture -- it's not only acidity; it has certain volume, and the flavors are focused and precise. The model is Sancerre rather than New Zealand." The Wine Advocate

Ritual Pinot Noir 2015
Price: $20.50       Sale $18.04          Case $210

A medium-bodied Pinot Noir with remarkable floral, cranberry and raspberry aromas. In the mouth, bright fruit flavors with a wonderful texture and extraordinary acidity. Smooth and balanced with a silky, velvety finish.

Republic National

2013 Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Chile
Price: $112.50    Sale $99.00          Case $1148

Don Melchor is a bright ruby red. Expressive and complex chocolate, black cherry and ripe plum mingle with coffee and cassis aromas. Full bodied with red fruit flavors and ripe tannins that lead to a long and juicy finish.

Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay
Price: $21.75    Sale $19.14    Case $222

2015 Concha y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Pinot Noir Limuri
Price: $23.25    Sale $20.46    Case $238

2014 Concha y Toro Carménère Valle del Rapel Marques de Casa Concha Peumo
Price: $23.25    Sale $20.46    Case $238

2015 Concha y Toro Valle del Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon Marques De Casa Concha
Price: $23.25    Sale $20.46    Case $238

2014 Concha y Toro Valle del Maipo Syrah Marques de Casa Concha
Price: $23.25    Sale $20.46    Case $238

Breakthru Beverage

Montes Cherub Rose
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

This wine is a very elegant and subtle crystalline pink in color. Blending two varieties results in greater complexity on the nose and palate. The Syrah delivers a very intense and fruity nose with aromas of fresh red fruits, and the Grenache contributes a very fresh palate with a smooth and pleasing finish.

Twins Red Blend
Price: $13.75       Sale $12.10          Case $141

It's a sensational double bill: wonderful richness, structure and fruit from the Cabernet, with smooth, velvety texture from the Malbec, adding up to a wine that's greater than the sum of its parts. A wine of vibrant acidity with layers of plum skin, blueberry and blackberry fruit while the oak aging contributes with subtle notes of vanilla and liqueur and its soft tannins provide a specially elegant finish.

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $202

Deep ruby-red in color and very fruity, ripe, and intense on the nose with a predominance of red fruit notes such as strawberries and ripe cherries. Black currants and candied fruit also appear on the palate, where the very well-integrated oak contributes notes of toast, toffee, fresh-ground coffee, tobacco, and vanilla.

Montes Alpha Syrah
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $202

Deep ruby red with a violet hue, this highly aromatic wine has a predominance of black and blue berries on the nose with notes of jam and caramel. French oak lends complexity, a touch of vanilla and black pepper, and aromas of coffee and toffee, with just a hint of nutmeg at the end. The palate is smooth and well balanced with nicely rounded tannins. This is voluminous wine with a long finish.  #37 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2015

Montes Alpha Carmenere
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $202

Deep and live ruby red color. The wine has a very elegant and evident Carmenere typicity, showing lovely black pepper aromas with hints of red berries, chocolate, a bit of vanilla and black plums. In the mouth is distinctively smooth, with rounded and soft tannins. Long finish. The oak is beautifully integrated and balanced.

Montes Purple Angel
Price: $75.75       Sale $66.66          Case $773

Intense carmine red in color with tremendous aromatic potency and a predominance of ripe red and black fruit, dairy notes, and a certain contribution of sweet spices, biscuits, and pastries. 18 months in oak barrels contributed aromas of vanilla, dark chocolate, nutmeg, and toast that harmonize very well with the ripe fruit. The palate has good structure, is correctly balanced, and has very well-rounded tannins in perfect harmony with the acidity from the 8% Petit Verdot in the final blend. It is creamy and lush with a long and persistent finish. Flavorful and very much in synch with its aromatic side.

Twenty One Wines

Undurraga Brut
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

Pale yellow with an intense, bright sheen. Small, constant bubbles rise through the glass until they form a delicate crown. Notes of autumn fruit such as apples and quince. Dry with balanced acidity, leading to a perfect finish.

Blend: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir

Undurraga U Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Price: $14.25       Sale $12.54          Case $146.00

This wine has an elegantly perfumed aroma and is fresh and very floral on the palate.

Undurraga U Series Pinot Noir 2015
Price: $14.25       Sale $12.54          Case $146.00

This Pinot Noir has a red color medium intensity and exuberant aroma featuring fresh red fruits including cherries and berries. On the palate it is a lush, vibrant wine with good acidity, medium volume and a smooth, long and persistent finish.

Undurraga Terroir Hunter Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Price: $29.00       Sale $25.52          Case $296

(90 Points) "The 2014 TH Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Maipo was sourced from the classical zone of Pirque in Alto Maipo, a cooler location within the valley. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 14 months. There are some meaty notes intermixed with ripe black fruit and spices but a notable absence of green and minty aromas, even though it's balsamic. 2014 was a low-yielding year, and the grapes achieved good ripeness; there's a little more concentration, a year that could have been dangerous if the grapes were picked too late. It's not the case here. " The Wine Advocate

Undurraga Terroir Hunter Pinot Noir
Price: $29.00       Sale $25.52          Case $296

Interesting mineral, deep cherry, and herbal-scented nose, with subtle nuances of gunpowder at first. As it opens up, it reveals delicate aromas of red and black cherries, sweet wild herbs, earthy and a light orange peel note. Delicate texture and medium body, with a vibrant mineral acidity and tensely structured tannins that provide tension to the palate and a long, fruit-driven aftertaste.

Stacole

Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris 2015
Price: $20.75 Sale $18.26 Case $212

(91 Points)  "Pale yellow. Fresh peach, tangerine and honey scents are complemented by subtle floral and herb flourishes. Silky and incisive on the palate, showing impressive heft and energetic lift to the juicy citrus and pit fruit flavors. Tarragon and candied orange zest notes cling on a very long, seamless finish that leaves dusty mineral and orange zest notes behind."  Vinous February 2017

Mayu Pedro Ximenez 2016
Price: $14.75 Sale $12.98 Case $151

Mayu Pedro Ximenez is grown both in the free-form ‘alberello’ style of vines as well as the traditional European ‘parral’ style of trellising. These vines have transitioned from Pisco producers to wine producers and now have much lower yields to increase the quality of the fruit. The grapes are hand harvested and then softly de-stemmed. They are crushed and gently pressed to separate the juice for fermentation and aged on the lees with batonnage.

Boya Rose 2016
Price: $15.75 Sale $13.86 Case $161

Aromas of raspberry and tangerine with a mineral finish. Well-balanced with fresh acidity and great texture.

Casa Silva Cabernet Sauvignon Los Lingues 2014
Price: $20.75 Sale $18.26 Case $212

(91 Points)  "Saturated ruby. Ripe cherry and cassis aromas display a peppery nuance and pick up a sexy floral pastille note with air. Sappy, supple and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that turn livelier on the back half. Supple tannins sneak in late, adding shape to very persistent dark berry and rose pastille qualities. I really like the mix of power and vivacity here."  Vinous February 2017

Casa Silva Carmenere Colchagua 2015
Price: $17.50 Sale $15.40 Case $179

Bright and intense ruby red. On the nose, aromas of black cherries and plums with hints of spices. On the palate, it is round and powerful with sweet soft tannins and balanced acidity. Long finish.

Casa Silva Micro Terroir Carmenere 2009
Price: $48.00 Sale $42.24 Case $490

Intense ruby red with violet hues. On the nose, delicate aromas of red and black fruits with hints of coffee. On the palate, harmonious, with very good structure, soft tannins and notes of ripe red fruits, spices and a soft touch of black pepper. Long, lingering finish.

Menu

Short Rib Empanadas with mole Sauce

Sausage Stuffed Green Olives with Avocado and Garlic Roasted red pepper puree

Humitas - boiled corn leaf rolls filled with seasoned ground corn and coffee robbed Pork Loin

Churrasco Flatbread with Chimichurri Sauce

This is a walk around tasting and is limited to 35 tasters; the fee for this event is $45 + tax for reservations call 954=523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.