The 34th Annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival pours into Vancouver on February 27th and runs until March 4th, 2012 and as with every year there is a regional theme and this year it is the Wines of Chile and Cabernet(s) as the global focus.
Over the past two decades, the global wine business has become extremely competitive and today even the most elite of wine countries face very stiff competition. The economic meltdown of the past 3-4 years has greatly affected the wine business here in BC and no doubt abroad also. All one has to do is look at the different wine categories in BC and compare them to what they were in 2007/2008. Australian was in a steady decline from its heyday at the beginning of the century. Today Australia is in the negative, down over 4% from last year. (December 2011 Quarterly Market Review…latest stats available)
Argentina had filled the void vacated by Australia by introducing consumers to Malbec but even they have succumbed to the economy or consumers are just getting tired of cheap Malbec tasting all the same. The category is up slightly over 5%, down from the halcyon days of 41%, 4-5 years ago. However, the wine business does not stand still and competition for shares in the world market is ever increasing were even Australia and Argentina must now worry about challengers from countries such as Chile.
Since the debut of Chilean wine in the BC market more than 20 years ago, they have for the most part been known for their good value wine with the occasional stellar bottling that captures the wine world by surprise. Nevertheless, with the vast array of varieties like Syrah, Carmenère, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir being produced in unique micro-climate valleys such as Colchagua, Limari, Leyda, Casablanca and others, the potential for Chile is endless. More than 60% of the wine is exported, the highest national export level in the world. Most of that are value wines. But it remains a wine country that is one step away from achieving world wide acceptance and producing wines that could rival the great wines of France.
Chilean Wine Picks:
A deep, intensely purple/violet colour, the 2009 Viña Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carménère ($25) displays aromas and flavours of rich blackberry, black cherry, cocoa, vanilla, clove and cinnamon mixed with cedar, tobacco, black tea and tobacco. The palate is loaded with fresh, jammy black fruit, spice and chocolate with a hint of menthol, cigar box and great complexity. Soft, lush acidity and firm tannins round out this spectacular wine.
The 2011 Viña Chocalán Sauvignon Blanc ($16) is a deliciously great value, loaded with fresh grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, gooseberry and kiwi with mouth-watering, zingy, crisp acidity and clean fresh fruit flavour. The palate is crisp, attractive, and easy drinking with lots of tropical and orchard fruit flavours. A great accompaniment to seafood, goat cheese-stuffed chicken (my fav) or as an aperitif.
Displaying an opaque black deep crimson mauve colour with superb aromas of violets, blackcurrants and cassis, the 2008 Viña Koyle Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($19) boasts mouth filling flavours of dark chocolate, cassis, spice and black pepper. The finish has soft, velvety acidity, balanced by firm tannins followed by exceptionally long aftertaste of dark chocolate, violet infusions, blackcurrant and cedar
The 2010 Dona Dominga El Jardin Vineyard Carménère ($16) is a stunning deep purple-red wine with hints of violet, offering up complex aromas of blackberry, crème de cassis, licorice and smoke with traces of dried herbs, vanilla and cream. The palate is silky-smooth with rich fruity characteristics wrapped up with soft acidity and firm tannins. For a great price you get a fantastic red with a plump texture, intense flavours of ripe dark fruit, plenty of complexity and a long, powerful finish.
A spectacular value in Chilean wine, the 2010 Viña Maipo Carménère-Cabernet ($11) is an 85%-15% blend of these two delicious grape varieties. The colour is a deep ruby red with rich complex aromas and flavours of blackberry, raspberry, and cassis with hints of Asian spice, chocolate and vanilla. The finish has soft acidity and medium tannins.
Intense and complex, the 2007 Viña San Pedro 1865 Syrah ($28) was aged for 12 months in French (95%) and American (5%) oak barrels, of which about 50% of which are first use and the rest second and third use. An intense, opaque purple/violet-red wine loaded with aromas of toasted wood, creamy vanilla, cassis, blackberry, plum, black cherry, roasted meat/dry-rub spices, licorice, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. The palate is full of intense flavours of candied black fruit, rich chocolate, soft, velvety acidity and silky tannins leading to a full, concentrated finish. One of the finest Syrahs on the market, it is enjoyable now or cellar over the next decade.
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