The 2011 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Estate grown grapes in the Colchagua Valley of Chile’s Central Valley. Los Vascos translates to The Basques, which is a region in northern Spain and southern France. In 1750, the Echenique family, who had migrated from the Basque region, founded this vineyard. In 1988, Barons de Rothschild, of…
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The 2011 Ritual Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from two Veramonte Winery estate vineyards (one is organically farmed) in the Casablanca Valley grape growing area of the Aconcagua Region of Chile. Most of the Chilean wines you see on the store shelves are sourced from Chile’s Central Valley, but Casablanca Valley is located on the coast and…
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The 2012 La Playa Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc sourced from La Playa’s 600 acre sustainably farmed vineyard in the Colchagua Valley sub region of the Rapel Valley inside Chile’s Central Valley. The Colchagua Valley is one of Chile’s premier growing areas for Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenere….
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The 2012 Smoking Loon Merlot is sourced from grapes grown in vineyards located inside the Central Valley of Chile. Smoking Loon is one of Don Sebastiani and Sons labels, they are negociants, they find the best deals on excess wine from around the world and sell them under their own label. The 2010 and 2011…
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The 2011 Mascara de Fuego (Mask of Fire) Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from several vineyards in the Central Valley of Chile. The Mascara de Fuego line is the entry level brand for Chateau Los Boldos, a family owned wine Estate founded in 1991. Their vineyards are much older, the Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in…
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The 2011 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from vineyards from three different grape growing valleys inside Chile’s Central Valley. Casillero del Torro is one of the value labels owned by Concha Y Toro a huge winery that has been in business for 130 years, they also produce/own Cono Sur, Trivento…
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The 2012 Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards in the Central Valley of Chile. Smoking Loon is one of Don Sebastiani and Sons labels, others include Pepperwood, The Crusher and Project Paso. They are negociants, which means they own no vineyards, through their contacts and sources they find excess grapes or juice from other vineyards around…
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The 2011 Epica Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay sourced from Vina San Pedro’s sustainably farmed vineyards in the Casablanca and Curico Valley’s in the Central Valley of Chile. Epica is one of Vina San Pedro’s value lines of wine, Vina San Pedro was named New World Winery of the Year for 2011 by Wine Enthusiast. The 2011 vintage in Chile was unusually cool allowing the grapes to develop and ripen slowly and fully. This Chardonnay is produced with minimal manipulation, allowing the true flavors of the fruit…
Read MoreThe Epica Sauvignon Blanc 2011 is an immensely refreshing Sauv Blanc from Chile’s Valle Central (Central Valley) from Viña San Pedro, one of Chile’s most prolific suppliers. These guys won the award in 2011 for Wine Enthusiast’s Best New World Winery. Rightfully so – they make some freakishly good wines over there that you’ve probably…
Read MoreThePanilonco Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive sourced from vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, Chile. The Colchagua Valley is located in the southern end of the Rapel Valley in Chile’s Valle Central and is known for having ideal soil and climate to grow Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Panilonco is one of Vinedos Marchigue’s…
Read MoreThe Natura Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Syrah grown in certified organic vineyards in Chile’s Valle Central. Natura is Emiliana Organic Vineyards organic line of wines, they also offer sustainably farmed wines and biodynamic wines which take organic growing methods to a whole new level. 20% of this Cabernet Sauvignon…
Read MoreThe Calina Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 is sourced from vineyards in the Valle Central in Chile. The Valle Central grape growing region is composed of 4 valleys that are situated between the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Mountain Range, the grapes were grown in the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curico Valley, but mostly from…
Read MoreThe 2010 Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir ($8.99) is sourced from vineyards in the Maule Valley of Chile’s Central Vally. Santa Carolina has been in business since 1875. The Central Valley is the largest of Chile’s wine regions and it is located directly on the other side of the Andes Mountains from the Mendoza growing region…
Read MoreThe Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir is a non-vintage (grapes grown in two or more different years blended together) wine sourced from vineyards in the Central Valley of Chile. Pepperwood Grove is one of the labels owned by Don Sebastiani and Sons who operate as negociants, they buy grapes from all over the world and have their…
Read MoreThe 2011 Trader Joe’s Vinas Chilenas Merlot is a Trader Joe’s $3.99 exclusive. The wine is produced by Videma from grapes grown in Chile’s Central Valley. Videma’s vineyards are under the control of the Tarapaca Group, which includes noted winemaker Paul Hobbs. The Tarapaca Group instituted the “Ultra Premium Oenological Center,” with the goal to…
Read MoreThe 2010 P.K.N.T. Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from multiple vineyards in Chile’s Itata Valley. Most wines you see imported from Chile are produced in the Central Valley, but the Itata Valley is the northern most of 3 valleys that make up Chile’s Southern Region. This is a young wine, no oak barrel…
Read MoreThe Tussock Jumper Carmenere is the Chilean entry for Tussock Jumper’s 13 wines from around the world. The grapes are sourced from the Colchagua Valley, located in the southern part of the Rapel Valley, which again is part of Chile’s Central Valley. All the valleys are that these wine-growing areas are sandwiched between the Chilean Coastal…
Read MoreThe 2010 Found Object Syrah is a Trader Joe’s ($7.99) exclusive, sourced from the Colchagua Valley, in the Rapel Valley region of Chile. The Colchagua Valley is the sweet spot for Chilean wine, they have a Mediterranean climate and receive cool morning breezes off the Pacific Ocean, just like Napa Valley, only with no smog…
Read MoreThe 2010 Panilonco Chardonnay Viognier (80% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier) is a Trader Joe’s ($4.99) exclusive sourced from grapes grown in the Colchagua Valley by Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle, the largest family owned winery in Chile. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats and the alcohol content is 13.5%. The color is a pale butter yellow….
Read MoreThe 2010 Araucano Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot sourced from several cool weather vineyards in the Curico, Maipo, Maule, but mainly from the Lolol growing regions in the Central Valley of Chile. The Pinot Noir vines in this area are relatively young, the average age of the vines is 7 years old (it takes 3…
Read MoreThe 2010 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from various Vina Cono Sur Santa Elisa Estate vineyards located in the Central Valley of Chile. The Central Valley runs the entire length of Chile, with the Andes on one side and the Coastal Range on the other. Cono Sur is not just a play on words,…
Read MoreWe reviewed the 2010 vintage of the Trader Joe’s Vinas Chilenas Sauvignon Blanc Reserva and thought it was a steal at $3.99. At that price, the winemaker can’t spend too much money on the wine making process, so these Trader Joe’s 4 buck specials are only as good as the grapes that are used and…
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