The weekend is upon us and you may have your favorite, expensive bottle ready to open. But there is more than enough space on the wine bar to open a few bottles of wine under $20. Each week I suggest wines which are in that affordable price range and which will pair well with a Friday night dinner at home, with friends who drop by unexpectedly, or with a good book waiting for you on the back porch! This week’s choices from Rios de Chile were sent to me as samples. One recent evening I opened these wines, a Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenere, with friends who were amazed at the terrific price point as well as the taste.
Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in Chile and the coastal vineyards are producing some delicious wines with high alcohol and ripe fruit notes. At this time, almost half of all black varieties of grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon. A plethora of styles from simple to complex can be found. Carmenere is a Bordeaux variety and arrived in Chile mixed with cuttings of Merlot in the 1800s after the Phylloxera disease dessimated the vineyards in their home of origin. In 1994, Carmenere was identified from those mixed cuttings and now is considered a variety calling Chile its home.
Are you thirsty for a glass of wine from Chile?
*Rios de Chile Sauvignon Blanc 2011 – Everyone loved this crisp, light wine with 13.5% alcohol. Pale lemon in the glass, I found aromas of stone fruit, pear, citrus, a hint of grapefruit, and minerality. With plenty of acidity to make it truly food friendly, the subtle tastes of more grapefruit and citrus paired well with our cheese course. One friend remarked that the Sauvignon Blanc will be perfect for summer days and another aptly stated, “What’s not to like for $10”? Agreed!
*Rios de Chile Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – On the nose, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was a jar of jam with ripe red fruit and a dash of earth and herbs. Plenty of tannins, spice, and more red fruit added up to a robust red wine with more earthy spice on the finish. The cost is $10.
*Rios de Chile Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – With 14% alcohol, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon presented plenty of dark red fruit and smooth aromas which led into the first sip. There were more earth and herbal notes in this Cab than the previous choice and the chewy tannins paired with our platter of charcuterie and cheese. Vanilla and oak spice on the short but satisfying finish were a crowd please! Cost is less than $15.
*Rios de Chile Carmenere 2011 – Some felt that the Carmenere from the Central Valley was too heavy, but I loved it. Dried fruit, spice, and some peppers on the nose continued as the sips began. This highly tannic wine was very spicy with red fruit and we decided that it will be a terrific pairing with chili or steak. The finish was long enough and the price is low at only $12 so drink now.
*Rios de Chile Reserva Carmenere 2009 – Aromas of blueberries, green pepper, vanilla, cloves, and smoke were enticing and intense. Smooth and balanced with high tannins, high alcohol, plenty of fruit, and enough acidity to make it work, this Carmenere had a medium finish and demanded barbecued meat or a rich stew as a complement to its earthy taste. Drink this wine now – no further aging is needed. Cost is $15.
At this price point, you really should find these wines from Chile and give them a try. You may discover yet another wonderful bottle of wine for under $20! And if you’d like to learn more about Rios de Chile wines, just like them on their Facebook page at Rios de Chile and follow them on Twitter at @Rios_de_Chile.
Cheers to the weekend! ~ Cindy
