New Releases from Chile

As in recent years it was Chile’s sauvignon blancs that impressed me most in my annual tastings, especially at the lower price points, which is great news for consumers who might be looking for alternatives to increasingly pricey New Zealand versions. The colder vineyards to the north and south of the traditional Maipo and Maule Valley growing regions benefit from cooling ocean breezes and extended growing seasons, the latter allowing for increased aromatic and flavor development, not to mention concentration. And the wines increasingly deliver on these advantageous conditions.

I was pleasantly surprised by the freshness of more chardonnays than usual this year too: fewer wines showed extreme oak flavors and cloying sweetness than in the past. More producers are taming the green character that often plagues Chile’s merlots and carmeneres, and there are some excellent pinot noirs coming onto the market that merit serious attention too.