Best Chilean Pinot Noir under £15
These wines are great value, and scored well in the coastal Chilean Pinot Noir Decanter panel tasting...
Best Chilean Pinot Noir under £15
As Patricio Tapia pointed out: ‘Based on this tasting, a number of producers are successfully moving out of the experimental into a more mature phase.’
See the full panel tasting and wines in the October issue of Decanter, on sale now. Subscribe to Decanter here.
Dirceu Vianna Jr MW said this tasting shows how much more progress has been made. ‘Moreover, we saw exciting diversity – in terms of styles and price points – which is new and very welcome.’
DWWA Regional Chair for Chile, Peter Richards MW endorsed this view: ‘There’s a solid platform now and, encouragingly, we are starting to see more confidence and risk-taking.
‘In the past, we’ve had good wines – even some excellent wines. But they haven’t been the kind of wines that really excite Pinot lovers. Today’s wines are.’
More from the tasting:
Casablanca consistently performed extremely well. As Richards commented, ‘Casablanca has been on an upward trajectory of late, and is in a very good place right now.’
Next came Leyda, Limarí and San Antonio, which all did well, albeit with more variability. One disappointment was that there wasn’t more representation from the south of Chile.
‘I would have liked to have seen more examples from Bío Bío and Itata – and sadly there was only one entrant from Elqui in the north.’
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their latest-release Pinot Noirs (maximum two per producer) from Bío Bío, Malleco, Aconcagua Costa, San Antonio, Casablanca, Leyda, Limarí, Paredones, chonoElqui and Atacama.
Echeverria, Gran Reserva Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2013
95
<p>This Curicó-based winery is one of Chile’s more traditional names in wine; the family boasts both Basque and French heritage. The house style of Roberto Echeverría and son Roberto Jr combines a typical Chilean intensity with an unashamedly old-school elegance and ageworthiness. This coastal Pinot Noir, though sourced far from the winery, is evidence of an assured hand, showing great development and charm. Some malty development overlaying the dried and juicy fresh fruit. A foodie style, in an elegant way. A developed Pinot Noir that needs drinking with food – beautiful stuff.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Peter Richards MW</em></strong><br /> Elegant, with light baked herbs and leafy notes, plus dried and fresh red fruit. Fine abundant tannin and classy maturity. Very focused, pure and savoury. Accomplished and elegant in age, but perhaps needs some food. Love this!</p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Patricio Tapia</strong> </em><br /> Evolved, but still with lovely tannin structure and vibrant acidity. Very attractive and enjoyable indeed.</p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Dirceu Vianna Junior MW </strong></em><br /> Showing its age – at its peak of drinking – but the bouquet is elegant, restrained and complex akin to an old world wine. Lovely tertiary notes and silky texture.</p>
2013
Echeverria
Undurraga, TH Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, San Antonio, Chile, 2013
92
Malty, tamed tertiary aromas present, including notes of leather, earth and tar which leads onto a self-contained palate rich in spice, herbs and wild red fruit that is refreshing and complex in an old school style. Lovely stuff!
2013
UndurragaLeyda Valley
Bodega Volcanes de Chile, Tectonia, Bío Bío Valley, Chile, 2014
91
Ripe, rich cherry and redcurrant flavours, generous and complex spice. The wine feels fresh and crunchy with a grippy, tangy style that seems quite young. A powerful style of Pinot Noir.
2014
Bodega Volcanes de Chile
Viña Mar, Pinot Noir Reserva, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2014
91
Tense and tight with lovely notes of flowers, wet earth and sweet spices. Quite Old World in style, there is good concentration and energy here on the back of the savoury notes; this is ready for sausages but also has an ageing potential of 2-3 years.
2014
Viña Mar
