Tasting - Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Casablanca Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Gorgeous notes, pungent and complex with layers of aromas that transfer into the palate. Notes of gooseberry, key lime and herbs and jalapeno pepper hints give way to grapefruit and more tropical fruit richness, followed up with a touch of minerality. The palate gushes with pink grapefruit, gauva and a sweet, tart interplay that is fresh and vibrant. This has exceptional length and for the price this is a screamer. It is reported that Casa de Bosque makes one of Casablanca's best Sauvignon Blanc and supplies Sauvignon Blanc grapes to some well known wineries with big names who know this to be true. Exceptional value, this wine has great purity and vibrancy that gushes with crisp fruit, with a finish you could keep time with.

My Review: This wine had a very unique aroma. There were smells of grapefruit, herb, grass and basil. After tasting, there was an interesting jalepeno pepper flavor. It wasn't spicy but it had a peppery taste. It was also very smooth with little acidity which made it easy to drink.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - De Martino Legado Reserva Chardonnay

Name: De Martino Legado Reserva Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Limari Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: The 2010 Legado Chardonnay Reserve is aged in French oak for 11 months. It has a light hazelnut scented bouquet with a touch o f wild mushroom. The palate is medium-bodied with a beeswax and spice infused entry, crisp acidity and a phenolic, slightly overworked but still intriguing finish of dried pineapple and honeycomb.

My Review: This Chardonnay definitely had the characteristics of an oak aged Chardonnay. It had a oaky, somewhat buttery aroma. Upon tasting, the oak was present and the wine throughout was very creamy and smooth with no fruit flavors. I did not like this wine since it was too oaky and creamy and not acidic and fruit flavored.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Casa Silva Quinta Gen. Red

Name: Casa Silva Quinta Gen. Red
Variety: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenere, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Syrah
Region: Colchagua Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2005
Price: $30.00

Winery Review: It has a bold, dark crimson color, an inviting, fairly high toned nose of wild sage-like notes against really intense cassis. There's plenty of oak here, and a certain leafy quality adding to that lifted aromatic. On the palate it is a very fine, dry, inky black fruit, but very polished as are the tannins, the acidity feeling quite natural and the 14.5% alcohol again just a touch prominent along with the spicy, smoky oak.

My Review: I did not enjoy this wine. It had a very strong oak and smoke flavor and smell as the winery review pointed out. It was also very bitter and dry probably from the 14.5% alcohol content. There was no fruit flavor and only had plant and wood flavors.

I did not have this wine with food.