Two Bargain Red Wines from Chile: Is Either a Great Value?

Chile has a long winemaking tradition. In recent years, its wines have garnered greater attention around the world, both for their quality - and in some cases, their extraordinary value. Here we will sample two red wines from Chile - one pinot noir and one cabernet sauvignon - and assess their quality/price points. Four geographic areas surround the Chilean wine growing region: the Andes Mountains on the east side, the Pacific Ocean on the west, Atacama Desert in the north and a range of claiers in the south. The barriers isolate Chile, protecting the vineyards and creating a wide range of grape-growing regions.

Review, Caliterra Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Caliterra Reserva Cabernet is a quite inexpensive Chilean selection. It hails from the Valle Central region of Chile. Caliterra is one of Chile's larger wineries, producing almost half a million cases of wine a year.

In the glass, Caliterra Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon shows as a very deep magenta. On the nose, it shows a dark, brooding, charred grapes quality.

The palate comes across as both sweet and charcoal, bringing lightly sweetened, blackened plum fruit up into the sides of your mouth. Fat finish, moving to alcohol. Three stars out of five. At price, makes it an outstanding value.

Find Caliterra Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

Review, Cono Sur Pinot Noir.

Like Charlie Brown's attempts to kick the football that Lucy always pulls away from his foot, I keep trying to find the elusive value-priced pinot noir. Consider Cono Sur my latest attempt in this so-far-mostly-futile effort.

I will mention that I did enjoy the Veranda Pinot Noir from Chile. But, two caveats: the Veranda hails from a different area; and sells for about twice the price of the Cono Sur.

So, let's see what the Cono Sur offers... In the glass, it is light, even, ruby red - glistening, pretty, but not suggestive of depth.

The nose is promising - though distinctly un-pinot-noir-like. It is light, bright, almost buoyant - like a fresh new beaujolais.

Sipping, you notice a twang of pinot noir strawberry and a touch of lemony acids. It brings these bright flavors to the center of your palate, then fades fast to a high-pitched, light finish. Not objectionable, but not a worthy contender in my search for the "world's best value pinot noir". Two stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale. My hunt continues...

Find Cono Sur Pinot Noir at WineZap.