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The Chilean Million
Article Posted: Thursday August 30th
Article last updated on: Thursday August 30th
TLC's Tip Top Chilean Tips
Chile has been making wine since the sixteenth century. The pioneers were probably influenced by Hernan Cortes in Mexico who told the settlers there to plant a thousand vines per annum. The period 1938 to 1945 was one of parched throats as wine drinking was banned. Then in the early 1970s many wine estates were commandeered by the government. Now Chile is the third largest exporter to the United States behind France and Italy. In Britain in 1995 fourteen million bottles of Chilean wine were sold. A quick guide to the wines that helped sell a million two hundred thousand cases from the long thin land. 1.Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc 1995. Stg 4.49 available from Oddbins, WM Morrison, Europa Foods The nose is spot on for a S/B with a quite delicious palate of living gooseberries. 2. Villa Rosa Sauvignon Blanc 1995 Stg 3.69 Available from Havelock Wines, Irvine Robertson, Ellis of Richmond, Waters of Coventry, Whitalls Wines, Terry Platt, Whitesides of Clitheroe Softer and less punchy than the Santa Carolina. 3. Andes Peak Chardonnay.1995 Stg 3.99 Available from Berekely Wines, Wine Cellars. Nice softish fruit with a slightly dusty grippy finish. 4. Caliterra Casablanca Chardonnay 1995 Stg 4.99-5.49 Available from Threshers, Oddbins and Tescos. Very good soft buttery fruit. 5. Vina Casablanca White Label Chardonnay 1995 Stg 4.99 Available from Oddbins, Eldridge Pope, Moreno Wines. Rather nice ripe muscaty tropical fruit. 6. Casa Leona Chardonnay 1995 Stg 3.99 From Marks & Spencers. Ripe, soft and a very typical chardy. 7. Casillero del Diablo, Chardonnay 1994 Stg 4.99 From Victoria Wine, Safeway. Lovely butter and honey. 8. Valdivieso Pinot Noir Reserve 1994 Stg 5.95 From Waitrose, Thresher, Fullers, Adnams. A REAL Pinot Noir, quite brilliant. 9.Carta Vieja Merlot 1994 Stg 3.99 From Majestic. Very nice fruit, quite soft and long. 10. Isla Negra 1994 Stg 3.99 From Waitrose, Fullers, Oddbins. Very nice berries and plums, needs food. Black Synthetic Cork. The Top end of the tip top big sellers
11. Villard Sauvignon Blanc.1995 Stg 4 99. From Thresher. WIZARD. 12. Santa Rita Gewurztraminer Reserva 1995 Stg 4.99 Contact GRA. Nice spicy fruit with a good dry finish. 13. Echeveria. Unwooded Chardonnay Stg 6. 99 From Harrods. Quite big and fat yet with a lean finish. 14. Las Casas del Toqui Chardonnay Grande Reserve 1995 Contact Castle Growers for price etc. Lovely buttered oak. 15. Montes Alpha Chardonnay Stg 7.99 From Hedley Wright, Christopher Piper Wines. Marvellous buttered limes. 16. Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre 1994 Stg 7.99-9.99 From Oddbins, Eldridge Pope. This Merlot shows promise it is very closed concentrated fruit. 17. Mont Gras Merlot Reserve 1994 Stg 5.99 From Enotria Wine Cellars. Superb round blackcurrants and strawberries. Very nice indeed and perhaps the pick of the bunch. 18. Cabepa Magnificum Cabernet Sauvignon 1993 Stg 9.99 From Thierry's Wine Services. Still grassy and tannic fruit, this one needs plenty of time.
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