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The Wines We Tasted
120 Sauvignon Blanc
Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, 2002
Floresta Sauvignon Blanc, 2002
Reserva Chardonnay, 2002
Reserva Merlot, 2002
Reserva Cabernet, 2001
Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000
Floresta Petite Syrah / Merlot / Cabernet, 1999
Triple C, 1999
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Our Setting:
Seasons Restaurant,
Queen Elizabeth Park
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Outstanding! That is the short review for this tasting.
For the detailed review, read on.
One of our members' favourite events is having a winemaker host
a tasting. We were very fortunate to have Mr. Andrés Ilabaca,
the head oenologist at Viña Santa Rita in Chile. Mr. Ilabaca
was brought up to tour Canada and promote the Santa Rita winery
by the Mark Anthony Wine Merchants. Mr. Ilabaca took us through
a flight of superb white and red wines focusing on the Casablanca
Valley, which is located north of Santiago, Chile. All of these
wines could have easily been picked as our favourites. The picture
below shows Mr. Ilabaca on the left, and Mr. Andres Hoppe, the
Export Director from the winery.
 Mr.
Hoppe began the tasting by describing the history of Viña
Santa Rita and of the wine industry in general in Chile. Mr. Ilabaca
then followed with a detailed description of the wines we were
tasting, along with answering the many questions from our member.
Mr. Ilabaca noted that the sandy soil and cool climate, caused
due to the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, produces grapes with
very concentrated flavours.
Our
reception wine was the 120 Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has
a pale straw-green colour. The bouquet showed tropical fruits
and grapefruit aromas. This bouquet persisted on the palate, and
had good acidity. This wine is a bargin at $10.99.
We
began our tasting with the white wines. Our first two whites were
both Sauvignon Blanc. The Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, similar
to our reception wine showed tropical fruits and grapefuit on
the nose. The wine was fermented at low temperature and kept in
contact with its lees for 2-3 months to increase it's character
and give greater volume to the final blend. No oak was used in
the aging process. The Floresta Sauvignon Blanc was a level
above the Reserva in quality with a gooseberry, capsicum, citrusy
bouquet. The acidity was not as high as in the Reserva.
 We
finished our tasting of white wines with the Reserva Chardonnay.
75% of this wine was aged in stainless steel while the remaining
25% was aged ina combination of French and American oak, giving
the freshness of the fruit with a hint of oak. The wine was well
balanced with citrus and melon flavours.
All of the red wines we tasting went through malolactic fermentation,
making these wines smooth to drink. Also, all the red wines are
unfiltered.
 The
Reserva Merlot is 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet. The grapes
for this wine came from the Maipo Valley. The colour was deep
red with a cherry colour at the edges of the glass. Oak and capsicum
, and blackberries bouquet was followed by a very fruity, rich
flavour with ripe tannins. The Reserva Cabernet is also
from the Maipo Valley, which is most famous for Cabernet. 80%
of the wine was aged in oak or stainless steel with oak staves,
and the remaining wine aged in stainless steel only. This wine
was ruby red in colour. Plums, black fruits and some spice was
present in the bouquet. Cherries with some tannins were expressed
on the palate.
A suprise wine was then provided by one of our members, Leo. He
brought a 1996 Reserva Cabernet, which we all tasted. The
wine had aged wonderfully, was very smooth, and showed the potential
for the 2001 vintage. The last Cabernet in our tasting was the
Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was aged in
only French oak for 1 year. It is 93% Cabernet, with 5% Cabernet
Franc and 2% Merlot. It had a deep purple appearance. The bouquet
showed earthiness, with red and black fruits and toasted tones.
The flavour was full with oak and some tannins. The wine was a
bit "hot" I think due to its 14.1% alcohol content.
 Our
last two red wines were blends. The Floresta Petite Syrah /
Merlot / Cabernet was one of our favourites. Each of the grape
varieties were aged spearately in new French oak. After 6 months,
the blend was created, and was then aged for a total of 17 months.
This wine has an intense ruby colour. The bouquet showed red and
black fruits, vanilla, chocolate and tobacco. The flavour was
very fruity with cherries and some tannins. This wine was very
smooth. Our last wine was the Triple C. This is a special
blend with 55% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10%
Carmenere grapes. This wine was aged for 18 months in French oak.
Having Cabernet Franc as the primary grape in this wine is unusual
for Chile, but the result is an outstanding wine. The Triple C
was very deep red. The bouquet and taste had ripe fruits and layers
of complexity. This wine is not yet available in BC, but is coming
soon, and will sell out quickly, if the enthusiasm of our members
is any indication.
 Tasting
Selection
Our favourite white wines are:
1. Floresta Sauvignon Blanc, 2002
2. Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, 2002
Our favourite red wines are:
1a. Triple C, 1999
1b. Floresta Petite Syrah / Merlot / Cabernet, 1999
2. Reserva Merlot, 2002
(There was a tie for favourite red.)
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