Wines
of the Week:
South American Sips - Under $20, 90 Points
If
you're a wine lover on a budget, then exploring South American
wines could make you very happy. Vintage after vintage, there
are quality bottles at good prices. They do tend to be earthier
and less fruit forward than domestic offerings, but if you like
a drier style, then there's much to love. Here are three wines,
all available for $20 or less, that our panel rated 90 points:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Santa
Carolina 2015 Carmenere
Winery:
Santa
Carolina
Grape(s): Carmenere
Region: Chile
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
The nose is reminiscent of blackberry and plum, rounded
out by notes of herbs and orange peal. Flavors of blackberries,
blueberries, and plums emerge on the palate alongside
accents of fresh herbs, graphite, and toasty brown spice.
Offering good complexity and polished tannins, open a
bottle when you enjoy lamb tacos.
Rating: 90 |
|
Clos
de Los Siete 2015 Red Wine
Winery:
Clos
de Los Siete
Grape(s): 58%
Malbec, 23% Merlot, 23% Cabernet, 10% Syrah, & 1%
Petit Verdot
Region: Argentina
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
Aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, and dark cherries
mingle among whispers of earth, cocoa, and spice on the
nose. Blackberry, blueberry, and plum flavors interweave
with allusions of dark chocolate, floral earth, and brown
spice on the palate. Satiny tannins frame the wine nicely,
making it an good match for an array of Indian dishes.
Rating: 90 |
|
Fabre
Montmayou 2016 Cabernet Franc
Winery:
Fabre
Montmayou
Grape(s): Cabernet
Franc
Region: South of France
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
A combination of blackberries, plums, floral earth, and
brown spice rise up on the nose. Rich flavors of blackberry,
dark cherry, and plum mingle among traces of clove, earth,
and mint on the palate. Classically structured and balanced,
it will pair nicely with a Greek chicken dish.
Rating: 90 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|