Big Tattoo Red
Casa Julia
Casa Lapostolle
Domus Aurea
Cousiño-Macul
Escudo Rojo
Eyzaguirre
Lafite-Rothchild
Los Vascos
Ramirana
Rothchild
Terra Rosa
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Two Brothers 2002 Big Tattoo Red
This red from Colchagua, Chile's, Central Valley offers value at a great price.
The nose is full of black pepper,
while on the palate there are notes of wild cherry, cocoa, and earth.
There is a touch of aging in American oak that gives this red blend a flirty vanilla hint.
Don't miss out on this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Syrah (40%) and Merlot (10%).
Retail price $9. Tasted October 22, 2003.
One of the best red blends under $10 earning three out of three
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Ramirana 2002 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
A very white-Bordeaux style wine from Casablanca Valley.
The nose is citus and palate is crisp with light grapefruit and lime zest.
The fruit is focused and ripe, no grass clippings found here.
Ramirana Sauvignon Blanc balances out in the end with ample acidity and good finish.
I love the price, if you wanted to buy domestic juice at this quality you'd pay 50% more.
Retail price $10. Tasted September 19, 2003.
Another great Chilean white one  .
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Ramirana 2002 Reserve Chardonnay
is an impressive Casablanca Valley offering.
I liked the bright nose and found the mint on the front of the palate to be refreshing.
The use of oak is light, which creates a light toasted flavor.
The finish has a good balance between acidity and lingering tropical fruit flavors.
Retail price $10. Tasted September 19, 2003.
A "New World" style chardonnay that can stand its own in
the domestic crowd earning one .
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Domus Aurea 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon
is an astounding wine from Maipo Valley, Chile.
Winemaker Ignacio Recabarren creates a powerhouse cabernet from his 30+ year old vines.
The nose is bright cherry and the color is deceivingly light, but on the palate the flavors explode
with hints of clove, wild cherry, and white pepper
The most amazing thing about this wine, other than the price, is the very clean flavor of
eucalyptus. Never have I tasted a cleaner flavor of eucalyptus.
The supply on this wine is very limited, so buy it while you can.
Check out the Chilean section for more fantastic wines.
Retail price $38. Tasted August 20, 2003.
Earns three .
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Cousiño-Macul 2000 Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon
is better than any California cabernet I've tasted in the same price range.
The 2000 Antiguas Reservas has soft vanilla, black cherries, and white pepper on the palate and
has velvety mouth-feel tannins, perfect for grilled meats or heartier foods.
The finish has a hint of spearmint.
The wine maker at Cousiño-Macul obtained Bordeaux clones and prunes for low yield,
which allows his wines to be layed down for many years.
There aren't many cabernets in this price range that have cellaring potential.
Retail price $15. Tasted May 3, 2003.
We give this wine two 
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Casa Julia 2000 Merlot
can stand its own against any domestic merlot.
This merlot has great vanilla, blackberry, and earthy flavors on the palate.
A great value in this price range, Casa Julia does wonderful job of offering a Bordeaux style
merlot that can please the savvy merlot drinker.
Retail price $12. Tasted May 4, 2003.
We give this wine one
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Casa Julia, Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Maipo Valley
This Sauv Blanc has a great floral nose.
I believe this bottle of wine easily beats most domestic sauvignon blancs in its price range.
It is very balanced with perfect acidity for food,
a clean grapefruit-citrus palate and a touch of richness finishing off with a subtle peach kiss.
This bottle is value price under $10!
Retail price $8. Tasted June 5, 2003. Price and quality earn one .
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D. Blosser 2001 Pinot Noir by Casa Julia proves that you don't always have
to grow pinot noir in cooler climates. This pinot has a comfortable little micro-climate
in which the grapes get to slowly mature.
This wine has wonderful New World fruitiness that you would expect from a Chilean wine,
but also has an elegance that leans toward Old World structure.
This pinot has that earthy nose and palate that I love so much, like the smell of the air after a
spring rain. The bright wild cherry flavors are also present as well as the rich
cola-nut finish. I consider this wine a great value for the price.
Retail price $12. Tasted June 4, 2003. We rate this wine at two .
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Eyzaguirre 2000 Merlot
is wonderfully structured following with a smooth gently tannic finnish.
The nose is very fruity with a big blackberry notes.
The wine explodes in your mouth with flavors of blackberies, vanilla, and cassis.
I think this producer and winery are charming with their fabric covered bottles, plus
the quality of the wine are worth checking out for your everyday consumption.
Retail price $9. Tasted July 10, 2003. We give this wine one .
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Eyzaguirre 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
has a European style that embraces its soft tannins and approachable acidity.
Eyzaguirre does a cabernet well, showing juicy black fruit flavors, a touch of cedar, and
mint.
This is a well done inexpensive wine that works well as an "everyday wine."
There aren't many cabernets in this price range with this kind of rich fruit flavors and
appealing balance.
Retail price $9. Tasted July 10, 2003. We give this wine one .
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Escudo Rojo is an interesting contribution
from The Baron Rothchild.
Escudo Rojo has black pepper and soy on the nose and packs a powerful fruity, structured punch on the
palate. Cassis, vanilla, coffee, pepper, and tar leave their lasting impression on you as this
wine finishes with a structured whisper.
Retail price $14. Tasted February 2, 2003. We give this wine one .
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Los Vascos 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
has a lovely vanilla and cherry nose, which carries over gracefully into the palate flavors of the wine.
Los Vascos has a double advantage since their grapes are Bordeaux clones and they are owned by
Rothchild-Lafite. I found the quality to outstanding. Softly peaking out
through the casis, cherry, and vanilla flavors, where hints of white pepper, mint, and smoke.
Retail price $18. Tasted February 20, 2003. We give this wine two .
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Casa Lapostolle 1999 Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon
was a joy on the nose with its nuances of smoked meats and red roses.
It was so violet, such a beautiful wine.
In the mouth was a mixture of black and wild cherries and one turn of black pepper.
The cherries faded in and out, while the wine finished with a whisper of chocolate.
I couldn't put this one down.
Retail price $20. Tasted August 10, 2003.
Scrumptous wine earning three .
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Casa Lapostolle Merlot Alexandre 2000
They stress the 75 year old vines and produce a beautiful, inky gem.
It is an interesting field blend of merlot and carmenere,
two grapes thought to be one and the same more than a century ago.
The spiciness of the carmenere was on stage against the velvety merlot canvas.
Black pepper, hints of violets, and clove; I still can't get over the color.
This is not your fruity, smoothy, tootie. If you're a merlot drinker that
likes a wine with umph, with is a great pick for you.
Retail price $20. Tasted August 10, 2003. Dazzling two .
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Laurel Glen Terra Rosa 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
is as user friendly as a juicy Napa-Cab, but in a lower price category.
Patrick Campbell has done a great job of bringing us an everyday cabernet that isn't a compromise.
The nose is very berry filled.
There is an explosion of berries on the palate, as grapes grown in this region can express so well.
Blackberries, black currents, vanilla, apice, and a touch of pencil lead and green bean are present as the wine
evolves to its finish.
The tannins are sharp, but go well with the spiciness of this cabernet.
A wonderful cabernet at an even better price.
Retail price $11. Tasted June 4, 2003. A solid pick earning one .
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