A Chilean Odyssey

By / Wine + Drinks / July 20th, 2010 / 9

 

I readily admit I haven’t always been kind to Chilean wine. Historically, it has been too green, notably in the area where Carmenère is concerned. Nor has the country been high on my checklist of places to visit. Recently, two events helped to alter my stance. First was a Wines of Chile tasting featuring a new generation of wines that were more fruit driven, with little or no herbaceousness. Second was Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations Chilean episode. During his visit to the ribbon-shaped country, he experienced the gorgeous landscape, vinous jewels and gastronomy. Of all the food he sampled, there was one item that caught my attention, the Hot Dog Completo Italiano. It’s an oversized all-beef frankfurter (“a terrifying Ron Jeremy-esque tube of meat,” according to Bourdain wit), plastered with insane amounts of tomatoes, avocado and mayonnaise (the latter two being prodigious food groups amongst Chileans). Healthy? Definitely not. Delicious? Hoping to find out!

carmenère and big hot dogs

My enthusiasm was high while packing my bags. An email from group leader David Rose soon put a damper on my mood. Workers at the Santiago airport had gone on strike. Flights were still arriving and departing, but he suggested we check in with Air Canada to find out what was happening. A quick call and I discovered the half-day strike was already over. Relieved, I went to the airport to catch the late evening flight. There I met with the rest of our entourage — Angela Aiello from the iYellow Wine Club, wine writer Lindsay Groves, Graham Duncan from Now magazine, and of course our fearless leader. We quickly boarded our flight and departed close to midnight. Sleep quickly followed.

Day 1

Just before landing, we were given our entry documents. One of these was a warning about the importation of fruits, veggies and livestock. The penalty for any offence is $25,000 and imprisonment. Being an isolated country, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes to the east and the Atacama Desert to the north, Chile has imposed some of the strictest quarantine rules to protect its ecosystem. This also helps to explain why phylloxera has yet to sneak its way into the country (almost all vines are ungrafted).

En route to the hotel, we learned some interesting facts from a Chilean wine representative. On average, there are two earthquakes a month —and they were expecting one during our visit. There are 21 different “major climates” in the world, and Chile has 18 of them. Or as the Chileans like to say, “God put all the leftovers here.” To reinforce his point, the wine rep mentioned that certain vineyards contain cacti, palm trees and snow. His most interesting stat, besides all things earthquake, was that Chileans hardly drink wine — only 17 litres per capita per year. Their libations of choice are cerveza and pisco, the national spirit (aka fire water), which finds its zenith in the famous pisco sour.

Day 2

We met up with our Western Canadian counterparts for a tour of Santiago and lunch at the famous Mercado Centrale. This market is a must see for foodies. The country is famous for its seafood, and all manner of it is found here: king crab, spider crab, salmon, oysters, conger eel, abalone, shrimp, spiny lobster and, of course, Patagonia tooth fish (aka Chilean sea bass.) These products, which cost mucho pesos back home, are a fraction of the cost here.

Lunch was inside, at the landmark Donde Augusto restaurant. Of course, the meal started with the firewater cocktail, the pisco sour. As for food, copious amounts of all the aforementioned oceanic creatures were served. My favourite was the abalone with hollandaise. As we ate, we watched a waiter carve up a king crab, tableside, with a pair of scissors in less than minute. That’s talent!

After lunch and a “coffee with legs” (strictly for adults), we went back to the hotel for some R&R. Dinner was held at an Argentinean steak house in the fashionable Border Rio area. Yes, Argentinean. Chile might be famous for oceanic creatures, vegetables and fruits, but because of the mountainous terrain, the cattle use their muscles more, making for a tougher steak. Hence, Chileans import their meat from their close neighbour.

The cuts were huge, perfectly tender and served with French fries topped with caramelized onions and fried eggs. There was no need to eat for the next two days. To wash it all down, another pisco sour and the Montes Syrah (beauty). The wine did wonders for the meat, and the meat did wonders to tame the taste of the cocktail.

Day 3

Our adventure into wine country started. As we left Santiago, we realized the immensity of the industry. Vines were all around us, nestled between the two mountain ranges. Stealer’s Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” came to mind (sans straight razor) as I gazed out the car window. Most wineries count their holdings in the thousands of acres. Also, every vineyard is irrigated using the Andes’ run-off. Water is the lifeblood of the industry, as the Mediterranean-style climate is frugal with rain. The biggest change has been from flood to drip irrigation, allowing the wineries to control the amount of water the vine takes in, making for less dilution. And, because of the dry climate, all vineyards are farmed organically, with an ever-increasing number converting to biodynamic.

We arrived at our first stop, Vina Santa Alicia, in the Pirque sub-region of Maule. We were greeted by Cristobal Socias, Export Manager, and his assistant Tamara Vasquez, an ex-pat Canadian. Our tour took us into an area where ancient Raule wood barrels have been transformed into tasting rooms — a gorgeous sight. A tasting with winemaker Eduardo Gajardo followed. He informed us that he had spent some time at Kendall Jackson before taking over the reins at Santa Alicia.

We tried twelve wines. My favourites — for the price — were the 2009 Chardonnay Reserva, Rose Reserva and Carmenère. All scored 85 points and are under $12. One of my tops was the 2006 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, for its cassis, plum, peppermint and spice. The tannins will allow it to age five years. Even better is the Millantu 2005: a blend of 48 per cent Cab Sauv, 34 per cent Cab Franc and the rest Carmenère. It is a full-bodied cassis, cherry and meaty wine that still needs a year in bottle, and will age until 2020.

Our mid afternoon appointment was at Concho y Toro, the behemoth of the industry. It produces 27 million cases a year, or if you will, almost one case per Canadian citizen. After tasting 20 wines, through eight tiers, I gave 88 points both to the Marcques de Casa Concha Carmenère 2007 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, as well as Casilliero del Diablo Reserva Privada (70 per cent Cab Sauv and 30 per cent Syrah). The flagship Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon scored 93 points. It was a mouthful of plums, cassis, spice, raspberry liqueur and mint. The fruit on the palate is jammy and the finish is super long. It will last for 10 to 15 years.

Famished, we partook of a traditional Chilean assado (BBQ) — beef, pork, chicken and sausage served with empanadas and avocado in many forms. As a bonus, winemaker Ignacio Recabarren joined us, pouring his soon to be released Trio Merlot 2008. It is pure berry fruit encased with cocoa. It merits a solid 88 points and for under $15, it mandates a case purchase.

Our final appointment was in Colchagua Valley at Emiliana Organico, a pioneer of biodynamics. After a tour of the different applications, including a roaming chicken coop, a homemade manure/compost heap, and deer bladders and cow heads stuffed with manure [this is strange; what are they for?], we settled — both our stomachs and ourselves — for a tasting. Some might consider all these things modern day voodoo, but the wines were undeniable. Seek out the super-valued Adobe Sauv Blanc and Viognier. The Novas Chardonnay Viognier/Marsanne is a concentrated oak bomb with pineapple and honey. For reds, the Novas Syrah, with its cassis liqueur, raspberry, smoke, cinnamon and meaty qualities earns 87 points, and the Coyam, their icon wine, a solid 90.

Before leaving we mentioned that the temperature had dropped. Winemaker Antonio Bravo von Bischoffshausen told us that this is a daily occurrence. There are even areas that hit 30˚C plus in the day and then drop by 20 degrees in the evening. The cooling effect from the coastal mountains and Andes causes this. The bonus is that the long ripening makes for wines that have extra depth of colour, tannins and flavour.

I also learned that pisco can only be made from four authorized aromatic grapes, and comes from three certified regions. I am quite sure that my stomach lining is satiated by this knowledge.


Day 4

We had a chance to sleep in before heading south to Curico and Via Wines. They produce three labels: Chilcas, Chilensis and Oveja Negra. Top wines from Chilcas were the Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, and Red One. From Chilensis, the Reserve Carmenère is a keeper with vanilla, raspberry, herbs, cassis and cocoa and caramel.

During our lunch, which consisted of turkey, salads and avocado in many forms (the Chileans love avocados), the conversation turned to winery employees. We learned that the average vineyard worker earns $400 to $600 a month, but because of the abundance of agriculture, no one goes hungry.

Our second and final knock on the door for the day was at J. Bouchon. Owner Julio Bouchon was there to greet us and take us on a horseback tour of the main property. He told us that his consultant/winemaker is Patrick Valette, ex of Château Pavie fame. Dinner was wild hare with an avocado salad. With this we were served his 1999 Mingre. A superb pairing, as the maturing flavours and fruit of the red matched beautifully with the game.

Post dinner, we were introduced to a new incarnation of pisco — the piscola. The combination of the firewater and cola was a much more palatable experience.

Day 5

It was an early beginning to the day at the Valdivieso winery. New Zealand-born winemaker Brett Jackson was there to meet us. He informed us that it had been the coolest and wettest season he could remember in his 15 years in the country. He also told us that Valdivieso was South America’s first sparkling wine house, created back in 1879, and that even today, in Chile, it is a synonym for sparkling wine.

We started with a barrel tasting of 12 wines, the best being the Carmenère, Carignan and Syrah. After a palate cleansing with the exceptionally affordable Blanc de Blanc and Extra Brut, the still wines were poured. The best of the lot were the Merlot Single Vineyard, Malbec Single Vineyard 2007, Eclat 2006, La Primavera 2004 and La Primavera 2005.

As noon rolled in, so did the sun and heat. The Pinot Machine, Cono Sur, was our destination. The visit began with a bike tour of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Chile (first planted in 1968). It’s this genetic material that has been used to propagate most of Chile’s Pinot plantings. It continued with a tasting that reinforced my perception that CS makes solid wines at solid prices, notably in the realm of Chardonnay, Viognier, and of course Pinot. Lunch included a phenomenal avocado/cream cheese/pistachio dip as appetizer, followed by filet of beef with asparagus, and then homemade apple torte for dessert. Does anyone ever do small lunches in this country, or for that matter, have they ever heard of salad? I took a nap in the car.

Just 30 minutes later my siesta ended. We had arrived at Casa Silva. The winery serves as a microcosm for the entire industry — large production of bulk wine to quality [quality bulk wine?]. Reinforcing this notion was export Manager Arnaud Frennet, who took us to one of their many vineyards to show their experimentation with Carmenère. The winery is doing research with 42 selected clones, as a means to isolate the best (read: fruit driven and concentrated.)
After this we were taken to see Chile’s two favourite sporting events, both on the winery grounds: a Chilean rodeo complete with huasos (cowboys), and a polo game. A quick unpacking at the stunning hotel on site, and we were back to tasting. The Sauvignon Gris was crisp and delicious (87) and so were all the different Carmenères. The star was Altura, a blend of Carmenère, Cabernet and Petit Verdot — a solid 92 point wine with a decade of life ahead of it.
Dinner was yet another meat fest, this time cooked over vine cuttings. The assado of beef, pork and chicken was succulent and smokey. Note to self: buy Lipitor. These were served with salads (finally) and more avocado. After dinner, it was more self-punishment in the form of pisco, and then bed.

Day 6

This day was the most anticipated of our visit as the heavy hitters of the industry were on tap: Montes and Lapostolle. But first we went to Luis Felipe Edwards, whose vineyards are the highest in all of Chile, reaching 1000 metres. Why? During expansion in the 1990s, land prices for the prime flat lands in Colchagua were (and still are) dear. A cost-benefit analysis showed that planting vertically on existing mountain property, even with seven pumping stations for irrigation and recruiting the army to blow up the rocky mountainside, was cheaper than the alternative. I am also pretty sure that Latin pride and tenacity came into play as well.

The mountainsides also offer poor fertility, which forces the roots further into the ground to find minerals and nutrients, making wines with more concentration and intensity.

As for the wines, from the Gran Reserva line the Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Chardonnay 2008, Carmenère 2008 and Malbec all received scores of 87. The Dona Bernarda 2006, their flagship wine merited a 90, and is ready to drink.

Around the corner is Montes, the Mondavi of Chile. The winery, located at the base of the Apalta mountain, is a testament to feng shui, including the lavish “Symphony” cellar where the best wines age to the sound of Gregorian chants in an amphitheatre setting. A study conducted at the winery showed that this type of music, as opposed to hip hop, country and heavy metal (to name a few), helped smooth out the molecules in the wine.

Regardless whether you believe in this practice or not, the quality is undeniable. Seek out the Cherub Syrah Rose 2009, the Alpha Carmenère, the Alpha “M” 2006 and Folly 2006. A bistro lunch was accompanied by the 2005 Folly, a stunning 96 point wine made from 100 per cent Syrah. If you can find any, do buy it.
Casa Lapostolle (as in Grand Marnier) was in party mode, as they were hosting a Carmenère symposium when we arrived. The word impressive does not do justice when describing the facility, which was built into the Apalta mountainside. The barrel cellar looks like a set from Star Trek — all futuristic, with certain alcoves reminding me of a transporter room. We even see a new oak barrique (one of only 60) that was made from a single 350-year-old French tree. The cost: 7000 dollars per barrel!

As for the wines, surprisingly, they were a tad disappointing. Normally I am a fan, but the whites were flat and the reds excessively tannic. The one bright side was the 2007 Clos Apalta, a Carmenère-based wine.

Day 7

The travelling and lack of sleep was taking its toll. We entered the van at eight am for the one-hour drive northeast to Casablanca. Upon arriving, we noticed a marked difference in temperature from Santiago. The region, located some 25 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean and the cool Humboldt Current, is not sequestered by the coastal mountain range, making it an ideal climate for aromatic whites and elegant reds.

That morning saw us at Undurraga, an old name putting on a new face of quality. Pick up the 2006 Founder’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon and the delicious 2008 Terroir Hunter Carignan, made from 60-year-old vines. It is a black/purple coloured wine that tastes of plums, cinnamon, custard, cherry jam, hickory and fudge. A picnic in the vineyards ensued under the hot southern sun.

The discovery of the trip was in the afternoon at Garces Silva, in the newish Leyda appellation. They produce five wines under the Amayna label, and the quality is amazing. In order of preference: 2008 Syrah (92), 2007 Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc (91), 2007 Chardonnay (90), 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (89), and 2007 Pinot Noir (88).

Day 8

Our last day and a chance to catch a couple of extra winks before a tasting of 30 wines by producers we didn’t have a chance to visit. The highlight was the Vina La Rosa Ossa 2004, a wine starting to show some mature elements within its plum, cherry, menthol, anise, vanilla and blueberry character. It still has another decade of life ahead of it, and is a testament to the longevity of Chilean wine. Others were Neyen 2005, a blend of Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Haras de Pirque Character 2006.

We then started our trek to the Errazuriz winery, but not before a quick snack, and the realization of the dream … Italian hot dogs at the locals’ place of choice. Dominó! The copious amount of avocado, tomato and mayonnaise was really an interesting combination with the wiener.

Two hours later, we had arrived in hot Aconcagua, Chile’s only transversal (east to west) valley. Even though it was Saturday, construction was in full swing, as a new winery is scheduled for completion in 2010.

Owner Eduardo Chadwick was the first to prove that Chile was able to make premium wines. Enter Sena, Chile’s first icon wine, one that has consistently bested first growth Bordeaux and Supertuscans in blind tastings. Since then he has added a few more top performers to his portfolio, including Shiraz La Cumbre and Kai. I had a chance to taste the 2006 versions of these wines plus the Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve. The Sena and Don Maximiano both scored 93, La Cumbre 91 and the Kai 94. The latter was the best Carmenère of the trip and it paired beautifully with lunch-roast pork, mushroom ceviche and fresh bread with avocado oil.

Day 9

Before heading for the airport, we did some souvenir shopping, notably for Alpaca clothing, which can be had for a song. Once checked in, I grabbed a final pisco sour and a lomito — the national sandwich of Chile, and a testament its Germanic past. It’s a bun piled high with marinated roast pork shavings, sauerkraut, cheese, avocado and tomato. A word of warning: do not attempt to eat this with your hands, as a gastronomic mess will ensue and you will be spotted as a gringo.

While indulging in my last local meal, I contemplated the past eight days, and came to the following conclusions (other than that my skin’s silky softness was from all the avocados). Better canopy management, reduced yields, longer hang times and drip irrigation have allowed the industry to butterfly out of the cocoon of mediocrity. Gone are the overt green qualities that were so prevalent just five years ago. Stylistically, the wines are very much New World, with fruit forward personalities. The industry has come of age and is realizing its full potential with world-class wines. With a myriad of new vineyards, many in new cooler regions, and the ability to ripen any grape, things are just starting to really heat up.

As for Carmenère, it is indeed a calling card, one that Chile has a monopoly on. That being said, the two grapes that really impressed me, and that I feel have great potential, are Syrah and Carignan, especially when the latter is made from old vines.

I would also be remiss not to mention the Chileans themselves, who are friendly, well spoken, educated and most hospitable. If I dare to make an analogy, they are the Canadians of South America. Or are we the Chileans of North America? Regardless, it is a country worth visiting for the culture, wine, food, and some pretty impressive hot dogs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born into a Greek household in Montreal, Evan Saviolidis has over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, beginning with his family's restaurant when he was very young. His significant knowledge base, and his passion for food and wine, served him well when he was tasked to open a number of restaurants in the eighties and nineties. After graduating at the top of his Sommelier class, and third across Canada, he accrued 'a gazillion' frequent flyer miles as a 'Flying Sommelier', a select group of globally certified instructors who travel across North America, teaching the art of Sommelier. Locations included Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, St.Louis, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte. Today, he wears many vinous hats, including lead Instructor for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Niagara and Ontario Correspondent for Canada's largest wine publication, Tidings, wine judge, as well as speaker and presenter for the Wines of Ontario, Jura Wines, Wines of Portugal and Sopexa. He is also the owner of WineSavvy, a Niagara based Wine School, catering to both consumers and industry professionals. Evan's philosophy in teaching is to provide a friendly, relaxed and fun filled atmosphere, while at the same time maintaining the professional standards he is noted for. Winesavvy also provides consultation for restaurants and consumers. Evan is 'WSET Certified' and speaks English, French and Greek.

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