Viñedos Emiliana 2017 Coyam - 93+pts

Viñedos Emiliana 2017 Coyam (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BC Liquor Stores
Cost: $30-35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 20,000 cases
Date Tasted: July 22nd, 2020

Tasting Notes: An aromatic, earthy and well balanced blend of 43% Syrah, 29% Carmenere, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvedre, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Carigan,  2% Malbec, 2% Garnacha and 1% Tempranillo sourced from an organically farmed, single-vineyard in the Colchagua Valley of Central Chile. Dense, yet, gentle and approachable, this is a complex wine offering a range of aromas and flavours of ripe red fruits, blood orange, warm rocks, cigar box, toasted oak and spiced, mochaccino. Finishes dry with lingering notes of cooking spices, black cherry acidity and dusty tannins. Ready to go now, but, should continue to evolve and integrate over the next 2 years. Drink 2022-2027.

  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2014 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Viña Montes 2014 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon (D.O. Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $20-25 +tax
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: December 31st, 2019

Tasting Notes: Actually a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this dry-farmed, high-altitude beauty offers exceptional value, delivering classic, Cabernet-Merlot aromas and flavours of minty-cassis and smoky-anise. Dry, balanced and food-friendly with impressive depth for the under $25 price tag. Drink now-2022+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Viña Los Vascos - Le Dix - 92pts

Viña Los Vascos 2012 Le Dix (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: Limited. BC Liquor Stores (newer vintages)
Cost: $63.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: April 20th, 2019

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. Primarily a Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splattering of Carmenere and Syrah added (about 10 and 5%, respectively), Le Dix is the 'icon wine' of Viña Los Vascos, the Barons De Rothschild owned Chilean firm which aims to deliver exceptional, Bordeaux-inspired Cabernet with a touch of local charm. This wine fulfills the criteria with its rabbit-hole like depth on the sensual nose and uber-refined palate. 

Built to age, seven years in this beauty is just starting to think about peaking with ripe, fine tannins holding strong and no sign of the dark fruit fading. Sweet and sensual at first sniff, the developed bouquet deserves time in your glass to seduce you before you sip it down between bites of a medium-rare tenderloin steak. Drink now-2022.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Viñedos Emiliana 2013 Coyam - 91pts

Viñedos Emiliana 2013 Coyam (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BC Liquor Stores
Cost: $27.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 20,000 cases
Date Tasted: March 25th, 2017

Tasting Notes: Emiliana's Coyam, a Mapuchen word meaning forest of oak, is a complex and earthy blend of 48% Syrah, 24% Carmenere, 11% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Mourvedre, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot sourced from an organically farmed, single-vineyard in the Colchagua Valley of Central Chile. Red fruits, both sweet and tangy, and spicy-licorice characters dominate the expansive nose and the intense, oak-kissed palate. Smooth tannins and clean acidity precede a long, slightly "hot" finish.  Drink now-2020.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2013 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon - 90-92pts

Viña Montes 2013 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon (D.O. Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $22-25 +tax
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: June 25th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Starting with the 2012 vintage, the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% dry-farmed, meaning the vineyard's only water-source is that which nature provides during the growing season. This adds sustainability 'cred' to the winery's marketing copy but also noticeable quality improvements as well. Older vines with deep roots make the practice viable, forcing the vines to work harder to get the water it needs; vines in a constant state of struggle produce the best wine.

The result is crazy intensity and depth for the price with concentrated, black currant, eucalyptus-mint, toasted oak and warm spice aromas on the dense nose followed by a velvety palate with similar flavours and a long, refined, mouth-watering finish where lively dark fruit puree notes linger. Has the pedigree to age a decade. Drink 2016-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly - 94+pts

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly (Alpalta Valley) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $87
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: February 27th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Another killer Folly with an enchanting, sweetly scented nose of cherry, plum, blueberry, cola and pepper aromas complimented with elegant, toasted oak and warm earth characters. The palate is equally complex and smooth with solid structure from refined, developed tannins. Silky on the entry, creamy on the mid-palate and long'n'peppery on the finish. Fantastic. Drinking beautifully now with a cellar worthy track record that should keep this wine a fixture in your collection for 8-10 years. Drink 2015-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Viña MontGras 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - 86pts

Viña MontGras 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $15
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 3rd, 2014

Tasting Notes: As mass-market, mass-production, Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon go, the MontGras Reserva is pretty good. A nice balance of trendy, sweet berry fruit and more serious, yet, smooth-ish tannins and earthy-notes keeps this high-value Cabernet from slipping fully into the Apothic Red abyss of bottled jam that today passes for red wine.

Baked cassis and boysenberry meets field-berry acidity meets light mineral and charred oak. Finish is short and a bit sharp, but otherwise, a fine effort for the price. Drink 2014-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Viña Los Vascos 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon - 86pts

Viña Los Vascos 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: Everything Wine
Cost: $16.99
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 250,000 cases
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Produced by famed Bordeaux institution Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in Chile's Colchagua Valley, this deep-ruby coloured Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a nice blend of juicy cassis and allsorts licorice candy aromas. The medium-plus bodied, mostly-dry palate follows with bright, in-your-face juicy dark fruit flavours supported by oak spice, light tannins and gentle acid. The finish is short, though a pairing with a tasty, after-dinner plate of dark chocolate would help overcome this nicely. Drink now-2014.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Viña MontGras 2009 Antu Syrah - 88-89pts

Viña MontGras 2009 Antu Syrah (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $21.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 23rd, 2012

Tasting Notes: Produced from fruit grown in the Ninquén Mountain Vineyard, Chile's first high altitude vineyard. The style is a close match to the Syrah made in the Okanagan: a nice blend of New World fruit and Old World terroir without the over ripeness from too much heat and extraction. Well balanced with good complexity and concentration for the price with a tasty spectrum of dark and red fruits on display. Has the tannins and acid to age well, should you care to wait, but is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2012-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Viña Ventisquero 2007 Pangea Syrah - 91-92pts

Viña Ventisquero 2007 Pangea Syrah (Alpalta) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: Limited. Private wine stores
Cost: $59.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2012

Tasting Notes: Another great Chilean Syrah produced under the direction of former Penfold's Grange winemaker John Duval (who knows a few things about how to make a tasty Syrah) offering complexity, elegance and a pure expression of the Rhone Valley variety. A full bodied wine that although offers plenty of classic Syrah red fruit notes, tends to be memorable for its layers of savoury and robust characters like smoked meats and white pepper. A cool, mineraly palate has fine, developed tannins and a moderate-plus finish of subtle, lingering spice. Drink 2012-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2007 Montes Folly - 93pts

Viña Montes 2007 Montes Folly (Alpalta Valley) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $86.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2012

Tasting Notes: The expressive nose and silky palate present rich blackberry and blueberry fruit notes that are complimented with elegant toasted oak and warm earth characters. Extremely well balanced with solid structure from refined, developed tannins. Produced from 17-18 year old vines that are really producing some amazing fruit. Aged in French oak for 18 months with a further 12 months+ of bottle aging prior to release.

The acid is up and the richness on the palate is down when compared to the utterly stunning 2006 release, yet the wine remains the champion of all South American Syrah and the wine to gauge against. Drinking beautifully now with a cellar worthy track record that should keep this wine a fixture in your collection for another 8-10 years. Drink 2012-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Montes 2009 Limited Selection Cabernet Carmenere - 87+pts

Montes 2009 Limited Selection Cabernet Carmenere (Apalta Vineyard) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $18-19.50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: August 28th, 2011

Tasting Notes: Despite a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere, it is the once-thought-to-be-eradicated 6th Bordeaux varietal Carmenere whose candied fruit and spice characters dominate the intense nose. A heavily extracted, yet watery-textured presentation follows on the juicy palate with concentrated mixed-berry fruit flavours and mouth-watering acidity. Coarse, medium-plus tannins will keep this wine "cooking" in your cellar for some further development but it may not be worth the patience needed. Drink 2011-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2006 Purple Angel - 93+pts

Viña Montes 2006 Purple Angel (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $53.95
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 5500 cases
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2011

Tasting Notes: A concentrated, dense and brooding monster of a Carmenère (with 8% Petit Verdot) from Chile's Viña Montes. 18 months in new French oak imparts perfectly integrated tannins and lovely oak notes to the nose and palate. Prominent aroma of menthol on the intense nose with cassis, blackberry, spice box, orange blossom and stonefruit supporting. The dry palate offers impressive depth with good continuity of flavours from the nose with added tobacco, leather and tomato stock characters.

A fantastic Carmenère to which all others will likely be compared with a super smooth texture, complex character, a long finish, good aging potential and a near perfect balance. Drink 2011-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2006 Montes Folly - 95pts

Viña Montes 2006 Montes Folly (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $86.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 4100 cases
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2011

Tasting Notes: For wine drinkers who believe the world's best Syrah can only be made in the Rhone and Barossa Valleys, I offer for your consideration the amazing, refined and effortlessly elegant Montes Folly: a true Chilean icon.

Aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, this single vineyard Syrah offers an intriguing combination of both intense and delicate notes on the nose and palate. Dark cherry, oak, vanilla, licorice, white pepper and floral characters aplenty. The concentration is so high that just a drop on the tongue thrills the senses. This perfectly balanced, gorgeous wine with its long, long finish and lingering spice, would pair beautifully with savoury steaks yet can stand on its own confidently. Approachable now and will enjoy a long life. Drink 2011-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Cono Sur 2009 Viognier - 86pts

Cono Sur 2009 Viognier (Colchagua Valley) - Chile

Availability: Widely available
Cost: $9-11
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: February 10th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Pale gold in colour, this budget Viognier from Chilean producer Cono Sur is sure to please with its friendly, bright nose and cheerful, crisp palate.

Aromas of green apple, candied apricot and wet stone followed by a fruity palate of tropical fruit and cleansing acidity. Not overly complex with a slightly sharp, short finish, but a very easy-drinking white wine, perfect for the anything-but-Chardonnay crowd. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Root One 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon - 85pts

Root One 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $14.99

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: January 14th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This Root One wine is unique to North American wine drinkers as it is made from grapes grown on original, un-grafted Cabernet Sauvignon rootstock. This feat is simply not possible in North America where European vines must be grafted on to the roots of native varietals due to their susceptibility to the dreaded phylloxera pest.

Unfortunately, this unique growing condition does not translate into unique aromas or flavours in the wine. The nose of this food friendly wine offers medium intense aromas of stewed meats, cassis, mocha and tomato stalk. The medium-bodied palate lacks fruit concentration and complexity but does offer good texture and a balanced medium finish. Drink now through 2011. - LC