GREAT WINES DIRECT: Chile: A hot topic!

I have been fortunate enough to have spent many a summers evening deliberating over v

arious wines from various countries and felt compelled to put pen to paper after one such evening spent in the company of a myriad of South American wines and, I am happy to say, I was not at all disappointed!
Sure, you've got the famous brands that adorn our supermarket shelves in the UK, but very rarely, some of the chosen few get the opportunity to meet interesting vintners and try some offerings that are truly exceptional and stand out from the crowd, all on their own merits.
One such opportunity arose when I discovered the wines of Vina Echeverria, a small, family owned and run wine estate in Molina, Curico Valley, the wine centre of Chile.
Roberto,Roberto I, Gloria, Viviana and Paulina Echeverria all work on the estate in different roles and are always on hand to talk about their commitment to quality and excellence that, they say, is attainable only from a truly family enterprise!

The evening starts with a great introduction from their wines with the Sauvignon Blanc 2008. Pre-Philloxera root stock (original French Sauvignon!) Bright yellow with green hues, a stunning aroma, very vibrant and strong of pineapple, grapefruit and notes of fresh herbs. These fruits are abundant on the palate, lots of very strong flavours and a long, lingering finish. Suffice to say we were taken aback by its sheer weight of flavour!
This true gem was not a one off, as other just as favourable wines were to follow, including the Unwooded Chardonnay 2008; a contender more than sufficient to be played against any Australian offerings, the Merlot 2008; a superb garne

t colour oozing with strawberries and blackberries with notes of black pepper and dried fruit, the Cabernet Sauvignon 2007; all you would expect from such a king of grapes and eventually culminating in the Carmenere, a recently discovered gem, lost many years ago in France, but now finding recognition in the wine world as one of the best robust and fruity wines on the current market! Red and violet in colour with intense aromas of raspberries and cherry confiture and ripe red bell peppers and hints of black pepper. This really is a stunning wine and one not to be missed. On the palate it is smooth and velvety with an abundance of dark fruit and a finish that lingers of raspberries. I recommend if you only try one new wine this year, it is a Carmenere! For those who have already discovered it; try this one from Molina!
It only leaves me to thank the Echeverria family and I look forward to the new harvest due very soon.