Cono Sur Reserva
Pinot Noir
Casablanca Valley
Chile 2008
Firstly, I can't believe that I've got to the middle of December without blogging about some of the wines I've been drinking during the run up to Christmas. However, one of the occupational hazards of my day job in the charity world is that December is a month like no other. Everything spins towards the end of the year in a mad rush towards Christmas Day - with each 24 hours running into the other.
Last week, at the start of what turned out to be an 18 hour day (which included an evening reception with colleagues at 11 Downing Street), I attended one of our business breakfasts in Leeds where our guest speaker Stephanie Davies, from her own company Laughology, explained how she went about her job advising companies on how to use humour in the workplace to overcome problems, improve staff morale and to generally look at the serious side of business in a different way.
I can't help but think that she could also do a pretty good job advising wine critics to lighten up when it comes to talking about this wonderful concoction we call wine. I was reading the hugely informative Decanter on the train down to London the other week, particularly on the latest panel tastings from Bordeaux and felt, just on far too many occasions, that people had become over-serious and considered about what they were drinking. Which is why I smiled at the simple, humorous philosophy on the side of this bottle from the Chilean winemaker Adolfo Hurtado.
Quite simply he regards his winemaking as being similar to a bicycle - essential, relaxed and joyful. Well, I have to say that my recent Sunday ride with Ruth on our bikes up the freezing hills of Lancashire was none of these, least of all joyful. But we had a good time, of sorts, and I can see where Snr Hurtado is coming from. And I like his sense of humour wrapped up as philosophy.
I also like this wine which will be making a regular appearance on the table here at Chateau Blogspot. Firstly the bouquet from this young Pinot Noir is a stunning heady fill of dark cherry with a touch of woody leather. Not only does it have fathoms of depth, but it also has a mature flavour which I hadn't quite prepared myself for given its very youthful vintage.
As the wine opens up it produces a meaty, jammie mix of berries and blackcurrant with a slightly woody edge. The sensation is a mix of the very smooth with a slight woodiness. Generally, the overall feeling is a of a wine that has been crafted to produce something with a strong, full on personality coupled with a modicum of control. For me it falls slightly short of a full blown affair with a deep berry Californian Zinfandel or a Merlot-fuelled St Emilion Cru Classe, but I like its ambition and I love its earthy, ballsy sense of making you think 'game on' after the second or third generous glug.
Mind you with an alcohol content of 14% I too would share the same philosophical viewpoint as a bicycle - but wouldn't be able to guarantee being able to stay on it.
This is an exceptional, hearty yet stylish Chilean wide boy of a wine that should bring a smile to your face and open the heart of even the most austere panel taster chewing their way through high end first class growth clarets. And on special offer at Tesco at just £5.99 (reduced from £8.99) I'll be back on my philosophical bike to buy some more.
Very Decent Wine: 9/10
Dinner Party Appearl: 9/10 (great with steak, chilli, sweaty French cheeses)
Probability of Buying Again: 10/10 (I'm on my bike already)
Value for Money: 10/10 (a class act for the price)
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