Wine from Chile has long been recognized as affordable and awesome. Here are four Cabernet Sauvignon from two regions ranging from $20-$45 that over deliver for you to consider for your next beach or backyard BBQ. While you’ve probably enjoyed a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon before since almost 100k acres and 20% of the Chilean vineyards, you may not have paid much attention to the region or compared them. Generally speaking, a typical Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo region offers red and dark fruit with polished tannins and juicy freshness while Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Cabs brings to the palate darker fruit, structured tannins, and moderate freshness. The Maipo Valley includes the historic core of vineyards that you may be familiar with, so it may be time to compare with the Colchagua Valley to learn more about the differences and similarities between climate, soils and, ultimately, terroir management.
4 Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from 2 Regions
A brief introduction to two regions and two wines from each:
Colchagua, located 80 miles south of Santiago and at 2000′ in elevation, is shaped by the Tinguinirica River which also starts in a volcanic crater, and which leaves behind gravel-heavy alluvial terraces then in the flatter regions, more clay deposits. As the valley descends, temperatures rise.
- Maquis Vina Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon SRP $20
Colchagua - Los Vascos Cromas Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon SRP $22
Colchagua
Maipo’s terroir formed by the eponymous river and the Andes Mountain range, and which begins at the Maipo volcano. Four alluvial terraces of gravel and sand define the region’s soils, with more clay closer to the river. While there’s plenty of solar radiation, at the higher altitudes, you might be surprised to learn that this is one of the coolest wine-growing areas in the world, similar to Bordeaux where some of the best known Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are found.
- Echeverria Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $25
Maipo Alto - Vina Aquitania Lazuli Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 SRP $40
Maipo Alto
How about these awesome burgers from Main Street Meats with affordable delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile? Bet Mom would love these with blue cheese on the backyard grill or at the beach! This Mom certainly would!
Details, tasting notes, and pairings follow for these four wines, plus we have more Chilean Cabernet for future posts or check out these previous posts:
- Chile’s Concha y Toro Delivers for Cabernet Sauvignon Day
- Enjoy a Sustainable Cabernet Day with Lapostolle
- Chile‘s Biodynamic Odjfell with Pastel de Choclo
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- Burgers with the fixins
All four of these wines notably tasted excellent over the course of a week and paired exceptionally with various meals featuring beef.
Maquis Vina Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Colchagua
SRP $20
ABV 14%
Importer: Global Vineyards Importers
sample for my review
This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenere, and 1% Petit Verdot, comes from a lower elevation vineyard in the Palmilla DO, where the Tinguinirica River merges with the Chimbarongo estuary depositing clay-rich soil on top of gravel.
Color: Ruby, mauve rose rim, clear, medium density
Aroma: Casis, menthol, eucalyptus, sarsaparilla, cherry cough drop, cocoa nib, red and black licorice, cigar box
Palate: Cherry, eucalyptus and menthol cooling, nice herbal aspects, cherry cough drop. very woody, cedar wood and sandalwood.
Pairing The BBQ char of the burger marries nicely with the fruity herbal wine. It brings out bright cherry fruit. This would be a very nice meat loaf wine. Think Carne Asada, Steak, or other grilled beef on the BBQ. Great with the sweet potato oven fries, it loves the herbs and the sweet and the salt of the dish.
Los Vascos Cromas Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon SRP $22
Colchagua
SRP $22
ABV 14.5%
Importer: Taub Family Selections
sample for my review
With 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and 5% Carménère from the far west of the Colchagua Valley in the Peralillo DO, this lower elevation garnet gravel vineyard sits 25 miles from the Pacific on the slopes of Coastal Range where mild sea breezes and cool nights balance high daytime temperatures.
Color: Bright ruby, a bit cloudy, pink rim, medium density.
Aroma: Bell pepper, bay, clay, soil, mushroom, cherry, musky, husky, amber,
Palate: Cherry cola, cherry tobacco, cherry ricola, cherry and herbs, bay, cherry bark, nice wine texturally, nice mouthfeel and finish.
Pairing The rich oven baked sweet potato fries tame the bright fruit in the wine. However the wine still brings a bright rich cherry flavor to the palate. There is still tart bright fruit in the wine. The complexity of this quality burger adds to the postitive experience of the meal, but only because the meal is fantastic. It is good, but would be better with a fantastic wine. It is a nice wine that pairs nicely with the wine.
Echeverria Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $25
Maipo Alto
SRP $25
ABV 14%
Importer: T Edward Wines LTD
sample for my review
This blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and 5% de Carménère from Chada, Paine, grows at 4,365 feet above sea level in a stony, loamy alluvial soil located in the transition zone between from Maipo Alto and Colchagua, mainly due to the warmer temperatures.
Very hefty bottle of wine for the price…beautiful, classy, embossed label.
Color: Ruby medium density, clear, pink rim.
Aroma: Very cherry and a hint of menthol and pyrizines which Sue loves!
Palate: Ripe cherry up front, cherry pie mid palate, cherry phosphate on the finish. Very cherry wine. Clean, pure and bright. Very smooth, soft and lovely on the palate, great textural feeling. Smooth tannins and very sippable with or without food.
Pairing: The ripe fruit in the wine becomes jammy with the food. The richness and the quality of the burger brings out beautiful richness and quality of the wine. Perfection, however, comes when the wine meets the rosemary sweet potato oven fries. The two are harmonic together.
Vina Aquitania Lazuli Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 SRP $40
Maipo Alto
SRP $ 40 – $45
ABV 14.5%
Importer: Vine Connections
sample for my review
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from old vines planted in Peñalolén near Santiago de Chile at 2,300′ in the Maipo Andes where the diurnal shift of 20 degrees ensures gradual ripening. Soils come the erosion of 10,600′ Cerro de la Cruz Mountain with limestone and clay with sharp-edged rocks bringing a fruity expression.
Color: Garnet, medium density, coppery golden rim
Aroma: Menthol, eucalyptus, sage, herbs de Provence, cassis.
Palate: So much fruitier on the palate than on the nose, plum, ripe fruit, plum preserves, the red stone fruit is there, but the plum prevails. Herbal mint and cocoa nibs on the finish. Cherry and mint , more cherry and mint.
Pairing: Oh how glorious with sweet potato oven fries. The rosemary on the fries made the super fruity wine pop. Great with the burger, but absolutely fantastic with the oven fries. Make your basic BBQ burger meal shine by pairing it with sweet potato oven fries and this wine. The quality of the burger meat elevates the flavor wine. You are able to taste the quality of the wine and the quality of the meal.
Part 2 coming right up for Sauvignon Blanc Day Friday May 6 2022!
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Chilean Sauvignon Blanc: with screw top closures — and two organic ones too!
- Veramonte Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2021 SRP$14
- Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Rapel River 2021 SRP $15
- Cono Sur Organico Sauvignon Blanc 2021 SRP $11
- Valdevieso Sauvignon Blanc DO Valle de Leyda 2015 SRP $17
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 