Some very drinkable, affordable reds from Chile turned up for
this tasting of merlot, cabernet and other blends from New
Zealand and Australia.
BEST UNDER $15
Casa de Campo Cabernet
Sauvignon Carmenère 2007
(about $12)
Juicy blackcurrant and berry fruit mingle with a hint of
earthiness from the carmenère in this firm, spicy wine with a
dry, slightly grippy finish.
3 stars (out of 5)
Good value
www.caminoreal.cl
BEST UNDER $20
Jacob's Creek
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
(about $19.95)
Go for the reserve rather than the regular version of this
ubiquitous brand.
It's dense with juicy fruit and inky blackcurrants, lifted by
a hint of preserved ginger.
It is spicy, flavoursome and finishes firmly.
3 stars (out of 5)
Good value
www.jacobscreek.com
Los Portones de
San Francisco Merlot 2007
(about $13)
In a sack-covered bottle, this simple but flavoursome wine
has earthy, savoury hints, a suggestion of strongly-brewed
tea and a firm finish.
2 stars (out of 5)
Average value
www.caminoreal.cl
Pegasus Bay
Waipara Merlot Cabernet 2006
(about $29)
Pegasus Bay is one of the few winemakers producing both good
pinot and good merlot-cabernet blends.
At four years old, this is rich with concentrated fruit,
hints of chocolate and mint, and a firm finish.
4 stars (out of 5)
Good value
www.pegasusbay.com
Te Kairanga
Runholder Merlot Cab Franc 2008
(about $29)
Oodles of spicy oak, suggestions of mint, chocolate, coffee
and generous fruit, this is a big young wine, and will
benefit from mellowing bottle age.
3 stars (out of 5)
Average value
www.tekairanga.co.nz
Sacred Hill
Brokenstone Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2008
(about $65)
Here's a wine that cries out for another few years to allow
it to integrate.
At present it's big, powerful and concentrated with huge
fruit and a firm finish, almost uncomfortable to drink, but
maturity will mellow it.
4 stars (out of 5)
Below average value
www.sacredhill.co.nz
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to
eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is
subjective. These are personal recommendations.
- Charmian.smith@odt.co.nz
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