The Errazuriz (wines) Strike Back!

I've preached about the wonders of Errazuriz before; honestly one of - if not the best value Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc I've ever bought was from them, and it was only $14 CAN. So my younger brother and his long-time sweetheart came into town for dinner with Mrs Astudentofwine and I, and imagine my surprise when we walked into our local BCLCB specialty store & saw an entire shelf of Errazuriz wines! http://www.errazuriz.com/

First on our plate (literally) was the Sauvignon Blanc with boursin cheese, rice crackers (for me the celiac) and a vegetarian antipasto.

2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 13.5%, 91 Points by Wine & Spirits Magazine
$14 CAN **excellent value**

• vibrant lemony gold color, moderate++ intense bouquet of exotic fruits, wild flowers & mild citrus notes
• moderate+ acids, phenomenal balance for such a modestly priced wine! palate matches the nose exactly
• serve as I did with your first course: the acids are enough to wake the palate, yet not so much as to make difficult to sip on it's own. I also paired with main course of Meaux mustard, maple and garlic grilled pork tenderloin & it was divine

Then we moved onto the Max Reserva Syrah. Little did I know that Errazuriz has gone green by decreasing the weight of their wine bottles by 14%! Every little step we all make is making a positive step - right?

Anyways - the Syrah is hand picked, and aged for 12 months in new French oak. It also won the Grand Médaille d’Or at the SAQ in April 2010. The world is starting to talk about this family that is celebrating 140 years of continuous wine making in Chile.

2007 Max Reserva Syrah, 14.5% $20 **excellent value**

D.O. Valle de Aconcagua

• deep violet and bruised plum color
• bouquet of hot alcohol, violets, leathery oak, blood, gamey meat, chalky soil
• moderate++ acids, full tannins, fully intense palate that matches the nose brilliantly
• This was a fantastic wine that will only get better! Buy it now - buy a case, then pull out a new bottle every 3 months to watch it develop. Great structure already, and a fully satisfying balance, there are enough tannins and acids to see this drinking well for another 3 to 5 years easily (IMHO)

late harvest wine

A chill is in the air... spring winds are blowing the rain down from the local mountains and my wife & I are huddled up at home. The fireplace has a little crackle, the TV is glowing with the warmth of Grey's Anatomy, and I have a glass of late harvest wine.

A little plug here for, surprise surprise, the BCLCB. I really like going into my local speciality store now; the staff are incredibly helpful, the selection is immense, and there seems to be something for any occasion. Well it's true that I like a deal when it comes to wine, and every so often I even seem to find them (now) at the BCLCB. Case in point - this wine!

WINE A

clear visual;

• light liquid honey/straw color
• slight greenish tinge from the Sauvignon Blanc
• huge glossy legs indicative of massive sugars

clean nose; fully intense bouquet of

• citrus peel from the Sauv Blanc; lemon, mandarin orange, lime
• layers of honeyed rose petal from the 15% Gewurztraminer
• ripe orchard fruits: gala apples & Anjou pears
• ultra rich background of apricots (fresh & dried)

clean palate; 6 sweetness, moderate++ acids, 0 tannin, fully intense flavors of

• absolutely the same as the nose
• I must add the Gewurztraminer in the blend is so rich it's reminiscent of Muscat

full bodied, moderate alcohol (a touch warm and spicy like candied ginger), excellent structure

This is a tremendous wine. I can't say enough good things about it, except: buy it. Buy it now. Buy alot of it and drink a bottle every 6 months until you run out. Then buy another vintage. Have you bought it yet?

2007 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (Errazuriz Estates) **BUY THIS NOW @ $15**

Casablanca Valley, Chile