Several factors make it very competitive compared to many other wine producing regions.
Labour costs are constrained, as are land prices while a flatter terrain allows significant mechanisation – and consequent productivity gains.
Contrast that, for instance, with steeply sloping vineyards in Mosel and elsewhere.
Dry conditions in summer also helps disease control while melting mountain snow means fewer water shortages.
All that helps the “Under £10” wine market appreciably.
Equally, an overall emphasis on quality driven winemaking also trickles down into everyday offerings.
No surprise then that today’s Top Tips features two wines from Chile.
Once again, pictures and any available hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
An old friend returns
2023 35 South Cabernet Sauvignon (£7 – instead of £8 until 18 March – with a Nectar card at Sainsbury and 13.5% abv):
After a 10 year absence, it is good to see a return to the UK of Chile’s 35 South brand – it is named after the latitude of its original winery.
The new, modernised styles are aimed very much at UK wine enthusiasts and its white partner was selected in the recent “Six for £50” post.
This red equivalent opens with attractive sweet spice aromas and follows them up with smooth bramble, cherry and raspberry flavours.
Those are supported by good acidity, mild tannin and hints of milk chocolate, vanilla, mint and cedar.
Now for a white
2024 Irresistible Fairtrade Casablanca Chardonnay (£8.15 – instead of £9.15 until 1 April – at the Co-op and 13.5%):
Chile has produced cracking chardonnays recently and this classy example continues that trend.
The country’s big players reacted very positively to the world-wide move away from rich, high octane chardonnay.
They quickly recognised, and capitalised on, the complexity and freshness that variety offers when grown in cooler climates.
Casablanca – an early sauvignon blanc stronghold – with its Pacific derived maritime influences, was a beneficiary of this change.
With opening discreet toasty aromas (presumably from its three months on oak staves), this illustration of Casablanca’s success centres on crisp green apple, pear and ripe melon flavours.
Accompanying components include nippy acidity, a flinty depth and hints of tangerine, citrus peel and crème brûlée.
Anyone who enjoys classic chardonnay should try this one out while the red is a particularly good illustration of cabernet sauvignon at its price.
Join me again on Thursday when the focus switches to the idea of relaxing spending limits but controlling volumes..
5 responses
H Brian
I do enjoy Chilean Chardonnay and that one from the Co-op is very good, may I suggest as an alternative Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Chilean Chardonnay is also worth considering for a sub £10 bottle, it’s one of the nicest I’ve tasted for a while, don’t expect an Aussie Chard, its much more subtle and brighter, from the cooler climate you mention and the oak is softer.
Yes it is Dave – and good reinforcement for my point about the current value and quality of wines from Chile. Chardonnay is certainly benefitting from the attention and, I fancy, that even more emphasis on pinot noir will follow.
Hi Brian,
I read with interest an article in Saturday’s Times’ Business Section. Chairman Allan Leighton outlined his strategies to address current issues at Asda. Apparently “within weeks” the wine shelves will be arranged by wine style, instead of by country and by “logical Good, Better and Best price points”. (Looks like they have been consulting you, Brian!)
Note that the prices will be ending in a 6, 7, 9, instead of the more common 5, 9 or 0. “It’s a psyche thing”, Customers apparently think the former means you are rounding down, and the latter rounding up!
My experience is that their wine buyers are doing a very good job, but I have been frustrated by lack of availability – especially as Asda is the supermarket furthest away from me. Reassuring to read that this problem is fully recognised and it is a key improvement aim. So await the changes with interest.
I always liked Allan Leighton and it is good to see him (and his grocer’s instincts) back the helm.
Hi Dave … Brian …
I’m in Sainsbury’s today so will collect the 35 South red and the Chilean Chardonnay, the latter being a TTD so I’ll have another two TTD wines to get a 25% reduction on buy 3 bottles. Thinking that the Trentino Müller Thurgau must one of those and the SA- Chenin I so much like too, will go in the trolley. As ever pure discounting works for me as an incentive …
I make no apologies for decrying this whako Asda idea of no longer grouping wines country by country and attempting some manipulation with smoke and mirrors on the price points.
Firstly this notion of influencing the buying public with “It’s a psyche thing” by pricing 6/7/9 instead of 5/9/0 is wholly contemptuous and cynical if it is about psychologically controlling PERCEPTIONS as we shop.
Secondly, the French, Portuguese and Italians must laugh their socks off at us actually trying as hard as Asda seemingly thinks it needs to do by categorising according to ”style”, for goodness sake. Every other country in Europe is content to line up its stock by production location in Portugal vis Bairrada, Lisboa, Estramadura, Dao etc. and France … Loire, Provence, Rhône and so on. People there seem to know what comes from where and understand. Do we deduct from that that we don’t or can’t learn?
Interestingly as yet anyway Waitrose and Sainsbury’s are not in confusion about how they present their wine aisles country by country and thank goodness for that so far. And Aldi and Lidl being ”Euro-interlopers” suit themselves and are quite happy just to shove stuff on the shelves cheapest on the bottom one, pricier higher up. Thank you to them.
Off out now to the Chilean white wine section at Sainsbury’s …