Wine Region: Central Valley

(2025) Miguel Torres (the man) has a deep felt commitment to sustainability and environmental causes, and this wine from a small new range is the first time his Chilean wines have been shipped to the UK in bulk, for local bottling. For many producers that's a cost-saving measure, but I believe the 40% saving to CO₂ emissions that it brings is a driving force. The wine is also packed in a lightweight bottle for onward transport. The wine spent three months on oak barriques, and opens with a swirl of smokiness around black berries. A little hint of roasted meats and spice is very Chilean Cabernet. In the mouth it is dry, with a light balsamic quality, the fruit not quite plush enough against the tannin and acid core, finishing with a touch of spice again.

(2025) Miguel Torres (the man) has a deep felt commitment to sustainability and environmental causes, and this wine from a small new range is the first time his Chilean wines have been shipped to the UK in bulk, for local bottling. For many producers that's a cost-saving measure, but I believe the 40% saving to CO₂ emissions that it brings is a driving force. The wine is also packed in a lightweight bottle for onward transport. That's the main point of interest here really: don't get me wrong, it's a punchy and well-balanced Sauvignon with plenty of grassy freshness and juicy peach and tropical fruit, but the message behind it is the main reason it's featured as Wine of the Week. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) This Chilean wine is an unusual blend of mostly Sauvignon Blanc, the light peach/orange colour and hint of red berries coming from Pinot Noir. Aromatically, small redcurrant and cranberry notes join racier lemon withba touch of orange peel. The palate is fairly straightforward with citrus juiciness and a dry finish.

(2022) This sees a little lees ageing, the nose quite punchy and gooseberry-like, a little bit of elderflower again. The palate is very juicy, there is a bit of richness to the texture, but the mango and peachy fruit does finish with streaking citrus acidity.

(2022) This relatively pale, peachy-coured wine is from the Chilean outpost of New Zealand's Mud House. It is an unusual blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, small red berries on the nose not showing too much Sauvignon character, though there is a definite zip to the palate that cuts across the ripe berry fruits.

(2021) If you are a fan of Mud House's wines you might have done a double-take on this one: a famous name of Marlborough in New Zealand, this is their new venture in Chile. The wine is a very good quality, commercial Sauvignon from the Central Valley, with a headline price of £9.00 but this is one of those big brand wines that will always be discounted somewhere - it's £6.99 in Majestic and £7.50 in Asda at time of review. Plenty of vivacious elderflower and asparagus notes to ripe tropical fruit, and a rich, full-fruited palate that has a little honeyed weight, a hint of sweetness, and good acid balance. Easy-drinking, it's a good party all-rounder but watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.

(2021) Valdivieso were one of the first to attempt a 'super premium' wine from Chile when they launched Caballo Loco #1 almost two decades ago. Mystery surrounds it, being a non vintage wine from unspecified regions, and a blend of 10 different varieties that are never fully disclosed. Some of the wines in this blend date back to 1992, with around 50% from 2012. It is aged for 18 months in French oak. Nicely mature, gamy and in many ways Bordeaux-like on the nose, there is cedar and a peppery, spicy lift, and good black fruit. Smooth as silk on the palate, again the mind turns to Bordeaux, the aged wines ensuring a softer tannin profile, but still keen fruit and acid in balance, glycerine-rich sweetness to the mid-palate fruit, and a harmonious finish. A wine that is unique, very easy to drink, and very easy to like.

(2019) An organic certified wine from Miguel Torres's Chilean operation, this has a nice deep, bold garnet-pink colour that certainly stands out among the pale set of pinks currently so in vogue. The nose has depth too; blackcurrant and a touch blackcurrant syrupy character, some fragrant rose bouquet too. In the mouth a much more textured and mouth-filling wine than the paler examples, by comparison fairly slippery texture and with so much ripe, bold fruit sweetness. It is dry in the finish, with nice cherry and lemon acids, and you've got to love such a confidently unfashionable take on current rosé trends. Could work well with milk chocolate desserts.

(2019) Viña Ventisquero always does a good job with its wines, and this is no exception. There's enough gooseberry and elderflower to satisfy the SB fan, a tropical fruit-basket of aroma and flavour, and a good level of intensity here, being dry and well-balanced with nothing out of place, and it is very approachable with its tempered acidity and generous mouthfeel. The Merlot partner also delivers a solidly pleasing mouthful of red wine, and both can be recommended with confidence at their offer price of £5.50 in the Co-op, until 23rd April 2019. Watch the video for more information on both wines.

(2018) A wine that always makes me smile because it is so resolutely unfashionable in colour, a deep magenta/red that's easily the darkest of all the wines tasted here. Cabernet is evident on the nose, both blackcurrant and a touch of something herbaceous, before a full, sweet and creamy palate, some residual sugar softening the edges. Not a style I could drink a lot of, but chunky enough for a chile con carne or some beef empenadas.