Comments on: Can Chile Break Out of the “Value Wine” Trap?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:16:24 +0000

fun tasting, Mike. I agree the PN would have been a better cross section with at least one from the Leyda valley.
I find it interesting that you described the Chilean PN as somewhere between France and New Zealand, as that is exactly my feeling with the Sauvignon Blancs! I always tell people that the wines taste like they are right between France and New Zealand, and if you have a world map, Chile is basically halfway between the two countries!

By: Damien Wilson (@WineBusProf)

Damien Wilson (@WineBusProf) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:27:04 +0000

Interesting article, Mike. I should start by saying that I’m not a terroirist. It’s not that I don’t like terroir, but I love wine irrespective of whether terroir is evident or not. The two things that strike me as particulalry noteworthy in this piece are: the use of technology to conduct a tasting (outstanding news! Would love to get in touch with the organisers about how they ran it); and that some of the most enjoyable wines in your line-up wwere not afforded the title of ‘exponents of terroir’. All of which begs the question: ‘why should a winery focus on trying to express terroir in their wines when an enjoyable, and valued wine can be made in its absence?’

By: Michael Hince

Michael Hince — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:08:10 +0000

Probably the latter.

Cheers

Michael

By: Mike Veseth

Mike Veseth — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:38:16 +0000

A good question, Michael. There is reason to think that some of them will be good. I think Moet makes sparkling wines in Brazil and I doubt that they would risk tarnishing their brand with poor wines. But will they get out? Or will all be consumed at home by happy visitors and natives?

By: Michael Hince

Michael Hince — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:31:24 +0000

Mike

With the coming World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games can we [eventually] expect to see some sparkling wines emerge from Brazil? If so what will be their likely quality?

Michael Hince
Melbourne Australia

By: gdfo

gdfo — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:57:07 +0000

I had thought Chile has had great wines, above the ‘value’ category for many years. Some folks just were not aware of that fact. Concho Y Toro Don Melchior has been around for a long time.

By: Mike Veseth

Mike Veseth — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:19:13 +0000

You raise an interesting point. The three Pinots actually came from quite different sites within the Casablanca region (good detail about this in the video conference). So it worked on a micro-terroir level but it would be difficult to communicate.

By: winebydean

winebydean — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:56:17 +0000

MIke, as I look at these wines I can’t help but wonder why all the selections of Pinot Noir came from Casablanca? Hard to make much of a determination on terroir when the focus group all comes from one location (the Sauvignon selections seemed the best cross section) – how does one compare and contrast? Maybe once it’s determined that each has merit unto it’s own, then you can delve into specifics from each region better. However mostly I’m thinking that the sampling my not have been large enough or diverse enough to be helpful.

By: Lowell

Lowell — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:32:29 +0000

Interesting discussion, Mike! Philippe Jeanty was with us for Thanksgiving and “value priced”, but not “good wine” came up in our discussion of Chile Vs various other wine regions….