Classic under a fiver Chilean sb.

Pear drop smell and nail varnish taste.

Awful. I haven't had a wine like this in years

have added an emoticon to your posting, which seems to echo your sentiments.

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mel

The sad thing is that Chile can produce some very good wine at the £5 mark. Concha Y Toro under it's many budget labels ( Cono Sur- Casillero Del Diablo etc ) make some really good sauvignon which although lacking in any really distinctive, herbaceous flavours like Montana or limestone minerals like Sancerre, is at least the equal of the very best Touraine sauvigons like the excellent rich, lemony La Grille Haut Poitou.

But, anyone trying mass produced crap like this will simply be put off Chilean sauvignon and perhaps Chilean wine altogether.

I should have added that this is a Ernest and Julio Gallo owned label...I really should have known better.

The Americans really do produce absolute tat at the budget end of the market. I guess I thought this might be different as it was made in Chile...but no.

The really, really sad thing is that overpriced American tat is so popular.

~sigh~

G

I don't get it. Just bought a bottle of the 2006 Valle de Colchagua Sauvignon Blanc. Great color, great fruit nose, light on the palate. Just what I was hoping for. A real bargin at $7.00.

Is this related in any way to the Chilcaya? Is it also Gallo?

If the wine is $7, do we take it that you're from the States? If so, apols for last post - it's only the mass-produced cheap US wine we dislike, not the population!

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mel

I'm assuming that this is another Gallo wine.

Do you like it because it's a good eg of sauvignon or because it doesn't taste like white zinfandel.

How does this compare with more expensive sb's that you drink

I have yet to taste a sub $10 Chilean sauv that was worth 50c.

The USA make rubbish sb too.

Goosegogs ~

I know it's not your thing, Goosegoggs, but I LOVE Mondavi Fume Blanc. However, taking oak out of the question, you're a cold climate sauvignon man, aren't you. Have you never had a Casablanca sauvignon that you liked?

Agree ref US, apart from Mondavi, but may need to do further research.

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mel

I have had a few Casablanca sb's but they were nothing special. The £4.99 M&S one is quite typical.

Just dry white wine.

But what would a £4.99 from France taste like AND it's only had to travel a few hundred miles.

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mel

If I wanted a Chilean SB I would head for the cooler Leyda Valley wines. The '06 Montes Limited Selection SB available in some Sainsburys stores is the best I have tasted so far, regardless of cost. Fortunately, I bought a case when it was recently reduced to £3.99

A drab £4.99 wine is a drab £4.99 wine no matter whether it comes from Touraine or Chile.

That said, I think the standard of French sb at £5 is better than that of any hot climate country.

Montes is ok but only in comparison to other Chilean sb's. £7.99 is a joke when compared to Marlborough or Menetou Salon.

£4 is about right.

Leyda Valley is generally over-priced and over-hyped.