Recently I participated in a virtual seminar exploring the frigid Humboldt Current that kisses the coast of Chile and how its coolness affects wines made within a few miles of the Pacific. As part of the presentation, we tasted selected Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from these cool coastal region, and five of them are reviewed below. (The photo above is of one of Montes’ vineyards a couple of miles from the Pacific.)
This edition of The Dozen also has a couple of lovely Vermouths and a bracing shot of gin to finish things off.
2023 Miguel Torres “Cordillera de los Andes” Limari Valley Chardonnay ($21). Light spicy with fresh fruit tastes and a hint of toast.
2020 Montes “Alpha” Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay ($23). Lovely aromas and flavors of ripe apples with a finish of creamy, toasty oak.
2021 Santa Rita “Floresta” Limari Valley Chardonnay ($65). A combo of floral and herbal flavors with good length and crisp acidity.
2022 B. Wise Vineyards “Nobles Vineyard” Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay ($75), Silky, but with firm body and flavors of tart apples and a hint of citrus.
2023 Terra Noble “Algarrobo” Aconcagua Pinot Noir ($26). Lean and light – more savory than fruity, a fair amount of tannins and some notes of green olives in the finish.
2022 Concha y Toro “Amelia” Limari Valley Pinot Noir ($65). An enjoyable wine with muted cherry ripeness and good herbal and savory notes and well-integrated tannins.
2021 B. Wise Vineyards “Lucky Well Vineyard” Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($75). Lovely, floral, complex with a blend of red cherry and Luxardo cherry flavors.As close as a Pinot can get to the flavors of a Manhattan.
2021 Early Mountain “Luvium” Virginia Red Wine ($90). Lovely soft, mulled-berry flavors followed by savory tannins and good acidity.
NV Elena “Tim 21” Vermouth di Torino Superiore Bianco ($50). Lightly sweet, with piquant herbal flavors, including notes of orange and orange peel – quite lovely by itself or in mixed drinks.
NV Elena Vermouth di Torino Rosso ($30). Fruitier and with more taffy flavors than the Superiore (below), this Vermouth would work equally well in cocktails or straight over ice.
NV Elena “Lea 19” Vermouth di Torino Superiore Rosso ($50). Rich and deep in flavors, more woodsy herbal than fruity and floral with good tannins and acidity in the finish.
NV Elena Dry Gin ($38). Very creamy and mellow, with harmonious herbal flavors with nothing other than the juniper jumping out at you. 42% ABV.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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