Tasting Report: My Top 100 Andes Wines of 2015
This past April, I visited South America to taste the best wines of Argentina and Chile. It was my third trip to the continent, and I tasted nearly 1,200 wines during the two-and-a-half weeks I spent there. As with my previous two trips last year, I found that both countries are producing wines of increasingly outstanding quality that remain fabulous values. Plus, they are making world-class wines that compete with the very best, regardless if the competitors are from such benchmark areas as Bordeaux, Tuscany or Napa Valley.
Narrowing down these wines to
my Top 100 Andes Wines of 2015 was no easy task. The selection
was based primarily on ratings,
and although cost wasn’t a consideration, many of these bottles can be purchased for extremely reasonable prices. For example, the 2012 Bodegas Caro Mendoza Caro sells for about $50 – super price for a 98-point wine!
During my tasting this year, I found that top Argentine wines are more refined with power and finesse, while exuding minerality. Past notions of the country only producing big and bold reds can be discarded as winemakers seek balance and harmony. In other words, the uniqueness of Argentina’s terroirs is really starting to shine through in its wines as winemakers cut back on extraction and new wood in their production.
As for Chile, the diversity in fine wines I continue to discover
is fascinating, and the country produces some of the world’s
best quality wines for the money.
Of course there are some more expensive wines too, like my No. 1 Andes Wine of 2015: the 2013 Seña Valle de Aconcagua. It’s a wine that exhibits depth of fruit, structure and intensity that’s on par with other top wines of the world, and it’s produced from biodynamically grown grapes. The trend towards grapes cultivated organically and biodynamically is indeed a plus for Chile.
When it comes to New World wine, both Argentina and Chile are really coming into their own. It was exciting to taste these Top 100 Andes Wines of 2015 and see the various translations of the countries’ one-of-a-kind soils through different grape varieties and production methods. Take this list with you when shopping for wine, and discover the greatness of the Andes - one sip at a time.
The list below is not a simple ranking from highest to lowest score. It is very personal and based on my ratings and thoughts about the wine in context to this year. I tried to include wines that were released this year or will be released in 2015.
Photo 1: Vines in Argentina. Photo 2: 2013 Seña Valle de Aconcagua. Photo 3: Vineyard in Chile.
My Top 100 Andes Wines of 2015
1. Seña Valle de Aconcagua 2013
2. Bodegas Caro Mendoza Caro 2012
3. Bodega Noemía Malbec Patagonia 2013
4. Abremundos Valle de Uco Pagina 1 2012
5. Errázuriz Pinot Noir Aconcagua Costa Pizarra 2014
6. El Enemigo Mendoza Gran Enemigo 2010
7. Montes Syrah Valle de Colchagua Montes Folly 2011
8. Viñedo Chadwick Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo 2013
9. Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay Gualtallary Valle de Uco White Bones 2012
10. Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2012
11. Almaviva Valle de Maipo 2013
12. El Enemigo Cabernet Franc Gualtallary Valle de Uco Gran Enemigo 2010
13. Clos des Fous Pinot Noir Aconcagua Costa Pucalán Arenaria 2012
14. Lapostolle Valle de Colchagua Clos Apalta 2011
15. Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay Gualtallary Valle de Uco White Stones 2012
16. Viña Cobos Malbec Luján de Cuyo Cobos 2012
17. Errázuriz Chardonnay Aconcagua Costa Pizarra 2014
18. Zuccardi Valle de Uco Zeta 2012
19. Viña Cobos Luján de Cuyo Volturno 2012
20. Matetic Syrah Valle de San Antonio 2011
21. Montes Carmenere Valle de Colchagua Purple Angel 2012
22. Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Las Compuertas Luján de Cuyo Single Parcel Los Cerezos 2011
23. El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza 2012
24. Abremundos Valle de Uco Octava Superior 2012
25. Errázuriz Carmenere Valle de Aconcagua KAI 2013
26. Villard Syrah Valle de Casablanca Tanagra 2012
27. Bodega Norton Malbec Agrelo Luján de Cuyo Lote A-110 2010
28. Ritual Valle de Casablanca Monster 2014
29. Garcia Schwaderer Pinot Noir Valle de Casablanca Sofia 2013
30. Abremundos Valle de Uco 8th Octava Alta Blend 2012
31. Laura Hartwig Valle de Colchagua 2012
32. Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Valle de Maipo Don Melchor 2011
33. Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Ultra 2013
34. Emiliana Valle de Colchagua Coyam 2012
35. Montes Valle de Colchagua Taita Marchigue Vineyard 2009
36. Bodega Norton Malbec Luján de Cuyo Lote LC-110 2010
37. Polkura Syrah Valle de Colchagua 2012
38. Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Finca Mirador 2013
39. Errázuriz Syrah Valle de Aconcagua La Cumbre 2013
40. Trapiche Mendoza Iscay Malbec & Cabernet Franc 2009
41. Villard Pinot Noir Valle de Casablanca Le Pinot Noir Grand Vin 2013
42. Montes Valle de Colchagua Alpha M 2012
43. Bodega Mendel Mendoza Unus 2012
44. Haras del Pirque Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo Hussonet 2011
45. Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Finca Bella Vista 2013
46. O. Fournier Malbec Valle de Uco Red Blend 2007
47. Clos des Fous Valle de Maule Tocao Granito Paleozoico (328 millones de años) 2012
48. Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Sin Azufre 2014
49. Catena Zapata Mendoza Nicolas Catena Zapata 2011
50. Bodega Noemía Patagonia J. Alberto 2014
51. Aristos Chardonnay Alto Cachapoal Duquesa d'A 2010
52. Gillmore Cabernet Franc Loncomilla Valle de Maule 2011
53. Bodega Diamandes Mendoza Gran Reserva 2006
54. Aresti Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Curicó Family Collection Limited Edition 2001
55. Maycas del Limarí Chardonnay Valle de Limarí Quebrada Seca 2013
56. Zuccardi Malbec Valle de Uco Finca Canal Uco 2012
57. Polkura Valle de Colchagua Secano (Dry Farmed) 2013
58. Viña Cobos Malbec Luján de Cuyo Bramare Marchiori Vineyard 2012
59. Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Gualtallary Valle de Uco 2011
60. Tapiz Malbec Mendoza Alta Colección 2013
61. Bodega Mendel Malbec Valle de Uco Finca Remota 2011
62. Garage Wine Co Carignan Triquilemu Valle de Maule Lot #47 2013
63. Viña Cobos Malbec Luján de Cuyo Touza Vineyard 2012
64. MontGras Valle de Colchagua Antu 2012
65. Mater Vini Malbec Argentina Alteza 2013
66. Tamaya Syrah Valle de Limarí Limited Release 2011
67. Lapostolle Mourvèdre Valle de Colchagua Collection 2013
68. Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Valle de Uco Reserve 2013
69. Susana Balbo Wines Malbec Valle de Uco Francis 2012
70. Kingston Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Valle de Casablanca Alazan 2013
71. Bodega Cuarto Dominio Malbec Mendoza Cuarto Dominio 2012
72. Alta Vista Mendoza Alto 2011
73. Bodega Norton Malbec Mendoza Privada 2011
74. Doña Paula Malbec Mendoza Alluvial Parcel Bush Vines 2011
75. Abremundos Malbec Valle de Uco 8th Octava Bassa 2012
76. De Martino Chardonnay Valle de Limarí Quebrada Seca 2013
77. Weinert Mendoza Gran Vino BCW 2006
78. Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Temporis 2013
79. BenMarco Wines Malbec Valle de Uco Expresivo 2013
80. Susana Balbo Wines Malbec Agrelo Nosotros Nomade 2010
81. Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2013
82. Emiliana Valle de Colchagua Gê 2012
84. Monteviejo Malbec Valle de Uco Lindaflor 2010
85. San Pedro Valle de Cachapoal Sideral 2012
86. Bodega Francois Lurton Mendoza Chacayes 2012
87. Errázuriz Valle de Aconcagua Don Maximiano 2013
88. Bodega Norton Malbec Lunlunta Maipú Mendoza Lote L-110 2010
89. Tres14 Malbec Gualtallary Valle de Uco Imperfecto 2012
90. El Enemigo Bonarda Mendoza 2011
91. Luigi Bosca Malbec Luján de Cuyo Single Vineyard 2012
92. Trapiche Malbec Gualtallary Valle de Uco Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia 2011
93. Bodega Piedra Negra Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Uco Gran Lurton 2011
94. Viña Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo Protegido 2011
95. Meli Carignan Loncomilla Valle de Maule El Dueño de la Luna 2012
96. Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Catena Alta Historic Rows 2012
97. Cadus Malbec Gualtallary Valle de Uco Appellation Gualtallary 2013
98. Decero Mendoza Amano Remolinos Vineyard 2012
99. Emiliana Valle de Casablanca Signos de Origen 2014
100. Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo Casa Real 2012
