Good Evening!
I hope all's well, despite being in the depths of what I maintain is the worst month of the year. Still, we're over half way through it now. And I have certainly noticed it getting light earlier and staying light later, so it won't be long until it's Spring again!
Perhaps because I drank mainly European wines over Christmas, I've had a hankering of late for some New World wines, particularly Chile (of course it could be because it's Summer there now and I'm missing light and heat?).
Just before Christmas I had a restock of some wines from the Cousiño Macul winery in Chile - one of the country's oldest. A couple of their wines (Merlot and Cabernet, if memory serves) used to be my go-to for a reliable bottle when I lived in West Kensington, as they were stocked by Queen's Club wines at the end of the road. That seems a long time ago! Anyway, they're still an excellent standard. Cousiño Macul, Sauvignon Blanc, Maipo Valley, 2020 (£10.95)
Zippy and refreshing. Dry. Lots of citrus acidity behind the fruit, which is a blend of green and tropical fruits. As an aperitif, or with goat's cheese salad, white fish.
Cousiño Macul, Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, 2019 (£11.50)
Fuller of body, but stopping short of a real blockbuster. Blackcurrant and raspberry. Hint of spice. Typically for a Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a bit more structured than its Merlot buddy, and so I think it would be best with food. Any grilled, fried, casseroled or roasted meat would be fine, as would earthier, richer vegetable dishes. For future reference, there's an excellent Chardonnay and Merlot in this range that I usually stock, but I'm currently out of stock of both.
Cousiño Macul, Antiguas Reservas Merlot, Maipo Valley, 2017 (£14.95)
Soft, full-ish of body, ripe and round with lots of plum and damson fruit and a bit of a savoury undertone. I could see this going well with pretty much anything you'd normally drink red with - chops, spag bol, bangers, roasts, steak and kidney pudding, spam fritters, etc., etc. 14%. Cork.
Cousiño Macul, Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, 2018 (£14.95)
A pretty classic style of Cabernet, on the fuller side of medium-bodied with fine, ripe tannins and lovely, velvety blackcurrant fruit, hints of menthol and a bit of vanilla from the year it spent in oak. Rack of lamb would be good, but I'd probably just want a steak. 14%. Cork.
If you'd like to buy any of the above in our online store, click here to see them.
Do let me know if I can send you any wine - Chilean or otherwise.