Why are Chilean wines so good? For a start, they are sold at a relatively low price. Their wine is rarely sold for more than $30, which is great for such high-quality wine full of history and culture.
Chile is most famous for its marvelous Cabernet Sauvignon wine blends; however, they also produce exquisite Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Although Chile has a world-class reputation for producing amazing low-ticket wines, its low price range isn’t the only thing that attracts wine lovers.
Best Chilean Wines Comparison Table
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | LATEST PRICE |
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1. Autoritas Cabernet Sauvignon  |
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2. Criterion Carmenere Reserva  |
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| 3. Autoritas Sauvignon Blanc |
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4. De Martino Cabernet Maipo Legado  |
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5. Autoritas Rose  |
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In this review, I am going to introduce to you and review the best Chilean wine blends on the market. Each of the wines on the list will have their main features pinpointed, along with an explanation of what is great about the wine and what has room for improvement.
I hope that you find a wine (or two) that you want to try out for yourselves by the end of this review. Enjoy!
Our Chilean Wines Reviews and Comparisons
1. Criterion Carmenere Reserva
Product Highlights
Here is a soft wine with a 13% alcohol content by volume.
Features
- Hints of nutmeg, dark chocolate, and cinnamon
- Strong black and red berry flavors
- Aged for four months in French barriques
- Pair with steak or herb-roasted lamb
- 750 ml bottle
What We Like About Criterion Carmenere Reserva
This wine isn’t overly sweet, nor is it sour. It is well balanced and savory, and it won’t overpower a hearty meal. If you don’t usually drink red wine due to its strong, rich flavors, this wine may be a great option for you.
What We Don’t Like About Criterion Carmenere Reserva
The wine tastes rather woody and earthy, which isn’t to everyone’s taste. You certainly have to match it very well with your meal as if the wine is it can taste very unpleasant, paired with the wrong flavors.
PROS
- Savory
- Great with meat dishes
- Interesting and unique flavors
CONS
- Maybe too earthy for some
- Does not go well with every dish
2. Autoritas Sauvignon Blanc
Product Highlights
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Features
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Chilean white wine
- Great paired with delicate white fish or oysters
- Fresh and crisp
- Citrus and melon flavors
- Hints of herbs and a long finish
- Great with a cheese board or on its own
What We Like About Autoritas Sauvignon Blanc
The citrus notes in this wine aren’t overpowering and do not leave a bitter taste which is refreshing. Because there isn’t a sour aftertaste, you can enjoy the wine without any nibbles or food, and it goes down a treat as it is.
What We Don’t Like About Autoritas Sauvignon Blanc
You wouldn’t start your evening with this wine. It won’t wow your guests, but it also won’t offend them either. This is a great ‘back up’ wine to have for when you have finished the more premium bottles of wine.
PROS
- Refreshing on a hot summer’s day
- Well-balanced
- Great price point
- Tangy and fresh
CONS
- Not a show-stopper
- Mediocre
3. De Martino Cabernet Maipo Legado
Product Highlights
This is a red wine from Maipo Valley, Chile.
Features
- 13.5% alcohol by volume
- 750 ml bottle
- Red wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What We Like About De Martino Cabernet Maipo Legado
The alcohol content is spot on with the flavor and aromas of the wine. It isn’t a pretentious bottle of wine, and it goes with pretty much any savory dish, which is great and makes it a favorite in many households.
See Related Topic: Best Wine with Spaghetti
What We Don’t Like About De Martino Cabernet Maipo Legado
This wine blend is particularly potent and has a dominant aroma. Some may also find this wine rather sickly and won’t be able to drink more than half a glass.
PROS
- Indulgent aromas
- Soft texture
- Smooth taste
- Versatile
CONS
- Rich
- Strong aromas
4. Autoritas Cabernet Sauvignon
Product Highlights
Keep yourselves warm this winter with this deep red Chilean wine.
Features
- Sweet vanilla and toasted oak flavors
- Velvet smooth texture
- Blackcurrant and forest fruit flavors
- The perfect partner for comfort food like shepherd’s pie
What We Like About Autoritas Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking this wine in a cozy setting alongside a homemade pie or burger is simply a treat. This wine is perfect for evenings as it is rather rich and heavy than refreshing and light.
It goes marvelously with food and can also be used in recipes that call for red wine. Overall, it is a good wine to have in the colder months for both drinking and cooking.
What We Don’t Like About Autoritas Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is a bit too heavy for a party setting and isn’t really as enjoyable in the warm summer months either. It is heavy and warming which is not the atmosphere you want to create at a special event or at a party.
PROS
- Hearty flavors
- Smooth texture
- Well-balanced and sweet
CONS
- Not suitable all year round
5. Autoritas Rose
Product Highlights
A rose wine blend with an alcohol percentage of 12.5%
Features
- Soft notes
- Bright red fruit flavors and fresh berries
- Best served chilled
- Great with fresh salads and grilled seafood
- brilliant with spicy dishes
What We Like About Autoritas Rose
I love rose wine. It is such a great wine to gift people. Most people enjoy drinking rose as it has the best of red and white wine flavors. This wine certainly lives up to my high standards for rose wine and it is fresh yet smooth with a sharp aftertaste and a hint of sweetness.
What We Don’t Like About Autoritas Rose
There isn’t much not to like about this wine. The only problem is that there isn’t much to love about it either. The most disappointing thing about this wine is that it has a very alcoholic aroma, and the alcohol smell overpowers some of the softer notes.
PROS
- Versatile
- Brilliant with main dishes and desserts
- Great as a gift
CONS
- Low alcohol percentage
Final Verdict
Today’s winner is Autoritas Cabernet Sauvignon. I feel like it is an ‘all or nothing’ kind of wine. Although you may drink, it is the least versatile wine on this list, it has a strong presence, and it is full of personality.
It isn’t a forgetful wine in any way. However, you like to drink it, and with whoever you choose to enjoy it with, it sure will be memorable.
See Related Article: Best Malbecs
Buying Guide
Wine is an important part of many people’s lives. It is a way for people to get together socially and enjoy a common passion. Whether you are looking for a great wine to drink alone or with some company, you want to make sure that you are getting the right wine for your needs.
Below is a buying guide for you to use full of important pointers that shouldn’t be forgotten when looking for a good bottle of wine. I hope it helps!
1. Red, White, or Rose
Red wine, white wine, and rose wine are the three main types of wine on the market. Before you begin to think about what you are looking for in your wine, you must decide which of the wine categories you want to choose from. This will narrow down your choices drastically and make the process smoother.
2. Price
Do not presume that a high-ticket bottle of wine is going to be the best option. Price doesn’t mean much when it comes to personal preference and taste. It is the ingredients, body, and aromas that decide whether a wine is good for you or not.
If you have a budget to stick to, that is fine; however, the point here is not to go for a bottle of wine because it is cheap or expensive without looking at the rest of its features.
3. Age
Not all wines taste better with age. Most people wrongly presume that a well-aged bottle of wine is going to be better than a wine that hasn’t aged. This is not the case.
4. Body
You can get light-bodied and heavy-bodied wine, but what does ‘body’ actually mean? When you read about the wine’s body, it refers to how it feels as you drink it and its texture in your mouth.
Heavy-bodied wines are richer and feel heavy and indulgent as you drink them. Light-bodied wines, on the other hand, feel light and fresh.
5. Acidity
Wines that have a high acidity taste fresh and tart. Low acidity wines are rounder and smoother. Think about what textures and flavors you like your wine to drink.
6. Sweetness
Dry wine isn’t sweet at all and has quite a sharp taste. Then you have semi-sweet wine, which is well-balanced, and finally, some wine is sweet with rich flavors. The wine’s sweetness will be indicated on the label using the terms ‘sweet’ ‘semi-sweet’ or ‘dry’.
You May Also Like: Best Red Wine Blends
FAQ
Do you still have some questions regarding Chilean wine that need answering? The following section is full of frequently asked questions about Chilean wine in particular. We have also added some general wine frequently asked questions and answers in order to expand your wine knowledge.
Q: Why is Chilean wine so good?
A: Chilean wine is powerful and has soft textures and flavors. The wine region has plenty of history in the wine industry, and you can feel this strong sense of culture in their wine.
Q: What wine is Chile famous for?
A: Chile is most famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Its red wine blends are also generally very sought after and held at a high standard.
Q: How much wine does Chile export every year?
A: Chile exports $183 million worth of wine to the United States alone every year. The United Kingdom and China are also on Chile’s top wine export list.
Q: What are the best Chilean wines?
A: Autoritas wine blends are very high-quality and considered by many to be the best Chilean wine blends.
Q: What is the best temperature to serve wine?
A: Every wine is different; some wines are best served at room temperature, while others need to be chilled well. As a general rule, the following is a temperature guide for serving wine:
- Red wine, 65 degrees (F)
- White & rosé wine, 55 degrees (F)
- Champagne & other bubbly, 45 degrees (F)
Q: How long can I store unopened wine for?
A: Wine under $20 dollars is supposed to be consumed within a year of release. Do not presume that keeping a bottle of wine for years will make it better, as you may come to open it and be very disappointed that it has gone bad.
Q: How should I save leftover wine and slow down its oxidation process?
A: The best way to store opened wine is to make sure there is no air in the container. To do that, you must find an appropriately sized container that can be sealed with a cork or tight screw. You will need to fill the container to the top so that there is no air left inside.
Q: How do I remove sulfites from wine?
A: It is no secret that the sulfite found in wine can cause unpleasant side effects, especially for people suffering from sulfite allergies. Whether you suffer from a sulfite allergy or not, you can filter your wine using special filters to remove sulfites from your wine.
Q: Should I swallow wine during a wine tasting event?
A: That is entirely up to you. Professional wine tasters do not swallow the wine they taste due to obvious reasons, but if you are wine tasting with friends in your spare time, that is another matter. Unless you are wine tasting on your lunch break from work or are driving home, I would swallow the wine and enjoy every drop!
I hope you enjoyed discovering five delicious Chilean wine blends and expanding your wine knowledge with me. I would love to hear about what wine you chose to try, or if you have experience with any of the wine on the list, you can let us know what you thought about them!