Chile

Slightly reduced but still balanced enough to give off a positive early impression. The wine is sweet, almost syrupy, but it's that same ripeness that gives it more oomph and richness than most under-$10 wines. Finishes baked and almost stewy, but if you get at it early it should deliver all the black fruit and size one can expect from a value-priced offering.

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate One of the best, most classical Cabernet Sauvignons from Maipo, the 2014 Domus Aurea contains some 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. This wine is always balanced and elegant. In a dry year like 2014, they think the key was sensitive irrigation without excess to keep the plant with enough water supply to get through the summer without stress....

James Suckling: 94 Points “I love how the leafy complexity of dried sage, pine cones and forest floor combines with earth and paprika, but then with very fresh fruit, such as blueberries and citrus. Medium to full body, chewy and grainy tannins and a bark-laden finish”

Winemaker Notes Deep dark red in color, with the classic profile of Carmenere from Peumo, with intense notes of ripe plums, black currants, and dark chocolate, along with firm tannic structure and pronounced acidity. 90% Carmenere and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is from Peumo Vineyard in Cachapoal Valley, Chile, and the vines were planted from 1994 through 1996 on alluvial silty-clay soil....

90 pts. Patricio Tapia - Chilean wine critic An honest Cab in every way. The perfect wine for a Sunday Barbeque. Colchagua Valley, Chile

Wine Enthusiast 88 pts. Roasted berry, barbecued meat and oaky aromas open this Carmenère that's medium in body and wiry due to punchy tartaric acidity. Berry, plum and cherry flavors are fresh and spicy, while this is tight and gritty on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast 91 pts Spicy black fruit aromas are intense and herbal as Carmenère should be, with a hint of varietally common bell pepper. A plump palate is rich and fruity, but nicely balanced by seemingly natural acidity. Spicy, herbal black fruit flavors are generous and suggest barbecued meat and smoke. On the finish, a minty green character isn't too aggressive. Drink through 2023.

86 points Wine Enthusiast Standard Carmenère aromas of olive, bramble, spiced plum and green peppercorn lead to a medium-bodied palate with a touch of creamy oak. Minty, grassy berry and plum flavors play up the green side of this variety, while spice and herbal notes extend across the finish.

2018 San Elias Chardonnay - 87 PTS - IWR "Clean and crisp, this easy drinking Chardonnay offers subtle apple and citrus aromas and flavors with a hint of honeysuckle. It has a light, refreshing palate that makes it the perfect wine for sipping on the patio or pairing with salads and simply prepared fish. Great value!" - i-winereview.com (Vina Siegel from Chile's Colchagua Valley: New Releases,...