2009 Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Color – Inky purple

Nose – Blueberry, cherry, blackberry

Taste – This wine is nicely fruit forward with blueberry, cherry, and other dark fruit right from the start. It’s not very complex, though the flavor transitions from fruit to soft tannins and muted alcohol, to a finish of caramel, oak, and chocolate. The tannins are larger and more pronounced upon first opening of the bottle, but they only mellow a touch, and the alcohol is really only present in the mid-palate and right at the beginning of the medium finish. The wine has a pleasant mouthfeel, though it tends to be “lighter” in weight in my mouth than I would have expected. There is also a small amount of burnt popcorn flavor right at the end of the finish that I have found I like in red wine. I would say this is medium bodied with a cool texture, and perhaps too few tannins for my taste, though the flavor itself is pleasant and inviting.

Overall, this is a decent performer in the 8 dollar bottle section of Cabernet Sauvignon. It doesn’t jump out at me with immense flavors or complexity, but it has solid flavors, depth, and mouthfeel. I would say the QPR is good for this wine as the quality is definitely present and the price is perfect. In my opinion, there are few 8 dollar reds that would fare this well, I would challenge you to find one and bring it to my attention. I would say this is a must try and one to keep in mind when planning any get together or for a house warming gift as this wine is good enough to give to just about anyone.

Anakena Wines

2009 Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Color - Dark red

Nose - Blackberry, green bell pepper

Taste - This wine is dry and very pleasing. I get blackberry and tannins that start to do wonderful things with the wine. This is another one of those wines with very unique flavors. The unique flavors here come after a nice, long finish when I get a very distinct aftertaste of burnt toast or burnt popcorn. It's not blackened, just lightly burnt and actually very pleasing in an aftertaste. Most likely a benefit of the cask aging, if I were to guess the flavor is even more present when this is paired well. It was a perfect compliment to a blackened steelhead trout and four cheese rice. The flavor and texture of the wine adopts some cream tendencies with this dish. It is medium-bodied and very drinkable. Some will say "decant this", I say "enjoy it either way, the wine is good enough by itself."

Overall, I will definitely buy this wine again. This is my second Anakena wine. I think both are in my top 10 wines. They are both young, tannic and very big; but they are both pretty complex for their ages and have the mouthfeel that I have come to love in red wine. Plus they both taste great when consumed alone. Anakena is on my "Try Them All" List.

Anakena Wines