15 Top Picks From South America, all under $25

John Szabo, MS

Some of the Canada’s sharpest palates spent five long days tasting over 1200 wines in Calgary last month for the Wine Access Magazine International Value Wine Awards. The only criterion to enter the awards was that the wine must be available in Canada for under $25. The full results of the IVWAs will be published in Wine Access in October, but in the meantime, here is a little snippet from my personal notes: 15 top picks from South America. Argentina, and especially Chile, continue to impress with their quality/price/pleasure ratio. The scores listed are my own and not the aggregate panel scores; my tasting notes for many of these will appear in an upcoming edition of the Wine Access Wines for your Weekend newsletter.

91 2009 Errazuriz Don maximiano Single Vineyard Carmenère Maipo Valley, Chile

90 2005 Weinert Malbec Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

90 2007 Emiliana Winemaker’s Selection Syrah-Mourvèdre Colchagua and Casabalanca Valleys, Chile

90 2009 Tamaya Malbec-Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Limarì Valley, Chile

90 2010 Cono Sur Syrah Reserva Colchagua and Casabalanca Valleys, Chile

90 2010 Quintay Q Syrah Casablanca Valley, Chile

89 2008 Emiliana Chardonnay Viognier Marsanne Winemaker’s Selection Colchagua and Casabalanca Valleys, Chile

89 2008 Viña Ventisquero Grey Carmenère Colchagua and Casabalanca Valleys, Chile

89 2009 Concha y Toro Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley, Chile

89 2010 Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay San Antonio Valley, Chile

89 2010 Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc Central Valley, Chile

89 2009 Zonda Malbec San Juan, Argentina

89 2009 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Mendoza, Argentina

88 2008 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Maipo Valley, Chile

88 2009 Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenère Aconcagua Valley, Chile