Chile makes real progress

According to the catalogue of the Chilean generic tasting held last month in London there were 98 tables, each with around a dozen wines, 82 producers, not to mention the ‘Focus tastings’, which included trophy and gold-medal winners in international competitions in 2006, rosés and dessert wines.

 

After five and a half hours of non-stop tasting, sun pouring through the glass wall and defeating the air-conditioning, I had made little impression on the huge offering but found some real gems, and fine evidence that Chile can produce not only very good value, high-volume branded wines but also some...