When it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon, it seems like Napa gets all the love.  What’s not to love after all?  Big, jammy wines with lots of complex structure and texture are everywhere, with each one seemingly better than the last.  Yet, it hides another side of Cabernet Sauvignon, one in which a lean wine with graceful acidity grows in cool climates like New York and Chile.  These wines are beautiful in their grace, and can show another lovable and food friendly side to an already great varietal.   Rios de Chile Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 fits this mould, but how does it deliver?

Sight: Orangish edges with a brickish hue.  Deep purple

Smell:  Deep blackberries and plum notes start things off with hints of dark chocolate and espresso in the background.   The nose is more fruit forward, leaning into raspberries and chilis with a little heat.

Sip: It starts soft, and has a very round character, but brightness builds throughout.  Years have softened the tannins and acidity to make for a pleasant sort of character.  There is a hint of heat to it, and an earthiness that leads off with touches of coffee and cocoa powder.  A touch of herb compliments the predominantly plum and currant flavors.

Savor:  The ending continues the earthy pattern, adding more of a dusty stone to the plum and currant notes.  The finish is moderately tannic, and the tannins are leaning toward the coarse side.

Rios de Chile Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is well structured, and ready to drink.  The flavor profile is balanced between fruit and earth, while the oak is more limited in it’s influence.  While it’s not a super ripe, jammy cabernet, this is a wonderful representation of what a leaner, cooler style can bring to the table.  That said, as a food wine, this will compliment any sort of roasted meat well, and the intensity level will be relatively balanced.  Rios de Chile Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon has a lot going for it, and is worth a try for fans of lean cabs or merlots.

Verdict:  Lean, Plum, Currant, Chocolate / Earth
Price: $10
D.O. Cachapoal Valley, Chile