Punto Niño Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

14%, Valle de Colchagua, Chile.
Bottled by: Laroche, Santiago, Chile.
Imported by: Leucadia Cellars and Estates, SF, CA
www.larochewines.com

Ripe, oaky nose. Dark and heavy scents. Surprisingly smooth and clean to start in the mouth. Finishes with lots of oak and heavy flavors of smoke and dried fruits. Hits the teeth with tannins and gives you something to chew on. Not tame wine, but I like it.

Veranda Cabernet-Carmenere 2004

60% Cab, 40% Carmenere, 13.5%
San Alfonso Single Estate Maipo Valley, Requinda, Chile
Vinedos Corpora Import by: Domaines Boisset SF, CA

Thick smoke, rubber, and alcohol and a hint of sea air or oysters. Heavy, strong dry fruit cedar and smoke flavors. Some tannins but also sparkle on the tongue. Has that Carmenere tobacco element. good last wine before the port type of drink. Good drinkable stuff but lacks the dynamics of good Cab.

(Oops) Cabernet Sauvignon

Valle Central, Chile, 13.9%
85% Cab, 15% Carmenere (This blend is no longer produced it seems from website)
Produced by VIA Wines oopswines.com
Imported by Schwartz Olcott Imports, Manhasset, New York.

Minor nose. A hint of the Cab with slight earth and floral notes. Nothing much there on nose. Flavors of ripe fruit, a bit of ink and tobacco leaf/wood smoke with good balanced tannins. Fairly minor finish. Not much linger of sweet or fruit. Nice blend but lacking in the Cab mocha and vanilla elements. Nice color. Pretty in the glass. Good easy drinking wine but not much to ponder.

Alto de Casablanca "duo " 2004, Cab Merlot Blend

MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE, 14%
77% Cabernet Savignon, 23% Merlot
Imported by International Cellars. Gonzales, CA

Good balanced blend. Sweet and dark flavored but not overly heavy. Also not extremely hard on the tannin.