Although considered a ‘New World’ wine producing country, Chile has a long history of growing grapes and making wine dating as far back as the 16th century. However, today’s global recognized grapes didn’t make an appearance in the vineyard until the latter half of the 19th century with what we might consider today as quality wines only emerging another 100 or so years after that. In the late 20th century, Chile has been a reliable source for many wine drinkers of cheep and cheerful quaffers but since the start of the 21st century, more and more Chilean producers have been focusing their efforts on crafting wines that faithfully reflect the many uniquely Chilean terroirs.

There may be no set of twins more similar yet different than these two – Syrah and Shiraz. In the 1988 movie “Twins’ it seemed unlikely that Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger were related. Yet the of the ending of the movie revealed they were.  Oh mama!

Same But Different
Twins share the same DNA but can express themselves and appear so differently. This is the case with Syrah and Shiraz. If you love big bold red wines with mouth filling richness and flavour – look no further than Shiraz. Blackberry, black cherry, with licorice or black pepper spice aromas and flavours are classic tasting notes for Shiraz. It can be a friendly sipper because it has supple tannin and less acidity than Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, this style is so appealing that it put Australia on the map in the early 90’s and reigned supreme for a decade. To understand Shiraz, is to understand Syrah. In fact, before the movement to protect European names came into effect in the 80’s, Shiraz was known as Hermitage in Oz. Hermitage is perhaps France’s the most iconic appellation for Syrah from the Northern Rhône Valley.

Merlot has been a much maligned grape in recent times; maybe it’s typical soft, seductive profile simply fails to resonate with a generation of wine drinkers searching for ever more edgier, sharp edged sips; or maybe it’s just a case of preconceived notions of a comforting yet uninspiring taste experience. Whatever the reason, it is high time to revisit this variety and discover exactly what makes wines from Merlot both instantly delicious and objectively great. Looking for those benchmark bottles at affordable prices can be challenging and the tip is here, as it so often is when it comes to wine buying, rewards come to those who chose to look further than the usual well-beaten path. In the case of Merlot, one of the finest of those fields afar can be found on a gently rolling Tuscan hillside where tradition, technique, soil and climate conspire to create that grape’s signature hedonistic quality with a uniquely Italian twist.

It hangs on the wall, just covering up the old thermostat that is no longer in use. It says, “You had me at Merlot.” It’s a play on the famous line from “Jerry McGuire” where Rene Zellweger admits that she’s loved him from the first moment they met. Ah, love! Whether or not you feel that way about Merlot, for many it’s the tag line that sticks. The first love, the first encounter, the first sip, Merlot made it easy to love. No rough edges, round smooth texture and mouth filling richness. If you didn’t know what to sip, Merlot was a good choice.

​The appellation of Saint Bris is surely an oddball in the Burgundian vineyard, albeit a very welcome one; a white wine crafted from the crisply aromatic Sauvignon Blanc grape rather than its more subtlety complex and distinctly more signature variety, Chardonnay. Saint Bris is a tiny northern French wine-growing zone of barely 250 acres planted on slopes surrounding the eponymous village of Saint-Bris-le-Vineux (itself located just 15 km south-west of the altogether more famous town of Chablis). The reasons for Sauvignon Blanc being planted here are not entirely clear, with the history of this grape tied to place being relatively recent in Burgundian terms, suggesting perhaps a more market driven impetus behind this current synergy. Even though there are significant similarities in terms of climate and soil between Saint Bris and the Loire Valley’s more globally famous Sancerre, the styles of wine produced show marked differences, the former expressing a touch of varietal exuberance and later being a more classical model of restraint.

What does it mean to be savvy? If you google savvy for a definition, it means to have common sense and good judgement. When it comes to wine, and specifically Sauvignon Blanc, savvy will make the difference between a good and a great one!