Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 from Chile

3:54pm Wednesday 28th May 2008

The Majestic wine store in Darlington has had a complete refit and until July 28th all Chilean wines have 20 per cent off.

I've selected the Santa Rita from the Maipo valley, as it seems to have all the right attributes. It's three years old, from a really good firm, has a gold medal and is a special reserve from a single estate and with the offer can be picked up for £7.48.

The Santa Rita is ruby-red in colour with a bouquet of ripe red and black fruit with tar and menthol undertones which follows through to the taste where it's balanced by a toasty vanilla taste.

This wine has been matured in French oak barrels for twelve months and is 14 per cent alcohol with that strong complex finish of a real quality wine. This one needs a filet steak.

At £5.59 reduced from £6.99 I couldn't resist the Errazuriz Carmenère. This is a young wine that can be drunk now but will improve in the next year or two. It's a full-bodied wine of 14 per cent alcohol which has been aged in French and American oak barrels for seven months. It's a little spicy with smooth tannins and smokey blackberry fruit - recommended to go with most roast meats, game and pasta dishes.

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