| INTRODUCING ROBERT LAYTON | - Robert Layton is a member and former secretary of The Circle of Wine Writers and has had an interest in wine for more than 40 years.
- During this time Robert has travelled extensively in wine growing areas and garnered a great deal of practical knowledge from the producers.
- The over-riding themes in his work are to help people to become confident in making wine assessments and writing in unambiguous and unpretentious language.
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If you want sound wines at advantageous prices, Chile and Argentina are good places to find them. Although these two countries are regarded as relative newcomers to our retailers' shelves they have been producing wine for hundreds of years. The progress the growers have made in producing attractive wines is stunning so why is it specific wines from these countries do not come easily to mind for many people? All too frequently there is a distinct lack of individuality about wine labels from these areas, the wines are frequently marketed as varietal wines – named after the grape from which they are made – whilst last, but not least, relatively few UK wine drinkers have a detailed grasp of the geography of Chile and Argentina. Grape varieties The main red grape varieties used in Chile and Argentina include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere and Malbec. The last two produce the most distinctive wines and are well worth trying – originally from France these grapes produce excellent wines in Chile and Argentina. Amongst the white grape varieties - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Torrontes will be frequently seen on wine labels. To widen one's pleasure, try a wine produced from a variety you enjoy from a different part of the world and see how the wines from Chile and Argentina differ. It is not a case of them being better or worse, but a matter of evaluating what they can offer which may be more attractive at particular times. Wine and casseroles
 | | Selection of South American wines |
As the nights draw in and the slow cookers begin to work their magic, what can Chile and Argentina provide to accompany them? Majestic's Weinert Carrascal 2000 at £5.99 per single bottle or £4.79 for purchases of plus two is a pleasing blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It has a firm but supple body coupled with a delicious flavour. Well worth trying and remembering! Asda have a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 at £4.98 from the distinguished producer Errazuriz. It provides an interesting tasting comparison with the previous wine and is sound value for money. Morrison's Lo Tengo Malbec 2003 for £4.99 is a fine example of this grape variety which epitomises Argentinean red wine. It has a fresh bouquet and blends easily with hot autumn foods. Equally it drinks refreshingly with a selection of fresh bread and cheese - a versatile bargain. Marks and Spencers 2003 Syrah Casa Leona is delightfully enjoyable showing how the Syrah grape responds in South America. This is made more precisely, possible since the wine has not been oaked leaving the fruit free to express itself. There is comparatively little Syrah planted in Chile, but wines of this quality must encourage other growers to try and emulate this one. Waitrose have a superb wine in their Los Robles 2003 Carmenere at £4.99. This excellent wine is produced by the award winning Co-operative which operates within the Traidcraft movement. This guarantees the individual growers a fair price for their grapes and has produced an outstanding glass of wine. Rose Thanks to a more realistic attitude amongst many wine drinkers, Rose wines are no longer packed away with the garden furniture for the winter. Their refreshing flavours and delightful colour bring cheer to the darker evenings which are coming upon us. Between Morrisons and Waitrose there is an interesting chance to compare a couple of wines from similar backgrounds. Morrisons' Antu Mapu Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2003 at £4.49 from the Colchaagua Valley an area in the Central Valley region of Chile and Waitrose Miguel Torres San Medin 2003 made from the same grape in the Chilean Central Valley for £5.49. Try them and see which you prefer, it is much better for you to decide what you enjoy. Wines for autumn As we enter into autumn, the first fruits of the Southern Hemisphere 2004 Vintage are reaching our shelve. If wines like Majestic's Chilean Casablanca Valley unoaked Montes Sauvignon Blanc 2004 at £5.99 are anything to go by, the sooner more 2004's arrive the better. This particular wine drinks particularly well with mushroom or fish and rice based dishes. If you prefer Chardonnay, try Asda's excellent Anakena Chardonnay 2003 also from the Casablanca Valley at £4.96. It is a pleasingly smooth wine with a firm structure - a combination which makes it a pleasure to savour. Whilst it drinks effectively with fish, it is also highly enjoyable with vegetarian dishes.
Offering an almost direct comparison at £4 99 is Marks and Spencers unoaked Casa Leona Chardonnay 2003 from Chile’s Rapel Valley.
Autumn is the time of year many of us have invitations to more formal meals with friend. What better present to take than a good bottle of wine? For those who enjoy a smoothly rounded wine with a supple structure, Marks and Spencers' Sierra Los Andes Merlot 2002 for £5.99 from Chile would make an ideal gift. It drinks deliciously with chicken and lighter styles of cheese. At the same price, also from Chile, is Majestic's Montes 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Carmenere 2003. It is an attractive wine which if you were lucky the recipient might share with you! Morrisons' Valdivieso Malbec 2003 from the Rapel Valley in Chile at £4.99 is a sound wine made from the Malbec grape which is more commonly associated with Argentina - judging by this example it is just as successful in Chile. An undoubted high quality example of Argentinean Malbec is Waitrose Anubis 2003 for £5.99. Produced in Western Argentina by an Italian and an Argentinean, this is a truly international quality wine. If you are looking for a distinctive white wine, Asda's Misiones de Rengo Chardonnay Reserva 2003 priced at £5.97 will solve your problem. It is effective and enjoyable with all white meats and poultry as well as vegetarian foods. I hope you enjoy some of the wines on the list and take the time to find out more about them. Until next time. Robert Layton's next wine guide, looking at sparkling wines for the festive season, can be heard on BBC Radio Norfolk at 11.30 on Thursday 18 November, 2004. To listen live, follow the link to the BBC Radio Player from our homepage. Wines available in our area Marks and Spencer
White: Rio Santos Chardonnay 2003 Mendoza £3.79 Argentina
White: Casa Leona Chardonnay 2003 Rapel £4.99 Chile
Red: Casa Leona Syrah 2003 Rapel £4.99 Chile
Red: Sierra Los Andes Merlot 2002 Rapel £5.99 Chile ** Morrisons
Rose: Antu Mapu Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2003 Colchagua Valley
£4 49 Chile **
White: Casa Latina Chardonnay/Torrontes 2003 Mendoza £2.99. Argentina
White: Antu Mapu Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Maule Valley Chile
White: Misiones de Rengo Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Rengo £4.99. Chile
Red: Lo Tengo Malbec 2003 Mendoza £4.99 Argentina
Red: Valdivieso Malbec 2003 Rapel Valley £4.99 Chile Asda
White: Chilean Reserve 2003 Sauvignon Blanc Central Valley £4.48. Chile
White: Anakena Chardonnay 2003 Casablanca Valley £4.96. Chile
White: Misiones de Rengo Chardonnay Reserva 2003 Rengo £5.97 Chile **
Red: Errazuriz Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Central Valley £4.98. Chile
Red: Argentinean Malbec Reserve 2002 Famatina Valley £4.68. Argentina
Red: PKNT Carmenere 2003 Central Valley £4.98. Chile Majestic Wine Warehouses
White: Esperanza Sauvignon Blanc 2002 Mendoza £3.99.Argentina. Plus 2 £3.19
White: Neblina Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Central Valley £3.99. Chile
White: Montes Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Casablanca Valley £5.99.Chile **
Red: Neblina Merlot 2003 Central Valley £3.99. Chile
Red: Weinert Carrascal 2000 Mendoza £5.99. Argentina. Plus 2 £4.79
Red: Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2003 Colchagua Valley £5.99.Chile Waitrose
White: Argento Chardonnay 2003 Mendoza £4.99. Argentina
White: Chilcas Organic Chardonnay 2003 San Rafael £4.99. Chile
Rose: Torres San Medin Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2003 Central Valley £5.49. Chile
Red: Santa Julia Bonarda /Sangiovese 2003Mendoza £4.59. Argentina
Red: Traidcraft Los Robles Carmenere 2003 Mendoza £4.99. Argentina **
Red: Anubis Malbec 2003 Mendoza £5.99. Argentina ** Indicates a particularly interesting wine Pictures by: Ian Smith with kind permission of Cellar D'Or | 
