I have to admit that when I first taste wine from a bag-in-a-box, I do so with
some trepidation. A few months ago, I had the misfortune to taste two real
killers; a dismal red from France (of all places) and a horrid white wine from
somewhere in Italy. It tasted like the kind of thing you’d use to clean the
floor of a parrot’s cage.
Oscar
Salas: Chief Winemaker at Terra Andina.
Now, I am all for wine casks, provided that the wine inside them is actually
half decent. There are some reliable ones around, but you need to shop with
care. “Caveat emptor”, as they used to say in ancient Rome. The ever-present
Mont Clair wines are remarkably cheap and the five-litre cask (just over
six-and-a-half bottles) works out at the equivalent of Bt 160 a bottle. Better
quality, though of course more expensive, are the three-litre casks (four
bottles) from Cedar Creek (Australia), Bodegas Centenarios (Chile) and Pearly
Bay (South Africa). If you stay with those, you won’t go far wrong if you want a
cheap everyday wine at under Bt. 200 a bottle.
But here are two relatively new ones. They’re both red, so if you are one of
those people who can drink only white wine, you can skip to the next page and
read what that Miss Terry has been gorging herself on recently.
Caminos Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2010 (red),
Chile (Friendship Bt. 785, 3 litres)
The Terra Andina Company (it means “Andean Lands”) is part of the Claro Wine
Group and is an innovator in the Chilean wine industry. By blending grapes from
different valleys with contrasting micro-climates and soil conditions, the
company takes full advantage of the richness and diversity of Chile’s different
wine growing regions.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a rich, dark red. You’ll probably
detect a pleasing aroma of strawberry jam and some oaky vanilla. Attractive dry
spices emerge when you give the glass a swirl. This, by the way, is why you need
really big wine glasses - ideally around 425ml. You can then fill the glass
about a third full, which will be enough for several decent swigs but more
important, it will allow you to swirl the wine around without the risk of
spilling it. This brings out the aromas quite dramatically.
The wine is very soft and fruity on the palate with hardly any tannin. Well,
there’s just a little bit, but unless you are a tannin enthusiast you’ll
probably not notice it. As a bonus, there’s a long dry finish. It’s just 12.5%
alcohol content and is such an easy drinker that at this price it would make a
great party wine. It would go well with beef dishes, stews or several kinds of
cheese. It’s off-dry, light-to-medium bodied and at the equivalent of Bt. 196 a
bottle, it’s splendid value.
Corbett Canyon Merlot (red), Chile (Friendship Bt. 745, 3
litres)
Corbett Canyon is not actually in Chile, but in Ripon, California. However, the
grapes are sourced from Chile’s famous Valle Central, giving the wine a good
concentration of flavors. It’s blended in California by innovative wine maker
John Willumsun, who produces a Merlot of classic style.
This dark and inviting-looking wine has a delightful aroma of black and red
berry fruit, a delicate touch of spice and a faint suggestion of mint. You might
also pick up some oakiness on the aroma too. It’s medium-bodied with an
attractive freshness, a very soft mouth-feel and hardly any tannins to speak of,
though you might detect a hint of tannin on the long and pleasing finish.
There’s plenty of fruit up-front too and at around 12.5% alcohol content this
wine proves to be a smooth, easy drinker.
You could of course, just knock it back on its own and no doubt some people
will, but I nearly always prefer my reds with food and this would make a good
partner for light dishes. The lively fresh character would make it a perfect
partner for pizza and pasta. Winemaker John Willumsun is evidently “a big
believer in everyday, moderate wine consumption”. And at less than thirty baht a
glass, this wine could make a jolly good Daily Red to brighten up your evening
meals.
