Review: Vina San Pedro 9 Lives Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Chile ($10)

Vina San Pedro, a pretty large winery in Chile is best known for its bargain priced Gato Negro and Gato Blanco mass market, good value wines. This 9 Lives Cabernet is a couple of bucks more, but it's a really nicely made, well-blended wine that drinks beautifully. It's medium-to-full bodied, with pretty black and red currant and strawberry fruit flavors, hints of green tobacco, white pepper and cocoa. It has bright acidity and needs no cellaring - it's absolutely ready to drink. There may well be some oak substitutes in the mix here, but it's executed well. I love the subtle green, herbaceous notes that are often present in Chilean Cabernet, and which are really an essential quality of the variety itself. This one won't knock your socks off, but it's a terrific value and has a lot of Chilean personality. If you have only explored the lower end of Chilean Cabernet, you owe it to yourself to spend a few extra bucks sometime and try something in the $20 plus range. Chile delivers some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world at almost every price level, from $10 to $100. (86 Points)