Chile conquered  the world with its Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Valley around Santiago. Cremaschi Furlotti Reserve is a good example of a robust, dry Chilean wines with sweet vanilla flavours due to 12- month aging in French oak barrels. A reasonable priced wine available internationally at under US$10 (US $6 in Chile ), it is available in Maurya, Park and Olive between Rs.1800 and Rs.3200

The dark ruby red colour full-bodied, wine is full of spicy aromas and fruit, soft tannins and a good mouthfeel. The taste lingers in mouth long after the sip. It is a pity it is not available in the retail vends. At a round  Rs. 1000 -1100 it would make an excellent value for money wine, especially for cabernet lovers of new world style fruity wines. It would also be an excellent wine-by-the-glass.

At the 'Top Chile' event held by Indian Wine Academy a few months ago, and sponsored by Hyatt Regency where 9 judges of various nationalit ies blind tasted the best of Chilean wines in India, this wine had sneaked in without meeting the higher price point set for the event. Though it got rejected on technical grounds, it was well in the upper half of the spectrum, holding fort in the face of much  higher priced wines.

Though quite fruity with ripe tannins, it do es make a red meat wine, certainly not recommended with Indian vegetarian dishes. On its own, it is a delicious choice for Cab lovers. Order with Sikandri Raan if you can find it in Bukhara.

Subhash Arora