2019 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"This is delicious and you must buy it now if you like Chardonnay. Chardonnay of this quality at this price Is genuinely impressive – the buyer deserves promotion. I’ve just bought another two cases."
Dr Graham Wheatley (03-Oct-2020)
"Excellent easy drinking unoaked chardonnay. Crisp, refreshing and outstanding value. Highly recommended "
Mr Hugh Mulligan (20-Jul-2020)
"Very agreeable Chardonnay and at a very attractive price"
Mr Charles Yoe (17-Jul-2020)
"Decent Chardonnay, perhaps a tiny bit too buttery for my own taste (in a Chardonnay? Horreur!)
Contender for our new House White."
Mr Piers Beckley (15-Jun-2020)
"Dissappointingly one dimensional - slight bitter aftertaste . Didn't enjoy "
Mr Leslie Goodman (06-Jun-2020)
"I agree totally with Gordon, and I will be re-ordering as well!"
Mr John Collister (03-Jun-2020)
"In my opinion, the 2019 vintage is not quite as good as 2018 (which was delicious) and it's 50p more expensive. But it is still one of the best under-£10 chardonnays on the Society's list. So this year only four stars - but I'll still be ordering some more."
Mr Gordon Best (30-Mar-2020)
2019 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Press & Journal (14th Nov 2020)
"The proximity of the
ocean (25km away) influences the climate of the Limarí Valley.
In the morning the Camanchaca fog brings moisture to this low rainfall area. - Carol Brown"
2018 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I think Mr. Charlesworth's comments capture just what I think. If you are searching for an 'everyday' chardonnay at under £10 this would be hard to beat."
Mr Gordon Best (16-Feb-2020)
"For the price this represents wonderful value. Plenty of bright fruit with a suggestion of oak makes this a delightful package for an any night fridge wine. "
Mr Trevor Charlesworth (22-Jan-2020)
"Hard to criticise this lovely, light yet flavoursome Chardonnay. I quite agree for £6.95 it is a steal and can be enjoyed on its own but went well with chicken in honey and mustard with wilted spinach"
Mr Stephen Duckett (24-Nov-2019)
"A fabulous value wine
It has just enough mlf and oak character for interest but a freshness to provide balance. Difficult to find a better wine for £6.95!!"
Mr Simon Aspinall (31-Aug-2019)
"A great wee wine. Bursting with fruit and a well judged weight on the palate. Good value too."
Mr Graeme Broom (18-Jul-2019)
2018 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Luxury Edinburgh (2nd May 2019)
"Super fresh, super
delicious, this straw-blonde chardonnay ticks all the boxes. With tropical
fruits on the nose, a hint of baked apple, oak and spice, the layers of peachy. - Sam Wylie Harris"
2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Bought as part of Buyers Benchmark Dozen case and what a delightful surprise. Fabulous honeyed nose, I allowed the wine to open up and at this very reasonable price the wine just kept on giving and giving. Certainly one to reorder."
Mrs Elissa Patterson (23-Jan-2019)
"This is an excellent wine which melds beautifully with fish, pork and we also use it as an aperitif. Excellent value for money - been drinking Chilean win for years."
Mr Archibald Simpson (07-Dec-2018)
Mr Piers Beckley (12-Aug-2018)
"The 2015 vintage was impressively full bodied, rounded and amazing value for money - however the 2016 is rather thin."
Mr Peter Rose (25-Apr-2018)
2016 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Associated Press (12th May 2018)
"
Super fresh, super delicious, this straw-blonde
chardonnay ticks all the right boxes. With tropical fruits on the nose, a
hint of baked apple, oak and spice, the layers of peachy fruit and creaminess
are brightened by fresh acidity. With far more vibrancy than the price would
suggest, it’s delicious with salmon steaks, flaky fish and veggie burgers.
- Sam Wylie Harris
"
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
Mr Patrick O'Brien (02-Apr-2017)
"Fine for the money if you want to quaff chardonnay. Not going to convert any of the ABC crowd. The 2015 is a bit hot on the palate at 14%"
Mr Daniel Chaquico (27-Jun-2016)
2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Brentwood Gazette (7th Dec 2016)
"So many wines are
overpriced these days but stunners like this make up for them. The light oak,
cream, bright fruit and impeccable winemaking found in this beautiful
full-bodied chardonnay from Coquimbo, around 500kn north of Chile's capital
Santiago, will enchant your palate and it's the white every turkey in the world
dreams of being matched with. Could easily step up to chicken main courses, and
it has lobster, prawns, scallops, chicken tikka masala and cauliflower cheese
within its powers. It's packed with energy and drive, with citrus, nectarine,
green apple, oatmeal, grilled cashew and melon characters buzzing through the
palate. At the risk of stating the obvious, it's beautiful stuff and worth a
tenner. Style, flavour, balance, stunning value; ticks in all boxes. One sip
and you're hooked. Dances out through the finish. The price makes it
ridiculously attractive. Do everything you can to taste this wine. - James Viner "
2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Disappointing that a favourite wine has changed so much in one vintage the 2014 losing the charm that it had in 2013. Tart and no interest - nice whiff of oak which was not overdone no longer present. I wonder if this is a case of producers following blindly the view that lean and sharp is the only route encouraged by the wine writers who forget that the weekend drinkers' palates aren't jaded by countless professional tastings where any slight roundness is frowned upon?"
Mr Andrew Grant (22-Dec-2015)
"Smells a bit rustic. The big dynamic palette of acidity and minerality makes up for it though and it is quite moreish. The Exhibition Limari Chardonnay for £2.50 more is in a different class, a much more refined experience."
Mr Anthony O'Halloran (23-Oct-2015)
"I had bought one bottle of the 2013, which was delicious: minerally, plenty of structure, a touch of oak. I bought 6 of the 2014 as the 2013 had sold out, but it's not nearly as good. A pleasant enough bottle, but it doesn't stand out above a supermarket example. I'm disappointed."
Mr Neil Cooper (19-Sep-2015)
"Easy drinking and not overpowering. Have re-ordered a few times."
Mr Gavin Hamer (01-Aug-2015)
"A very pleasant easy drinking chardonnay, good value but not outstanding for my taste."
Dr John Baston (13-May-2015)
"This 2014 vintage is a real disappointment compared to previous years. It is so dull by comparison. Will step back from this wine for a while. Shame, as it was one of our favourites."
Mr David P Gardner (06-Apr-2015)
"Probably my most re-ordered wine. Can't really understand what some of the commentators below are missing, but I find this to be consistently excellent, and having worked my way through most of the other reasonably priced Chardonnays on the list, I see no reason to switch. As somebody else said, an ideal house wine."
Mr Matthew Huntingford (02-Nov-2014)
"Drinkable but unremarkable. Very surprised this was a champion."
Mr Brian Donnelly (28-Sep-2014)
"A well balanced wine with just the right amount of acidity. Great with or without food and a bit of a bargain at the price."
Mr Kieran Hynes (12-Jul-2014)
"Astonishingly, surprisingly good chardonnay. Full flavoured but not heavy, fresh, tangy in an almost sauvignon blanc style, real joy in a glass. Bargain."
Mr Charles Stokes (18-Dec-2013)
"A "commercial" wine, pleasant and without fault, but little to rave about. The purity of the taste in New Zealand chard is much more preferable, however a good party wine for the price.
"
Mr Anthony Raine (09-Oct-2012)
"My wife likes this wine too much! That goes for me too. Great food wine and at the price outstanding value."
Mr Trevor Pickup (17-Aug-2012)
"Good value. Goes well with strong fish (kedgeree) or roast chicken. Distinctive can't-put-a-name-on it fruit flavour. Recommended."
Dr Christopher Currie (29-Jan-2012)
"We are repeat buyers of this fresh, easy drinking chardonnay. However, the odd bottle can throw up a slight dull taste; diminishing the wine's usual mouthwatering zest. Perhaps the cork could be the culprit. Maybe a screw cap would be a more suitable closure for a wine at this price level? But this occasional issue hasn't stopped us re-ordering this lovely, good value wine."
Mr David P Gardner (30-Sep-2011)
"Very impressive for the price. Smooth, buttery chardonnay with deliciously refreshing fruit and gentle finish. This has depth and class in abundance for the price. Dangerously drinkable."
Mr Robert Beadman (14-Feb-2011)
"We've had a case of this, mindful of its status, in earlier vintages, as a Wine Society champion. For its list price, and - even more - for the current "offer" price, it is certainly good value. It has good acidity and a sort of 'cidery' roundness. It 'holds' well once opened (an hour or more). On the other hand, the finish is rather short. We think it is definitely a 'food wine' and have enjoyed it most with mildly assertive fish dishes (enhanced by garlic, ginger, herbs)."
Mr John L Moles (05-Mar-2010)
2014 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Scotsman (12th Sep 2015)
"Star value buy: One
of the cheapest Chilean Chardonnays we tasted – but it hit the jackpot with its
delicious refreshing zippy palate. Hints of nuttiness, citric fruit
flavours and a touch of oak (from 10% oak) remind you that this is a Chardonnay
– but it does have a certain zesty sleekness you often find more in Sauvignon
Blanc. A great price for an easy going Chilean quaffer. - Rose Murray Brown "
Kent & Sussex Courier (6th Nov 2014)
"Must-try White Wine
of the Month: Refreshing and affordably crisp cool-climate chardonnay. It's a
delicious bargain which will appeal to Chablis admirers with a beguiling
vibrant, fresh and zesty acidity that lifts the finish and invites repeated
sipping... The obvious choice to afford immense drinking pleasure with chicken
in a creamy sauce, pumpkin risotto, roast chicken / veal / guinea fowl as well
as wild sea bass and lobster. Yet another bargain from The Wine Society. - James Viner"
Olive (15th Aug 2014)
"An immaculate, round,
bright chardonnay from one of Chile's newer, cooler regions - Victoria Moore"
East Yorkshire Journal (20th Jun 2014)
"Totally delicious. At
£6.95 a bottle it's a steal. - Phil Parrish"
Daily Mail (7th Jun 2014)
"I love this wine for what it doesn’t have as much as what it does!
There is no peanuty oak, no sweaty, tropical fruit nor is there any
‘hot’ alcohol on display. By contrast, you will experience waves of
cool lemon and lime fruit, a silky texture and a bright, refreshing,
perky finish. This is a mouth-watering and effortlessly classy wine. - Matthew Jukes"
thewinegang.com (5th May 2014)
"Consistently reliable
from vintage to vintage, the quality of Limarí Chardonnay is no better
channelled than through these Wine Society own-label wines. Creamy with a
citrus and orange blossom edge, and although it's ripe and luscious, it's far
from OTT because that tropical fruit is propped up by a fine cut of minerality.
- The Wine Gang"
The Daily Telegraph Magazine (26th Apr 2014)
"Limarí is a fairly
new wine region 300 miles north of Santiago. Near the Pacific, it has a cool
climate that results in wines of poise and freshness. This bottle, with its
bright flavours of pear and apple, and its ‘have another sip’ acidity, has me
thinking of Chablis. - Hamish Anderson"
Decanter (5th Sep 2013)
"
Produced for The Wine Society by Concha y Toro, a
small proportion of this wine is fermented and aged in wood which imbues it
with an understated, nutty roundness. All in all it’s a crisp, clean and
finely structured wine with attractive, pretty melon and pineapple flavours,
delivered in an unpretentious manner.
- 50 best South American wines under £20
"
Decanter (5th Sep 2013)
"
Produced for The Wine Society by Concha y Toro, a
small proportion of this wine is fermented and aged in wood which imbues it
with an understated, nutty roundness. All in all it’s a crisp, clean and
finely structured wine with attractive, pretty melon and pineapple flavours,
delivered in an unpretentious manner.
"
JancisRobinson.com (4th Apr 2013)
"About 10% barrel-fermented wine. Very tight with something almost Sauvignon-like about this but super refreshing. Very pungent and Good Value. "
2008 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I have recently had both the Society's Chilean chardonnay and the cheaper Dona Paulina Casablanca chardonnay. Both are excellent value for money but the Society's is well worth the little extra cash."
Mr Rodney England (01-Sep-2009)