Santa Alicia
Santa Alicia Winery was established in 1954 by Maximo Valdes, an important Chilean politician and businessman at that time. He founded the original Santa Alicia Vineyard, the “Houses of Pirque”, in the fertile area near Chile’s capital and began planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Our Santa Alicia wine reviews indicate their focus on value wines from their Reserva line up to their Millantu Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere blend. While over a half dozen different grape varieties are used to produce Santa Alicia wines, their core focus remains on producing value Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere wines according to our Santa Alicia ratings. Santa Alicia wines are consistently recognized as “Best Buy Selections” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and have received several medals and awards for their value lines of wine. Be sure to check out our Santa Alicia Buying Guide below to see which wines are best suited for you.
Santa Alicia 2007 Gran Reserva de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley)
- $12
Meaty and full up front, with density, earth and mild foresty dampness. The palate is balanced and weighty, with standard berry, cherry and plum flavors. A good wine that’s fresh and properly sized. And the finish of coffee, cocoa, herbal notes and dried leaves is classic Maipo.
— M.S.
(7/1/2010)
Santa Alicia 2009 Late Harvest Muscatel (Limarí Valley)
- $12
Honey, spice and citrus aromas are solid. The palate is kind of thick and syrupy, with honey, spice and ripe banana flavors. Turns a little cloying and bitter on the finish, with orange peel, brown sugar and heft on the fadeaway.
— M.S.
(12/1/2011)
Santa Alicia 2011 Reserva Carmenère (Maipo Valley)
- Best Buy
- $10
This wine carries aromas of blackberry and olive. Its dominant flavor of berry with an herbal-rhubarb twist is solid. The finish lifts, with a hint of tomato.
— M.S.
(12/1/2012)
Santa Alicia 2006 Compass Navigator's Reserve Red Wine (Maipo Valley)
- Best Buy
- $11
Santa Alicia is blending Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc here, and the results are good. The wine isn’t overly graceful or complex, but it offers earthy aromas in front of lively red-berry flavors. Tight tannins and wayward acids offer bite and grab, which should subside over the next year or so.
— M.S.
(7/1/2008)
Santa Alicia 2006 Anke Blend 2 Carménère-Petit Verdot-Shiraz Red (Maipo Valley)
- Best Buy
- $11
Fairly hot and heavy at first, as alcohol blows up your nostrils. But let it settle and you’ll get dark, sultry aromas of leather and black plum in front of edgy, mildly citric cassis and red plum flavors. The blend is Carmenère, Petit Verdot and Shiraz, which is not something found on every shelf. Like its Cab Franc-Petit Verdot partner, Anke Blend-2 is good but…
— M.S.
(11/15/2008)
Santa Alicia 2012 Gran Reserva de los Andes Chardonnay (Maipo Valley)
- $15
Lemon and mineral are the key aromas on this lightly oaked Chardonnay. In the mouth, there’s a resiny texture and basic flavors of vanilla and pear touched up by mild oak spice. While this is in no way complex, it’s solid in feel and fresh in flavor.
— M.S.
(6/1/2013)
Santa Alicia 2008 Reserva Rosé Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz (Maipo Valley)
- Best Buy
- Online Exclusive
- $9
Nicely done and balanced, especially for Chilean rosé comprised of heavier grape types like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The bouquet shows some rubber and smoke at first, and then it settles on clean berry fruit. The palate is simple, round and well sized, with plum and apple skin flavors. Drink now while it’s fresh and lively.
— M.S.
(5/1/2009)
Santa Alicia 2006 Anke Blend 3 Carmenere - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc Red (Maipo Valley)
- Best Buy
- Online Exclusive
- $11
Not many wines combine Carmenère with Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, but this one does with solid results. It’s a bit tough and tannic, but with creamy mocha aromas and lively plum and berry flavors, it gets the job done. Shows an herbal core due to the Carmenère and and Cab Franc, but overall it’s totally respectable.
— M.S.
(9/1/2009)
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