Taking It To The Max - Errazuriz Max Reserva

Max Reserva from Chile's Errazuriz

"These go to eleven"
Nigel Tufnel, Spinal Tap (1984)

The joke in the film is that the band are rubbish; in fact, the music is actually fairly good and the humour comes from the caricature of a loud, throwback, once-energetic now-out-of-date, band going through the same old motions.

So, it's OK to like Spinal Tap but not to take them seriously.

I feel a bit the same about these Errazuriz Max Reserva wines; they are generally well-made and enjoyable, but with all the subtlety of an 80s heavy metal "mockumentary".

Max Reserva Chardonnay 2014 (£15.50, independents) ripe tropical fruits, layers of creamy, oatmealy, toasty oak; as big as a power suit with shoulder pads.

Max Reserva Merlot 2014 (£14.40, independents) the oaky spice rather dominates an otherwise rather insubstantial, if varietally correct, wine; like Woody Allen blinged up as BA Baracus.

Max Reserva Carmenere 2014 (£15.50, independents) again a thwack of toasty oak, but this time the wine can stand up to it. Mouthwatering dark fruit pastilles, liquorice and oaky spice with a supple texture. Lots of alcohol and extraction, warming on the finish.

Match with a Phil Collins CD, some furry dice and Top Gun on video.

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Image credit: http://lparchive.org/Dominions-3-(by-Lilli-et-al)/Update%20264/4-spinaltap-11.jpg