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lackberry finish woody and with scratchy tannins.
Teplin Nuss. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $35
88
Meli 2014 Carignan (Maule Valley). Floral
cherry and plum aromas are inviting. This
Carignan is fleshy and wide in body, with high
acidity. Plum and berry flavors are clean and presentable,
while this hits with a shock of acidity on
the finish before quieting down. Global Vineyard
Importers. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $17
83
De Martino 2013 Vigno Old Vines Dry Farmed
Carignan (Maule Valley). Gritty aromas of
compost, animal hide, burnt beef and leather set
up a pinching palate. Like the nose, this Carignan
tastes gritty, sharp, foxy and like tart plum. A salty
finish with little ripeness is grabby on the way out.
Opici Wines. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $47
89
CARMENÈRE
Koyle 2014 Gran Reserva Carmenère (Colchagua
Valley). Aromas of black coffee
blend with lightly herbaceous, spicy notes of olive
and green herbs as well as plum and currant. A
fresh moderately big palate tastes of spicy red plum,
tomato, oregano and chocolate. On the finish, this
retains a spicy dry character. Quintessential Wines.
—M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $17
88
Morandé 2014 Reserva Carmenère (Maipo
Valley). Spicy leafy red-berry aromas open
this Carmenère. On the palate, this smacks with dry
hard tannins. Flavors of herbal cherry and black
plum finish with a touch of heat and abrasive yet
chewy tannins. Grupo Belen USA. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $15
88
Root:1 2014 Carmenère (Colchagua Valley).
Raspberry, plum and currant aromas are
darkened by a mild note of asphalt. This feels round
but also fresh and lively. Flavors of plum and spiced
currant finish dry and focused. MundoVino–The
Winebow Group. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $12
87
Estampa 2014 Estate Carmenère (Colchagua
Valley). Tarry, gritty, spicy plum aromas are
common for Carmenère. This contains some Malbec,
and the wine feels wide, grabby and a bit lush. Foxy,
gamy, herbal berry and olive flavors finish spicy,
with notes of oregano and basil. American Estates
Wines, Inc. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
87
Viña Marty 2012 Pirca Carmenère (Maule Valley).
Spicy berry, bath soap and graphite
aromas are a bit hard to understand. Somewhat raw
and pinched in feel, this tastes of spicy plum and
tomato. On the finish, peppery notes of hard spice
and plum are solid, as is the closing feel. Wines &
Beyond Import. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $13
86
Casas del Bosque 2014 Reserva Carmenère
(Rapel Valley). Earthy spicy black-fruit
aromas come with toasty, almost caramelized oak
scents. This is drawing on the palate, so much so that
it feels collapsed. Wood-dominant flavors of herbal
black plum, coffee and carob finish candied and dry,
with grabby tannins. Southern Starz, Inc. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $13
86
Oveja Negra 2012 Single Vineyard Carmenère
(Maule Valley). Spiced plum, vanilla and
sandalwood aromas add up to something nice. This
feels good enough, with nothing demanding about
the palate. Spicy berry and olive flavors are typical of
the variety, while this feels dry and tastes a bit woody
on the finish. Old Bridge Cellars. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $11
84
Viña el Aromo 2011 Private Reserve Carmenère
(Maule Valley). Staunch but murky aromas
of coffee grounds, leafy berry, olive and lemon peel
announce a tight raw palate. Flavors of olive, plum
skins and herbs finish with a reprise of spent coffee
along with scratchy tannins. Simone International.
—M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $11
83
Kunza 2012 Reserve Carmenère (Maule Valley).
This smells rather strange, with stewed
fruit and orange peel notes. A clampy palate with
hard tannins holds saucy herbal flavors that are
stewy and mildly green. A bulky, hard finish fails to
bring this around. G&G Trading Company. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $16
88
MALBEC
Valle Hermoso 2014 Elegido Gran Reserva
Malbec (Colchagua Valley). Earthy plum
and berry aromas come with hints of rubber and
animal. This is a saturated chewy dark Malbec
with salty blackberry and savory oak flavors. A
spicy blackened well-oaked finish is balanced and
healthy. Graziano Imports. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $18
87
Santa Carolina 2014 Reserva de Familia Malbec
(Rapel Valley). Aromas of mint and licorice
complement raisin and jammy berry notes on
this extracted Malbec that feels flabby around the
edges despite a shot of core acidity. Flavors of prune
and blueberry come with savory notes, while this
lacks structure on the finish. Wolf Group. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $20
86
Concha y Toro 2014 Serie Riberas Gran
Reserva Ribera del Tinguiririca Malbec
(Marchigue). Grapy but generic black-fruit aromas
open this wide bulky Malbec that’s high in acidity.
Salty grapy flavors are plump but simple, while this
finishes with a toasted element and blocky weight.
Banfi Vintners. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $17
86
Junta 2014 Momentos Reserve Malbec
(Curicó Valley). Campfire, animal, horseradish
and berry aromas make for a slightly difficult
nose. This Malbec feels pinched, with tannic pull.
Salty black-fruit flavors finish similar, with popping
acidity that keeps this lively. Apollo Fine Spirits.
—M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $12
86
Valle Secreto 2014 Key Malbec (Cachapoal
Valley). Gritty horsey berry aromas lead to
a medium-bodied, basic palate. This tastes of blackberry
and savory spices, while the finish is mild in
flavor and short on length. AWDirect (The Wine
Trees Portfolio). —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $16
87
MERLOT
Alcance 2014 Gran Reserva Merlot (Maule
Valley). Minty oaky aromas of baking spices
share space on the nose with earthy black plum and
berry notes. This feels tannic and resiny while the
oaky spicy berry flavors finish with force and drying
tannins. Majestic Imports. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $22
87
Finca Patagonia 2014 Reserve Merlot (Maule
Valley). Gritty black-fruit aromas come with
notes of bell pepper and green herbs as well as coffee
grounds. A snappy, tough, drawing palate delivers
peppery, blackened spice and herbal berry flavors
prior to a crisp, tight finish with fresh acidity.
Halby Marketing. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $16
86
Château Los Boldos 2014 Grand Reserva
Merlot (Cachapoal Valley). Plum, tomato
and animal aromas feed into a tight, pulling, tannic
palate. Salty and savory plum and berry flavors end
with dry tannins and an overall scratchy feel that’s
rugged but stout. Evaton, Inc. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $17
86
Cousiño-Macul 2014 Merlot (Central Valley).
Basic but clean plum and cherry aromas
show a note of orange peel. This is quite tannic for an
everyday red, while cassis, plum and prune flavors
end tannic, spicy and slightly herbal. MundoVino–
The Winebow Group. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $10
85
Santa Helena 2014 Reserva Merlot (Central
Valley). Gritty marginally ripe plum aromas
smell a bit like a wild field. This feels full but pushy,
with roughness to the palate. Herbal plum and
blackberry flavors finish minty and slightly green.
Misa Imports. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $20
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