BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
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<strong>BUYING</strong> I <strong>GUIDE</strong><br />
CARIGNAN<br />
90<br />
Odfjell 2006 Orzada Carignan<br />
(Maule Valley); $20. Cola, sarsaparilla<br />
and fine rubber give this wine a dark personality<br />
that’s infused with brighter raspberry and<br />
black cherry. The palate has a thick, chewy,<br />
mature feel to it, while the flavors are earthy,<br />
rambunctious and savory. Finishes creamy and<br />
full, with easing tannins and nice fruity leftovers.<br />
Drink now through 2011. Imported by Select<br />
Fine <strong>Wine</strong>. —M.S.<br />
90<br />
Odfjell 2007 Orzada Tres Esquinas<br />
Organic Carignan (Maule Valley);<br />
$20. Sweet smelling, with hints of tree bark,<br />
molasses and rooty cola. The palate is softer and<br />
easier than some Cauquenes Carignans, but it’s<br />
deep and satisfying, with flavors of blackberry,<br />
cola and fine herbs. Among Chile’s emerging crop<br />
of high-end Carignans, this is one to try immediately<br />
and over the next two or three years.<br />
Imported by Select Fine <strong>Wine</strong>. —M.S.<br />
90<br />
Santa Ema 2006 Amplus Old Vines<br />
Carignan (Peumo); $27. A rock-solid<br />
wine with bright currant, berry and rooty, colainfused<br />
aromas. The mouthfeel is excellent and<br />
integrated, with earthy, savory, spicy flavors of<br />
blackberry, cherry and tea. Long and savory on<br />
the finish, with complexity. <strong>Wine</strong>s like this are<br />
what make the Chilean Carignan category worth<br />
exploring. Drink now through 2012. Imported by<br />
T.G.I.C. Importers. —M.S.<br />
89<br />
Santa Ema 2007 Amplus Old Vine<br />
Carignan (Peumo); $30. Bold, dark,<br />
full and saucy, with aromas of plum and blackberry.<br />
Jammy but lively on the palate, with vanilla<br />
sweetness offsetting plum, blackberry, leather<br />
and savory notes. This is true Peumo Carignan<br />
with potency and blazing acidity. It’s not as flavorful<br />
and complete as the 2006, but maybe it just<br />
needs another year or two in bottle. Imported by<br />
T.G.I.C. Importers. —M.S.<br />
87<br />
Morandé 2007 Edición Limitada<br />
Carignan (Loncomilla Valley); $22.<br />
An aggressive, forward, high-acid wine with a lot<br />
of quality as well. The nose mixes dried cheese,<br />
leather, heat and savory red fruit aromas, while<br />
the palate rides a tight line of acidity toward<br />
angular raspberry and cherry flavors. Very zesty,<br />
tart and lively, but also deep in terms of mineral-<br />
ity, freshness and potency. Drink now through<br />
2012. Imported by Morande USA. —M.S.<br />
CARMENÈRE<br />
90<br />
Santa Carolina 2008 Reserva de<br />
Familia Carmenère (Rapel Valley);<br />
$20. This particular wine is fast becoming one of<br />
Chile’s go-to Carmenères. For the second year in<br />
a row it impresses with a heady nose of black<br />
fruits, pastry and cola. After that, you get a palate<br />
full of spicy, rich baked berry, dusty pepper and<br />
smoked meat. As a whole it offers character,<br />
structure and kick. Imported by QW <strong>Wine</strong><br />
Experts. —M.S.<br />
89<br />
San Pedro 2008 1865 Single Vineyard<br />
Carmenère (Maule Valley);<br />
$19. A controlled opening is welcome, as are the<br />
soft, smooth aromas of tobacco, dark plum and<br />
warm earth. Full and generous in the mouth,<br />
with heft and balance. Tastes like a mix of roasted<br />
dark plum, blackberry, fig and spice. Big and<br />
blowsy, but it emphasizes what’s good about new<br />
age Carmenère. Imported by Shaw-Ross International<br />
Importers. —M.S.<br />
88<br />
Carmen 2007 Reserva Carmenère-<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Val-<br />
ley); $20. Dry, leafy and herbal, with cherry,<br />
berry and mossy aromas. The palate is meaty and<br />
chewy, with an extra dose of heft and body to<br />
support black fruit and herbal flavors. The finish<br />
is kind of quick and mild, but also clean and satisfying.<br />
A nice mixture of Carmenère and<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon. Imported by Aveniu<br />
Brands, Inc. —M.S.<br />
88<br />
Concha y Toro 2008 Marques de<br />
Casa Concha Carmenère (Peumo);<br />
$22. Nice and aromatic, with cola, tobacco,<br />
fallen dried leaves and dark fruits. The palate has<br />
some scratch and acidity to it, but the flavors are<br />
good and lively, with a focus on dark plum and<br />
cherry. A bit more acidic than I like, but still<br />
healthy and very nice for varietal Carmenère.<br />
Imported by Banfi Vintners. —M.S.<br />
88<br />
Crucero 2008 Carmenère (Colchagua<br />
Valley); $10. Herbal, powerful<br />
and varietally on the money, with common but<br />
well-executed aromas of earth, blackberry and<br />
olives. The palate offers proper weight and intensity,<br />
while the flavors of black plum, raspberry<br />
and tea are just herbal enough to scream out<br />
7 0 | W I N E E N T H U S I A S T | D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 0<br />
“Carmenère.” Tasty and consistent from nose to<br />
finish. Imported by Kysela Père et Fils. Best<br />
Buy. —M.S.<br />
86<br />
Asunto de Vino 2008 Carmenère<br />
(Central Valley); $12. Nice and<br />
familiar for the variety, with common herbal,<br />
beefy, black fruit aromas followed by a chunky<br />
palate of blackberry, black cherry, mocha and<br />
herbs. Clean and solid on the finish, with 15%<br />
Cabernet in the blend. Imported by Testa <strong>Wine</strong>s<br />
Of The World. —M.S.<br />
86<br />
Calina 2009 Reserva Carmenère<br />
(Maule Valley); $10. Warm, syrupy,<br />
jammy and brambly up front, with the grape’s<br />
typical meaty, herbal aromas. The palate is soft<br />
save for core acidity, while the flavors run<br />
medium-rich and plummy, with controlled sourness.<br />
Solid for the money, with a chunky disposition.<br />
Imported by Sovereign <strong>Wine</strong> Imports. Best<br />
Buy. —M.S.<br />
86<br />
Concha y Toro 2008 Xplorador<br />
Carmenère (Central Valley); $8.<br />
Rich and concentrated for an entry-level wine,<br />
with earthy, bold aromas and a lush, well-balanced<br />
palate feel. Deep and sweet in terms of flavor,<br />
with a mix of ripe black fruits and herbs.<br />
Shows a bit of faux oak flavor on a mocha-tinged<br />
finish. Exemplary for this price range. Imported<br />
by Banfi Vintners. Best Buy. —M.S.<br />
86<br />
Viña Bisquertt 2007 La Joya<br />
Reserve Carmenère (Colchagua<br />
Valley); $12. Kind of generic on the nose,<br />
with licorice and shy black fruit and herbal aromas.<br />
The palate is chunky and thick, with<br />
blocky flavors of baked black fruits, olive and<br />
caramel. A chunky, ripe wine with a hint of<br />
raisin and a broad mouthfeel. Imported by<br />
Prestige <strong>Wine</strong> Group. —M.S.<br />
85<br />
El Huique 2007 Reserve Carmenère<br />
(Colchagua Valley); $13. A<br />
bit sharp and volatile at first, but with time the<br />
aromas mellow out to rest on black fruits and<br />
olive. The palate has a lively kick to it but it’s also<br />
sort of hard and heavy, with roasted, basic black<br />
fruit and herbal flavors. Caramelized on the finish,<br />
but aggressive as a whole. Imported by<br />
Vidalco International, LLC. —M.S.<br />
85<br />
San Elias 2008 Carmenère (Central<br />
Valley); $9. Earth, leather and roasted<br />
berry fruit are exactly what a wine of this base