Building on the positive experience of finding the Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery, I thought I would try another Chilean wine. Today I am tasting the Concha y Toro 2007 Reserve Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere. This “Cellar of the Devil” wine is a blend of 85% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah.
The Carmenere varietal has a fascinating history and Chile is by far the largest producer of wine made from this grape. Carmenere was one of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, but was at one point assumed to be extinct. It was re-discovered in Chile where it had been mistakenly identified as Merlot. The Chilean climate produces ideal growing conditions for Carmenere and thus it has flourished.
Aroma
The nose on this wine is pretty tight. There are dark fruits like cherries and blackberries present. I smell some cracked pepper as well. Unlike a lot of Carmeneres I’ve had in the past this one has very little barnyard odor. I am actually a little disappointed in it.
Flavor
This wine tastes a little hot to me at first. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. I get a little sour cherry at first with a lot of black pepper on the back end. There is a sweetness in it which maybe similar again to blackberries. It has a medium-bodied texture. Predominantly, this is a wine with a lot of hot spices. There aren’t any bitter tannins. I’d pair it with strong cheese, tomato sauce pasta, or pork.
Rating
Overall this is a decent wine. It is spicy and not fruity. My only complaint is that it is a little on the bland side and not very complex. It is low priced which makes it more appealing. I am going to score it at 87 points.
Have you tried it?
