2008 Concha y Toro Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

On May 10, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon by Concha y Toro from the Central Valley of Chile. This “Cellar of the Devil” wine bottle was purchased for under $9. It is aged for 8 months in oak

Color

In the glass this wine is a light garnet red in color.

Aroma

On the nose, there is a earthy, dirty aroma at first. Then I detect some blackberry and black cherry notes. There is also a hint of greenness with bell pepper and even an unusual hay note. Not a bad nose at all.

Flavor

The attack has quite a bit of fruit. There is blackberry and black cherry in it. It is a tad too sweet for me. The mid-palate gets interesting with a flavor I associate with the skin of a dark plum. The finish is seriously different and has a strong herbal component. It seems to be some combination of thyme and parsley. This is a medium bodied wine and benefits from breathing several hours before you pour it. Otherwise the aromas and flavors are a bit muted.

Rating

For the price I recommend trying this wine. Just be aware of some sugar on the palate. I rate it 87 points.

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2008 Chateau Los Boldos Carmenere Momentos

On May 2, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Momentos de Chile Carmenere by Chateau Los Boldos from the Valle de Rapel in Chile. This wine was purchased for under $10 and made of 100% Carmenere grapes with aging of 6 months in Oak. I previously tried the 2009 Chateau Los Boldos Sauvignon Blanc Momentos, so it will be interesting to see how Chile’s flagship grape fairs from this producer.

Color

In the glass this wine is almost like a Pinot Noir in color.

Aroma

There is a strong earth component to the nose of this wine. However, the primary note is blackberry. I also get a hint of mulberries after it has been allowed to fully open up. Overall it is a good nose, if a bit simple.

Flavor

On the attack and mid-palate this wine shows a lot of dark plum flavor. Throughout, I also note a smoky component which strikes me as unique for a Carmenere. The finish is herbal with a similarity to dried basil. This is a medium bodied wine that won’t over power food with too much fruit or sugar. It is not showing a lot of tannin structure, so drink it early.

Rating

For my palate this wine was very harmless. It had no unpleasant notes. Unfortunately it doesn’t stand out much either. I rate it 85 points.

Have you tried this wine? How did you like it? Where there any unusual flavors or aromas in it?

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2008 Porta Carmenere Reserva

On March 23, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Porta Carmenere Reserva from the Maipo Valley of Chile. This bottle was purchased for under $10. I’ve previously tried the 2009 Porta Reserva Pinot Noir and the 2008 Porta Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple.

Aroma

This wine has one of the strongest barnyard and cabbage aromas I have come across recently. It eventually starts to blow off in the glass and will probably disappear as the wine ages. But it is impressive right now. There is also a combination of red raspberry and blackberry aromas.

Flavor

On the attack there is some more of the red raspberry notes showing. The mid-palate exhibits black cherry cola notes. The finish has some chalky tannins which are mild. There is also a little oregano note on the finish. Unfortunately the heat on this wine is substantial. It is more than I prefer, particularly on the finish. Therefore, this wine is better with food. I suggest something rich like a strong cheese.

Rating

This wine has a surprisingly strong nose, but unlike a lot of cheeses with strong smells, it doesn’t bring the reward in the mouth. The heat on this wine is too distracting for me. I rate it 82 points.

Does this wine match your palate or sound like something that would?

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2007 Château de Landure Minervois

On March 19, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Chateau de Landure Minervois from France. In case you are not familiar with Minervois, it is an AOC in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. This bottle was purchased for under $8 and is a blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. Great labeling by the importer, Clock Tower Imports. There is a lot of value coming out of the south of France (e.g. 2008 Ropiteau Vin de Pays d’Oc Pinot Noir), so I am intrigued by this wine.

Color

In the glass this is a dark ruby color which I expect with so much Syrah and Mourvedre in the blend.

Aroma

When first poured there is quite a bit of wet dog, sulfur aroma. It quickly blows off and there is a great mix of dark and red fruit components. I get strawberries, blueberries and red cherries mixed with a cedar component.

Flavor

On the attack there is a combination of strawberries and cherries. It is quite fruity at first, then in the mid-palate the cherry remains but is subtle. The wine disappears a bit in the middle. It finishes with sour cherries and mild tannins. I also get a really nice black pepper note on the finish. If you exhale at the end you almost feel like you just put pepper on a dish while cooking. This wine is medium bodied and will pair well with food higher in fat. I think the fruit will complement it well.

Rating

I like this wine. I think it strikes a nice balance of fruit and structure. Think food friendly wine at a good price. I rate it 88 points.

Have you had this wine?

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2007 Vinhos Sogrape Douro Vila Regia

On March 19, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Vila Regia by Vinhos Sogrape from the Douro region of Portugal. This wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca grape varieties and was purchased for under $8. Hopefully this value style Portuguese red wine will show some interesting flavors and aromas. According to Vinhos Sogrape, this wine was not aged in oak. Thus it should show the true flavors of the grapes.

I’ve previously had the 2006 Vinhos Sogrape Douro Vila Regia.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark garnet color.

Aroma

At first I get a big nose of blackberries from this wine. It also is showing some woody components (not oak), like the rotten branches in the woods in the winter. There is also a hint of mint. Overall it comes across as being a dark fruit driven nose. Not bad.

Flavor

The attack is sweet with loads of black cherry. In the mid-palate the fruit becomes dry and in the finish the tannins take over with a bit of smokiness and sour cherries. This is a medium-bodied wine suitable to drink immediately and pairs well with pasta.

Rating

For the price this is a good wine and I recommend you try it. It is an everyday wine to have with meals. I rate it 87 points. I found it less appealing than the 2006 vintage of this wine. Perhaps it reflects a change in my palate as I noticed my tasting notes are about the same, but I just wasn’t as excited about it as before.

How well does this wine match your palate? How does it compare to the Reserve?

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2009 Porta Reserva Pinot Noir

On March 18, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Porta Reserva Pinot Noir from the Bio Bio Valley region in Chile. This bottle was purchased for under $10 and is made with fruit from the Negrete Estate Vineyard. It is aged in oak for 8 to 10 months.

Color

In the glass this wine is a very light ruby red. You can easily see through it. This isn’t a red flag as pure Pinot Noir based wines are often thin.

Aroma

On the nose I get a fair amount of the oak, but there is also a blackberry component which is nice. In addition, I get substantial notes of tar and burnt wood. It doesn’t have an explosive nose, but it is interesting. None of the sulfur notes some Pinot Noir wines show. If you are put off by the poopy smells of some Pinot Noirs (I am not), then this wine will not affect your sensitivity to that aroma.

Flavor

On the attack there is a subtle strawberry flavor mixed with a hint of red cherry. The mid-palate shows a lot more cherries and the finish is average with some decent tannins. This is not a complex wine and is on the lighter-bodied side. It is not over-oaked. I think the winemaker has done a good job of letting the grapes show us what they have to offer and has not over extracted it. This wine will go very well with pork and chicken dishes.

Rating

I think this is a solid wine for pairing with a meal. For me it is a bit plain for me to get too excited about it. It might match your palate better. I rate it 85 points.

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2007 Calcu

On March 15, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Calcuicon by Los Maquis from the Colchagua valley region of Chile. This wine was acquired for under $11 and is a Bordeaux style blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenere, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Pertit Verdot varieties of grapes.

Color

In the glass this wine is a very dark purple.

Aroma

The aroma of this wine took over the room as soon as it was poured into the glass. The nose of this wine is a huge mixture of berries. There are both black and red berry components such as black currants, black cherries, red raspberries, and red plums. In addition there is a radish component combined with mint. This is the kind of complex, beautiful nose that a blend of these varieties can produce. I suspect the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are really excelling here.

Flavor

On the attack there is a strong black cherry component combined with subtle cranberry notes. In the mid-palate the cherry mixes with bell pepper . The finish is dry with some mild tannins, sour cherries, and oregano. The finish is very long, but too hot. This is a food friendly dry wine. Unlike a young Bordeaux it has all the flavor without the bitter tannins.

Rating

I like this wine a lot. The aromas on the nose are spectacular. It is immediately drinkable and not overly extracted. I rate it 90 points.

Recently, I’ve been noticing the red wine blends from Chile have been better than the varietals alone. The tend to be more complex (more aromas and flavors) and offer something on the nose as well as in every phase of the palate. It reminds me of what the French have known for many years. Have you seen this too? I wonder if we will see more white wine blends from there as well.

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2009 Carta Vieja Cabernet Sauvignon

On March 11, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Carta Vieja Cabernet Sauvignon from the Loncomilla Valley of Chile. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was purchased for under $7. I have previously had the 2008 Carta Vieja Cabernet Sauvignon, so it will be interesting to see how it has changed or my palate has changed. Carta Vieja has been in business since 1825, so these two vintages represent a tiny fragment of their history.

Color

Similar to the 2008 vintage, this wine has impressive dark purple tones in the glass.

Aroma

On the nose there is blackberry notes dominating. It is also showing a tobacco component. It is a solid nose.

Flavor

On the attack I get some blackberry along with tannins. This is a very young wine. As such, the tannins are not bitter. There is also strawberry showing on the attack and mid-palate. The finish has cherries and a hint of dark chocolate. This is a medium bodied wine and remains pretty dry throughout. I think it goes better with food than on its own.

Rating

This is a decent wine to have with a meal. For the price it makes a good table wine. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the 2008 vintage. I rate it 83 points.

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2006 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet

On March 10, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet by Columbia Crest from Washington. This bottle was purchased for under $7. It is a Bordeaux style blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged for 10-11 months in oak. I’ve been a fan of wines from the northwest in the past, so it will be interesting to taste this wine.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red. A tiny bit thinner than I would have expected given the blend.

Aroma

On the nose there is a good amount of blackberry showing. I also detect some of the oak along with black currant and a hint of bell pepper. Overall it is a decent nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is quite a bit of sweet fruit. It is a mix of raspberry and strawberry and gets a bit syrupy. The mid-palate exhibits more cherry components and the finish has red currant and black pepper notes. I also get a hint of vanilla throughout which is probably the oak showing. The finish has some decent acid which will help this wine pair well with food. Try it with Italian dishes.

Rating

For the price this wine offers reasonable value. I find it too sweet for my palate and I rate it 82 points. However, I would like to give credit to Columbia Crest for using this blend of grape varieties. I am sure some of their higher end wines with this blend are quite good. Have you tried this wine or a better offering from Columbia Crest?

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2005 Chateau Chantemerle

On March 8, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2005 Chateau Chantemerle from the Medoc region of France. This is a Merlot based Bordeaux blend and was purchased for under $12. The 2005 vintage was a classic year for Bordeaux so it will be interesting to see what this wine brings to the table. If you know the percentage of grape varieties that makeup this wine, I love for you to share it in the comments.

Color

In the glass this wine is a good ruby red shade.

Aroma

Heavy oak on the nose of this wine. I also detect some blackberry notes. Unfortunately it is not showing much else right now.

Flavor

On the attack there is black currant and plums. The mid-palate has black cherry and asparagus. Finishes with sour cherry and an herbaceous, woody note. This is a medium bodied wine with big tannins. It is quite astringent and needs to breathe or be put away for a while. I’d love to have some blue cheese with it.

Rating

What this wine lacked on the nose, it made up for on the palate. This is a nice break from the fruit bombs of the New World. I like it, but wish it had less oak. I rate it 86 points.

Have you tried a Medoc wine from 2005?

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