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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2008 Porta Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva

On March 5, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Porta Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from the Aconcagua Valley of Chile. Porta is part the VC Family Estates which is a member of the Corpora Group. I have previously had the 2009 Porta Merlot. This Cabernet Sauvignon is in their Reserva level and was purchased for under $9. I bought this before the massive earthquake hit Chile, but haven’t seen any reports of damage to this winery. So I assume it will remain available and similarly priced. Have you heard anything about it?

Color

In the glass it is a nice dark purple.

Aroma

There is a lot of mint on the nose of this wine. I also detect a lot of black currant notes. There is also a cedar component and a hint of basil. But the dark fruit dominates right now.

Flavor

On the attack there is some sweet black cherries mixed with a vegetable component. I can’t quite name the vegetable that is giving it the green influence. In the mid-palate, there are sour cherries and raspberries. It finishes with beautiful silky tannins. The fruit on the finish lingers for a long time. For a wine with a 14.0% alcohol level the fruit is definitely keeping it in check. This is well made and begs to be paired with beef tenderloin.

Rating

I like this wine a lot and think it is a very good value. Keep in mind that it isn’t heavily oaked nor is it over extracted fruit. It may be a little sweet for those looking for a Old World style wine, but for my palate it is a good match. I rate it 90 points.

Have you tried it? Anyone tried their Carmenere Reserva?

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2008 Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon

On February 26, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Indo Cabernet Sauvignon by Vina Anakena from Cachapoal Valley of Chileicon. The Indo designated wines are one of the premium levels produced by Anakena. I found this bottle for under $10. Unlike prior vintages which contained Cabernet Sauvignon – Syrah on the label, this does not. I’ve inquired with the vineyard to find out if this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and will update this post if I hear back.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark ruby red. It is a little thinner than a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon wines I have had before, so that leads me to believe there is little or no Syrah blended with it.

Aroma

Right off the bat, I can tell that this is not going to be a jammy fruit bomb so common in the New World Cabernet Sauvignons. It has notes of cedar and eucalyptus. There are also blackberry and raspberry components as it opens up more. There is a hint of bell pepper as well. Overall it makes for a quality nose.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberry transitions from the nose and then in the mid-palate the tannins are very noticeable. There are black cherries on the mid-palate and the finish consists of a sour cherry cola component along with solid tannins. This wine is definitely young. It will probably age well and be a bit more approachable in a couple of years. But one of my favorite things is the long lasting tannins on the finish. I recommend decanting it if you are drinking it soon.

Rating

This is an interesting wine. On the one hand it pleases me that it isn’t over extracted sugared up fruit, nor is it over-oaked. But on the other hand it is a bit plain. I didn’t detect a lot of flavors, but I do think it will please a lot of palates, especially if you like tannins. I rate it 85 points.

Have you tried this wine? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and whether it was a better match for your palate.

Update: Andrés Tauber, the export manager at Anakena, was kind enough to write me back and let me know that this is a blend of 15% Syrah and 85% Cabernet Sauvignon. I really appreciate the quick customer service from Anakena. I think I will be on the lookout for that Indo Sauvignon Blanc next.

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2006 Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Barossa Cuvée

On February 10, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Terra Barossa Cuvee by Thorn-Clarke from the Barossa region of Australia. This cuvee (a blend of grapes from different vineyards) is made of 47% Shiraz (Syrah), 29% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Cabernet Franc. It was purchased for under $12. This wine was aged in oak barrels for 12 months.

Color

In the glass this wine is a gorgeous black ink color. Very dark purple.

Aroma

There is a big nose of blackberry and oak. Black currant is also present and is showing up more like creme de cassis. There is also a hint of eucalyptus and smoke from a pipe. Considering the blend I expected a little more green components, but suspect the oak is overpowering them which is too bad.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberries and black currants are strong and true. There is also a hint of the greenness such as broccoli. The fruit is definitely high quality. The mid-palate exhibits a hint of black cherries and dark chocolate. The finish is long with medium tannins and plum flavors. I also get a cigarettes and coffee note on the finish. The 14% alcohol is kept in check by the fruit. There is a bit of oak through out this palate and it doesn’t seem to add much weight or creaminess to the mouthfeel. This medium bodied wine will pair well with dark chocolate.

Rating

I think this is a good blend with some interesting aromas and flavors. I like it. I rate it 88 points.

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2007 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Cabernet Sauvignon Los Vascos

On February 6, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley in Chile. This bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is dark ruby red.

Aroma

A strong blackberry component dominates the nose. It is quite aromatic and also has some black currant, black pepper and bell pepper. Nice nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is black currant and some mild tannins. The mid-palate starts to get very green. What I mean by that is that instead of the sweet fruit of some wines, this wine shows lots of vegetables. I get asparagus, celery, turnips and even a little tomato juice. The finish shows more of the dry tannins and a bit of sour cherry. This is definitely not a fruit bomb. It is really dry and green and I like the fact that the oak treatment is not prominent, so you can taste the flavors. It is medium bodied and will pair well with pizza and pasta dishes.

Rating

I like this wine. It is unusual and you have to know your palate to determine if it is a match. If you prefer sweet, oaky, fruity Cabernet Sauvignons then avoid this wine. I rate it 87 points.

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2006 Veramonte Primus

On January 21, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Primus by Veramonte from Chile. This Bordeaux style blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Syrah, 17% Merlot and 16% Carmenere is available for around $20. Kudos to Veramonte for such good labeling of the varietal percentage used.

Day One

I’ve just opened this wine and let it breathe for only 30 minutes.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple with a dark ruby rim.

Aroma

On the nose there is quite a bit of oak at first. Next there are dark berries including black berry and mulberry components. In addition, there is a hint of strawberry. Overall it has a good nose and isn’t shy.

Flavor

Loads of oak throughout this wine. It is a bit challenging to find the flavor of the wine. It finishes a little too hot for me as well. It has a medium to full body and on the attack there is some dark cherry and black berry. The mid-palate shows some sour cherry and dry tannins. The finish is long and dominated by the oak with some herbaceous notes such as oregano and thyme. I really like the tannins. It will pair well with smoked meat and strong flavored cheese.

Rating

This wine is not a good match for my palate. I rate it 81 points.

Day Two

The wine has now been open for over 24 hours and was re-corked after Day One.

Aroma

The oak is still quite prominent on the nose of this wine. There are also good components of strawberries, black currant and blackberries. A hint of mint is also noticeable.

Flavor

Blackberries on the attack quickly replaced by black cherry. The mid palate has some nice sour cherry and the finish is really hot with a herbaceous touch. The tannins are impressive, so this wine is probably going to last for a very long time. The only really big difference from the prior day is the intensity of the cherry which has improved the flavor.

Rating

This wine is not an easy wine to drink and isn’t showing well at this stage. As such it isn’t a match for my palate. I rate it 83 points.

Summary

Although this wine improved over time, it never really became enjoyable. It is well made and has some great tannins but needs better fruit for me to really get into it.

Have you had it? If so, did it match your palate?

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2007 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon

On January 11, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley region of Chile. This bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was purchased for under $8. It is aged in French oak for 4-6 months.

Color

In the glass it is a very dark garnet color.

Aroma

The nose has a hefty component of red currant and mint. There is also a oak component present and it hides some of the earthiness.

Flavor

On the attack there is some sweet cherry flavors and the mid-palate starts to get green. It is a mix of the cherry and blackberry with asparagus and celery. It finishes with nice tannins, vanilla and oak. This is a medium bodied wine that actually is food friendly. It will pair well with beef or chocolate.

Rating

I like some of the flavors found in this wine and I give Santa Ema credit for not turning it into a syrupy mess. I rate it 86 points.

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2007 TerraNoble Reserva Carmenere

On January 8, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 TerraNoble Reserva Carmenere from the Maule Valley region of Chile. This wine is from 95% Carmenere and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It can be found for under $12. This wine is aged for ten months in oak, followed by an additional eight months of aging in the bottle. This will be a multiple day tasting to see how the wine evolves after being uncorked.

Day One

The bottle has just been opened.

Color

In the glass it is deep purple with red edges.

Aroma

On the nose there is luscious black currant notes along with a hint of dark chocolate. There is also a substantial component of sulfur. It could offend those that are sensitive to the wet dog type of odors, but to me this is an intriguing wine.

Flavor

On the attack, I get some red raspberry. The mid-palate is chalky and has red-currant notes. It finishes with medium tannins and very nice cherry. Overall the fruit is very muted. The wine is well made and the oak is not overdone. It will pair well with pizza.

Rating

For my palate this is a little too ordinary for me to get excited. It is easy to see why Carmenere was thought to be Merlot in Chile for so many years. This drinks very similar to Merlot based wines. I rate it 86 points.

Day Two

The bottle has now been open for about 24 hours with only a wine stopper in place.

Aroma

Most of the sulfur component has disappeared from the prior day and the black currant is still showing well. There is also a ripe strawberry component contributing to the nice berry nose.

Flavor

On the attack the fruit is quite intense with good cherry and strawberry. The mid-palate is actually quite sweet with cherry dominating. The finish is long and a little hot. Overall the fruit is intense and a bit sweet. There are not vegetable flavors to note and there is no oak component either. This wine will pair well with tomato-based Italian dishes.

Rating

For me this is a decent Carmenere. I have had similar bottles for less than $10. I rate it 86 points.

Summary

It was interesting to see how this wine showed over time. It definitely opened up and the fruit went from being muted to being intense. It was sweeter than I would like. Overall it is a good wine, just nothing special.

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2008 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon

On November 19, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon from Wakely Vintners in Southeastern Australia. This wine continues my quest to find Eucalyptus in wine. I’ve previously tried the 2005 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2006 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2007 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon. I found this bottle for under $7. One amusing observation is that Wakely Vinters hasn’t changed their tasting notes on the label over the last three years.

Color

As in prior vintages, the color in the glass is a nice dark purplish red.

Aroma

There is a bit more oak showing on the nose than the prior vintages. The Eucalyptus component is still strong. There is also a blackberry component.

Flavor

The oak is present on the attack. Much more so than in the 2007 and 2006 vintages. There is also some dark fruit such as blackberry and black currant. Black cherry is present on the mid-palate and the finish is a bit hot with more oak. Overall this wine is too sweet. Perhaps the fruit has been over extracted during the wine-making process. It will pair with barbecue.

Rating

I found this wine to be too sweet for my palate. I rate it 83 points.

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