Wines of Chile - Carmenere Blogger Tasting

Wines of Chile is an organization committed to promoting the quality and image of Chilean wine throughout the world. It has offices in Santiago, London, and New York, as well as representatives in Canada, Ireland, and Denmark, and also works closely with ProChile to develop and offer promotional and educational programs in Asia, Latin America and Europe. Wines of Chile’s 76 member wineries belong to Vinos de Chile and represent 85% of Chile’s bottled wine exports.

2010 Emiliana Natura Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: black currant, eucalyptus, scorched earth, and hints of dried herb

Flavors: black fruit, coffee grind, soil, dried herb, mineral

Notes: simple, dry tannin, black fruit, good steak wine

Score: 86 points

2008 Casa Silva Los Lingues Carmenere Gran Reserva - Colchagua Valley

Nose: brambly fruit, eucalyptus leaf, hint of soil and mineral

Flavors: blackberry, licorice, spice, eucalyptus

Notes: smooth texture, nice long finish, fruit driven

Score: 88 points

2008 Santa Rita Medalla Real Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: red licorice rope, raspberry, vanilla, anise, noticeable oak spice

Flavors: Cassis, licorice, coco, cedar

Notes: round texture, long finish, big tannin, dry

Score: 90 Points

2008 Montes Alpha Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: dried herb, black currant, vanilla, cedar, spice

Flavors: voluptuous red and black fruit, cherry, black berry, cola, cedar-spice

Notes: nice fruit character, good balance fruit-to-wood, very approachable style

Score: 89 points

2009 Carmen Carmenere Gran Reserva - Apalta Valley

Nose: beautiful black berry, cassis, eucalyptus, chocolate truffle, and hints of anise

Flavors: ripe cassis, blackberry jam, dark chocolate, cedar

Notes: rich, luxurious texture, jammy, firm tannin on finish, great expression of Carmenere

Score: 91 points

2009 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carmenere - Rapel Valley

Nose: boysenberry, raspberry dark chocolate sticks, chambord, black fruit preserves

Flavors: deliciously ripe blackberry, blackberry pie filling, chocolate, 

Notes: ripe tannin, beautiful fruit, very refined, amazing stuff!

Score: 93+ Points

2009 Concho y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere - Rapel Valley

Nose: black currant, dried herb, sage, black licorice, vanilla, cedar

Flavors: spicy black currant, ripe cassis, chalky and dry tannin, graphite, soil

Notes: dry, chunky tannin, aggressive on the palate, needs bottle age, well made though

Score: 87+ Points

2007 Haras de Pirque Cabernet/Carmenere - Maipo Valley

Nose: dried sage, sulfur, black currant, cedar box, mineral, scorched earth

Flavors: big and bold black currant, cassis, dark chocolate

Notes: firm and dry tannin, good fruit, strange aromatics, 

Score: 85 points