We had this with grilled beef tenderloin on 11/29/18. It had a rich, elegant bouquet of earth, cedar, leather, plum, black cherry, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, smooth and elegant with flavors of plum, black cherry, licorice, pepper, spice, leather and minerals. 91+
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This had a fragrant, earthy bouquet of cedar, leather, spice box, pepper, plum, and black cherry aromas. The palate was rich, dense, layered and dry with flavors of plum, black cherry, pepper, spice, leather and minerals.
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Strong cedar, plum, prune, cinnamon and kirsch scent. Rich, viscous, earth, tar, cherry, raspberry and toasted oak with ample silky, dusty tannins. Plush and hedonistic, but also dense and extracted.
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Really satisfying, concentrated, round earthy and fruit flavors. Jammy, with a slight spicy note. On the nose and palate this has a smokey, tobacco and coffee character. This is a big, pretty serious wine that's ready to drink now. A great wine for the money.
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It's been 3 years since my last experience with this wine. I'm so glad I set it aside until now. Previously I ranked it at 90 saying it was not complex. It has changed dramatically since then. I didn't expect too much this time so I popped & poured, but left the glass alone while I cooked dinner. I couldn't resist a small taste and my initial thought was 'not bad!' About a half hour later my steak was plated and dinner was served on the patio. This time it blew me away. The spice and pepper in it matched the sirloin perfectly, but it didn't entirely disappear into the meal as some wines do. It held its own very well. Lots of complexity and a great finish that lingered for longer than many 'better' wines. I was sad when my cache of Don Melchor was used up last year, but this varietal shows that Concha y Toro is more than a one trick pony. I've got a couple more bottles of this left. Hopefully I'll find a new supply because I suspect these will gone by the end of grilling season.
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Interesting single varietal. I could easily guess a ripe merlot dominated Meritage, if tasting blind. Modern fruit forward style with lots of dark fruits and integrated oak notes. Full bodied with a respectable finish and balanced. I'd drink within 5 years.
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1.5hr decant was perfect. Lovely very full bodied wine, now integrated and at peak for 5yrs. Lots of fruit, not much acidity but it never feels heavy - medium complexity of slightly roasted blackcurrent, some spice, and a long finish for the humble price. Went well with chilli con carne. Very satisfying and popular with table guests not into fine wine - user friendly.
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Tremendous wine, even across vintages. This is one of my go to wines to impress people. Berry driven, but with a great balance of vanilla, cocoa, and a small hint of earthiness. Exceptionally smooth, but not lacking in complexity. Well worth the price.
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A huge wine. Color is glass staining mostly-opaque deep purple. On the nose, a muted and very dark fruit nose. On the palate, it's very dense on day one, so I gave it a rest. On day two, it's more approachable, but still dense. Deep dark fruits, but a bit prune-like, as it appears a bit over-cooked. Not bad, but a bit too over-the-top for its own good.
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Dark purple color. Starts off with dark cherry and blackberry fruit, then moves to flavors of espresso and herbs with a hint of lavender on the nose. A heavier but well balanced wine, excellent with a grilled steak. Long finish. It had dropped some sediment, so I decanted it.
It was still drinking well a couple hours after opening and decanting - should be able to hold a few more years. Wish I bought more.
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First thought was a bit jammy and peppery. A touch dry in taste a mineral quality in the swallow and a bit of alcohol present. While I like all the flavors it seems a little lacking in terms of it's balance. Sarah likes it a lot 91, I'm more like 88.
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This is a very good, easy drinking wine. It is a bit jammy and certainly new world. There is structure there as well as some earthiness. It is lacking complexity and the finish is a bit short. Has ample body.Probably flabby for those normally leaning French/Italian.
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Le nez est sur les bleuets et l'eucalyptus, assez végétal aussi. En bouche, assez fruité, beaucoup d'extraction, un peu monlithique. Tannins soyeux et assez long et persistant. Un bon vin!
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Carmenere is tasty and full-bodied wine. It’s dark and deep red colour. Hints of blackberries, black cherries, chocolate and spices. It is an elegant, powerful wine which lingers in the mouth. Excellent!
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My third (and last) one in the past 2 years. Hasn't changed much, which is, of course, disappointing, but it confirms a suspicion I've had along with this vintage - the fruit just plan sucked. Mediocre, no more than that. Drink now, not getting any better, 14,0% abv, score: B-/B
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This was an exceptional wine. Lots of spice and pepper on the palate but yet not over-powering with a "smooth" sensory perception on the "total palate".
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My first Carmenere. Tasted immediately after opening. Dark purple, opaque. Mineral, oak and ripe fruit nose. Plum, cherry and bramble flavor. Also a slight undertone of green pepper. Intense fruit, medium weight and silky texture. Long finish with a slightly sour aftertaste. The fruit carries this wine. I like it. We held some of this over to night two and it is noticeably improved. The sour note in the finish is gone and it is much better integrated. I'd give it a 90 on the second night.
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Deep purple in color. Heavy nose of graphite, oak, and dark fruits on the nose. Full lush body with integrated tannins. Tons of fruit in the mouth with a spicy edge on a nice lengthy finish. Drink now.
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PnP, should have been decanted. Dark ruby toward purple, no sign of age. This opens with some really off-puting aromas of wet earth, stem and dirty diaper. But, 15 minutes of air is enough to have the wine turnaround quite nicely. Aromas of cocoa powder, roasted meat and savory spice largely follow to the full-bodied palate, marked by average acidity. For around $21, this is a good value, but with this vintage, it can hardly be described as a great value. 14,0% abv, be sure to aerate in decanter, drink thru 2015, score: B
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Decanted for an hour. Nice texture but not too complex (yet). Subtle, without much finish. A nice carmenere but not quite meeting expectations. I have a few more bottles, so we'll see how it fares in a year.
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Nose straight out of the bottle of red cherries. Quite smooth and rounded now, no drying tannins evident. Not much complexity - yet. I opened this early to guage it's potential and will keep the others for a few more years to see how they develop. Excellent wine.
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On the nose classic new world (Chilean) berry smell with a hit of pepper - taste was cabernet sauv-like with a bit of bite. A good carmenere wine for people who havent tried that grape before.
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I felt this was excellent. Massive coffee flavors and a deep textures. While the price is a little high for Carmenere imho, this was impressive. Certainly has more time in the bottle as well, maybe 2 yrs.
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Intense -cherry, raspberry, leather. A silky layer discovered a chewy leathery layer. In the midst of digging out from the blizzard, this accompanied a grilled steak with both elegance and a bit of complexity. This will develop - glad I have 22 more bottles.
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This is my first experience with this varietal. Decanted for only 30 minutes and probably hould have been decanted for at least 2hours. Had this with some terijaki chicken. I know it is not dark meat but the chicken was real good and I had steak that previous night. Full bodied. Very dark colour. Even without tasting it, the the density is very evident.
Nose: A little closed at first but opens nicely after 1 hour decant. Good nose of sweet dark fruit, dusty oak, cinamon spices and very pleasant herbal quailities as well. I even gather some subtle cigar box elements as well. Very distinguishable lovely nose.
Taste: Taking into consideration the price level of this wine, the concentration and girth of this wine is really impressive. Full dodied, very concentrated, powerful, dense with accents of great dark fruit flavors and lovely shades of oak and milk chocolate (Just like a milk shake). I like the seriousness and complexity. This wine is serious business. Big and bold but suave and sofisticated as well. A real puckerer too. I am gathering that this wine will benefit from a few years in the cellar. Because of its serious structure and fruit, tannin and acid balance is very evident that it has the stuffing for the midterm. All this seems to be nicely balanced. It is a big wine with all its attributes beautifuly balanced. In the course of the night, a coiuple hours, the wine adds girth, density and grainyness (If you can believe it). Very nice chalky consisntency emmerges as well as a the promenance of more lovely fruit. This wine reminds me of the 2006 Don Melchor. Even though the varieral is not the same, the characteristics are very evident.
Finish: There is a nice spicyness on the finish that is quite good. Sweet oak, nice dark fruit flavors and sweet tannins that linger on and on and on. Very good finish.
Overall: What can I say. Tremendous QPR. Great wine with a dense, dark,powerful and complex personality. I am very impressed and pleasantly surprised.
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Mid Nov 2010: deep blue purple color; very intense aromas/flavors of cherry, creme de cassis, vanilla, cigar box and smoke; lush red fruit, bacon and wood on the palate; medium/full body; medium, tannic finish.
Got this bottle from a Chilean friend of the family. Excellent! Definitely a wine to follow. I’m not so sure about his aging potential. Looks like I need to taste him again.
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Dense, dark and supple, with black currant, braised fig flavors laid over notes of loam and freshly brewed espresso. Muscular but well-integrated, delivering nice focus that carries through the lengthy round finish. (Drink 2010-2020)- JD92
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Excellent, huge but in balance for sure - Black, well concentrated with a nose of extreme plum, blackfruit, cherry, mocha and vanilla, young but almost integrated, interesting, extremely tasty, silky smooth on the palate with awesome length, well done!! (91 Points).
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Absolutely loved this wine. Had at a wine tasting with 8 others and it came out #2 of the 6 with no vote lower than 3rd. Vanilla, multiple ripe berries, cocoa. A really good "big" Carmenere. One of the few bottles in the $30+ range I'd be willing to drink not on a special occassion.
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Deep red/purple color. Aromas of black cherries, cocoa, leather and spices. Rich, highly extracted ripe fruit in the mouth with great depth and excellent structure. Thick and velvety mouthfeel with ripe, well-integrated tannins. Though still young was delicious and a great match with my wife's barbequed skirt steak.
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Popped and poured, very tight, mistake. Could really benefit from some decanting time. Opened up over time, but never really got there. What did show up was very good, strong fruit but not too much heat. Decently long finish. Should get better over the next 2-4 years.
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Nice, cherries and other red berires on the nose, a bit peppery with some tobacco in the mouth. Medium finish. Did not developed much in the glass. Expected a bit more. Drink now or 1-3 years later.
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If anyone doubts that carmenère is one of Chile's best and most distinctive grapes, they should try this. Amazing finesse yet with such raw power. A bundle of fresh tobacco and bitter chocolate-laced red berries. There is a touch of a green edge, but that just adds to its beautiful rusticity. Elegant and massive. Cheap carmenère makes me wonder why it was ever bottled, but the expensive ones are some of the more interesting wines I have tasted. Drink now-2016. Food pairing: Steak with peppercorns.
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Decanted ~2 hr. Rich nose of dark fruit and cocoa with a hint of menthol. In the mouth, somewhat less rich and silky than the nose suggested. Bet it needs a bit more time. Still nice now. The black fruit is similar to wild berries picked off the vine, rather than super-fruity PCC / Whole Foods berries. I get watermellon and rhubarb as well. Acidity and silky tanins on a long finish. Nose makes me think worth waiting as much as a couple years for next bottle.
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Decanted 2 hrs, served over the following 2 hrs. It's ripe, the alcohol is still unsettled, and the basket of milk chocolate and creamy red and blue berries is a bit clumsy at the moment. I think I'll revisit this in a year or more. Lots of quality raw material to work with, it simply needs some quiet time in the bottle to come together. Full-bodied and marked by lower acidity, the structure would suggest maximum enjoyment 2011-2015, approx $27, 14,0% abv.
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Impression only - well made wine, not my style but a good wine. Rich, thick mouthfeel with the structure to back it up, so it's not cloying. Inky ruby red color and quite tannic but not astringent.
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I liked this even if it is young and a bit primary at this stage. A 2 hour decant helped pull it together. Dark, fruity but I think the elements may be there with aging.
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Very nice Carmenere. Silky smooth and bursts of dark fruit, leather and earth combined with light tannin makes this a real winner. Drinking great now and will get better in a couple of years!
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10/2/2021 - 560 B&W wrote: 87 Points
Over the hill. 14%
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4/9/2020 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Very tasty plum, spice and black cherry flavors and aromas. Smooth and well balanced. drinking nicely.
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11/29/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 91 Points
We had this with grilled beef tenderloin on 11/29/18. It had a rich, elegant bouquet of earth, cedar, leather, plum, black cherry, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, smooth and elegant with flavors of plum, black cherry, licorice, pepper, spice, leather and minerals. 91+
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6/21/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 89 Points
Last of these Very nice with chicken breasts in marinara sauce. Still has good fruit and good balance. Time to drink up.
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1/10/2017 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
This had a fragrant, earthy bouquet of cedar, leather, spice box, pepper, plum, and black cherry aromas. The palate was rich, dense, layered and dry with flavors of plum, black cherry, pepper, spice, leather and minerals.
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8/29/2016 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 87 Points
Muted fruit and bland secondary flavors. Just okay. One more left to see if this gets any more interesting
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7/26/2016 - robmatic wrote: 91 Points
Lovely bottle, drinking nicely.
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1/18/2016 - robmatic wrote: 91 Points
Lovely and still only early maturity.
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4/10/2015 - gajalaa wrote: 90 Points
plum, cherry, raspberry
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4/2/2015 - PhilJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
powerful wine with interesting coffee notes
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1/12/2015 - bin905 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Strong cedar, plum, prune, cinnamon and kirsch scent. Rich, viscous, earth, tar, cherry, raspberry and toasted oak with ample silky, dusty tannins. Plush and hedonistic, but also dense and extracted.
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11/15/2014 - overserved Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tobacco, plums, berries. Good balance.
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9/9/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Really satisfying, concentrated, round earthy and fruit flavors. Jammy, with a slight spicy note. On the nose and palate this has a smokey, tobacco and coffee character. This is a big, pretty serious wine that's ready to drink now. A great wine for the money.
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8/9/2014 - JoeFriday wrote: 93 Points
It's been 3 years since my last experience with this wine. I'm so glad I set it aside until now. Previously I ranked it at 90 saying it was not complex. It has changed dramatically since then. I didn't expect too much this time so I popped & poured, but left the glass alone while I cooked dinner. I couldn't resist a small taste and my initial thought was 'not bad!' About a half hour later my steak was plated and dinner was served on the patio. This time it blew me away. The spice and pepper in it matched the sirloin perfectly, but it didn't entirely disappear into the meal as some wines do. It held its own very well. Lots of complexity and a great finish that lingered for longer than many 'better' wines. I was sad when my cache of Don Melchor was used up last year, but this varietal shows that Concha y Toro is more than a one trick pony. I've got a couple more bottles of this left. Hopefully I'll find a new supply because I suspect these will gone by the end of grilling season.
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8/2/2014 - DarinC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Interesting single varietal. I could easily guess a ripe merlot dominated Meritage, if tasting blind. Modern fruit forward style with lots of dark fruits and integrated oak notes. Full bodied with a respectable finish and balanced. I'd drink within 5 years.
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6/13/2014 - robmatic wrote: 91 Points
Still young and rich. And has that twangy flavor that we all love about this grape. Developing nicely.
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5/8/2014 - Wineasaurus Rex wrote: 88 Points
Good, but a little dank once aerated. Plenty of life in this wine
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2/22/2014 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 90 Points
1.5hr decant was perfect. Lovely very full bodied wine, now integrated and at peak for 5yrs. Lots of fruit, not much acidity but it never feels heavy - medium complexity of slightly roasted blackcurrent, some spice, and a long finish for the humble price. Went well with chilli con carne. Very satisfying and popular with table guests not into fine wine - user friendly.
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9/29/2013 - kmicho Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tremendous wine, even across vintages. This is one of my go to wines to impress people. Berry driven, but with a great balance of vanilla, cocoa, and a small hint of earthiness. Exceptionally smooth, but not lacking in complexity. Well worth the price.
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8/15/2013 - iamandyc wrote: 87 Points
Pleasant wine that is smooth and fruit driven. Not much depth or complexity. Slightly carmelized flavor. Viscous mouthfeel.
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7/31/2013 - sethboy23 wrote: 89 Points
Drink now. Not as good as I remember from 2 yrs ago. Still solid wine and solid value
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6/23/2013 - ewsds wrote: 87 Points
A huge wine. Color is glass staining mostly-opaque deep purple. On the nose, a muted and very dark fruit nose. On the palate, it's very dense on day one, so I gave it a rest. On day two, it's more approachable, but still dense. Deep dark fruits, but a bit prune-like, as it appears a bit over-cooked. Not bad, but a bit too over-the-top for its own good.
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6/15/2013 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as the 7/5/10 bottle.
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5/20/2013 - marcp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark purple color. Starts off with dark cherry and blackberry fruit, then moves to flavors of espresso and herbs with a hint of lavender on the nose. A heavier but well balanced wine, excellent with a grilled steak. Long finish. It had dropped some sediment, so I decanted it.
It was still drinking well a couple hours after opening and decanting - should be able to hold a few more years. Wish I bought more.
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3/12/2013 - ntrubee wrote: 89 Points
Dry mineral lots of fruit. Good drinking wine
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1/24/2013 - Mustgofast Likes this wine: 89 Points
First thought was a bit jammy and peppery. A touch dry in taste a mineral quality in the swallow and a bit of alcohol present. While I like all the flavors it seems a little lacking in terms of it's balance. Sarah likes it a lot 91, I'm more like 88.
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10/15/2012 - Jamuka wrote: 87 Points
Nice satin finish. Dry, smooth with just enough acid to keep it interesting. Melon, cinnamon, and tart cherry? Very nice.
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8/26/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 87 Points
This is a very good, easy drinking wine. It is a bit jammy and certainly new world. There is structure there as well as some earthiness. It is lacking complexity and the finish is a bit short. Has ample body.Probably flabby for those normally leaning French/Italian.
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8/2/2012 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Le nez est sur les bleuets et l'eucalyptus, assez végétal aussi.
En bouche, assez fruité, beaucoup d'extraction, un peu monlithique. Tannins soyeux et assez long et persistant.
Un bon vin!
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7/4/2012 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Same as the 7/5/10 bottle except delicious with Vera's tasty moussaka.
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7/3/2012 - gilberto57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Carmenere is tasty and full-bodied wine. It’s dark and deep red colour. Hints of blackberries, black cherries, chocolate and spices. It is an elegant, powerful wine which lingers in the mouth. Excellent!
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4/6/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
My third (and last) one in the past 2 years. Hasn't changed much, which is, of course, disappointing, but it confirms a suspicion I've had along with this vintage - the fruit just plan sucked. Mediocre, no more than that. Drink now, not getting any better, 14,0% abv, score: B-/B
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3/22/2012 - Mary Crawford wrote: 90 Points
Excellent. Deep, dark fruit with black pepper.
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3/15/2012 - Tetherton wrote: 93 Points
This was an exceptional wine. Lots of spice and pepper on the palate but yet not over-powering with a "smooth" sensory perception on the "total palate".
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2/13/2012 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
My first Carmenere. Tasted immediately after opening. Dark purple, opaque. Mineral, oak and ripe fruit nose. Plum, cherry and bramble flavor. Also a slight undertone of green pepper. Intense fruit, medium weight and silky texture. Long finish with a slightly sour aftertaste. The fruit carries this wine. I like it. We held some of this over to night two and it is noticeably improved. The sour note in the finish is gone and it is much better integrated. I'd give it a 90 on the second night.
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11/13/2011 - LesterKwong wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple in color. Heavy nose of graphite, oak, and dark fruits on the nose. Full lush body with integrated tannins. Tons of fruit in the mouth with a spicy edge on a nice lengthy finish. Drink now.
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10/1/2011 - Tim Heaton wrote:
PnP, should have been decanted. Dark ruby toward purple, no sign of age. This opens with some really off-puting aromas of wet earth, stem and dirty diaper. But, 15 minutes of air is enough to have the wine turnaround quite nicely. Aromas of cocoa powder, roasted meat and savory spice largely follow to the full-bodied palate, marked by average acidity. For around $21, this is a good value, but with this vintage, it can hardly be described as a great value. 14,0% abv, be sure to aerate in decanter, drink thru 2015, score: B
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7/3/2011 - JoeFriday wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Nice texture but not too complex (yet). Subtle, without much finish. A nice carmenere but not quite meeting expectations. I have a few more bottles, so we'll see how it fares in a year.
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6/25/2011 - PhilJ wrote: 91 Points
Nose straight out of the bottle of red cherries. Quite smooth and rounded now, no drying tannins evident. Not much complexity - yet. I opened this early to guage it's potential and will keep the others for a few more years to see how they develop. Excellent wine.
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4/13/2011 - MightyMilburn wrote: 90 Points
On the nose classic new world (Chilean) berry smell with a hit of pepper - taste was cabernet sauv-like with a bit of bite. A good carmenere wine for people who havent tried that grape before.
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3/11/2011 - Neil H wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine. Much better, less tannic, and better nose after 2+ hours of decanting.
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2/19/2011 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 92 Points
I felt this was excellent. Massive coffee flavors and a deep textures. While the price is a little high for Carmenere imho, this was impressive. Certainly has more time in the bottle as well, maybe 2 yrs.
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2/15/2011 - jorge48 wrote: 90 Points
Solid Chilean Carmenere with loads of red fruit and jam. Good value.
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12/27/2010 - Shapnyc wrote: 92 Points
Intense -cherry, raspberry, leather. A silky layer discovered a chewy leathery layer. In the midst of digging out from the blizzard, this accompanied a grilled steak with both elegance and a bit of complexity. This will develop - glad I have 22 more bottles.
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12/19/2010 - Eduhersp wrote: 93 Points
This is my first experience with this varietal. Decanted for only 30 minutes and probably hould have been decanted for at least 2hours. Had this with some terijaki chicken. I know it is not dark meat but the chicken was real good and I had steak that previous night. Full bodied. Very dark colour. Even without tasting it, the the density is very evident.
Nose: A little closed at first but opens nicely after 1 hour decant. Good nose of sweet dark fruit, dusty oak, cinamon spices and very pleasant herbal quailities as well. I even gather some subtle cigar box elements as well. Very distinguishable lovely nose.
Taste: Taking into consideration the price level of this wine, the concentration and girth of this wine is really impressive. Full dodied, very concentrated, powerful, dense with accents of great dark fruit flavors and lovely shades of oak and milk chocolate (Just like a milk shake). I like the seriousness and complexity. This wine is serious business. Big and bold but suave and sofisticated as well. A real puckerer too. I am gathering that this wine will benefit from a few years in the cellar. Because of its serious structure and fruit, tannin and acid balance is very evident that it has the stuffing for the midterm. All this seems to be nicely balanced. It is a big wine with all its attributes beautifuly balanced. In the course of the night, a coiuple hours, the wine adds girth, density and grainyness (If you can believe it). Very nice chalky consisntency emmerges as well as a the promenance of more lovely fruit. This wine reminds me of the 2006 Don Melchor. Even though the varieral is not the same, the characteristics are very evident.
Finish: There is a nice spicyness on the finish that is quite good. Sweet oak, nice dark fruit flavors and sweet tannins that linger on and on and on. Very good finish.
Overall: What can I say. Tremendous QPR. Great wine with a dense, dark,powerful and complex personality. I am very impressed and pleasantly surprised.
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11/18/2010 - Shapnyc wrote: 92 Points
Smooth deep and delicious
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11/15/2010 - Fatty Cat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mid Nov 2010: deep blue purple color; very intense aromas/flavors of cherry, creme de cassis, vanilla, cigar box and smoke; lush red fruit, bacon and wood on the palate; medium/full body; medium, tannic finish.
Got this bottle from a Chilean friend of the family. Excellent! Definitely a wine to follow. I’m not so sure about his aging potential. Looks like I need to taste him again.
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11/15/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 92 Points
Dense, dark and supple, with black currant, braised fig flavors laid over notes of loam and freshly brewed espresso. Muscular but well-integrated, delivering nice focus that carries through the lengthy round finish. (Drink 2010-2020)- JD92
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10/28/2010 - Tarrant wrote: 91 Points
Excellent, huge but in balance for sure - Black, well concentrated with a nose of extreme plum, blackfruit, cherry, mocha and vanilla, young but almost integrated, interesting, extremely tasty, silky smooth on the palate with awesome length, well done!! (91 Points).
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10/17/2010 - kmicho wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely loved this wine. Had at a wine tasting with 8 others and it came out #2 of the 6 with no vote lower than 3rd. Vanilla, multiple ripe berries, cocoa. A really good "big" Carmenere. One of the few bottles in the $30+ range I'd be willing to drink not on a special occassion.
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10/3/2010 - bugdoced wrote: 88 Points
more ready to drink now than 10 months ago
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9/13/2010 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
Funky and delicious, always one of my favorites from Concha Y Toro. 90-91
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7/5/2010 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Deep red/purple color. Aromas of black cherries, cocoa, leather and spices. Rich, highly extracted ripe fruit in the mouth with great depth and excellent structure. Thick and velvety mouthfeel with ripe, well-integrated tannins. Though still young was delicious and a great match with my wife's barbequed skirt steak.
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6/13/2010 - Jhcwine wrote: 89 Points
Colour - Darker purple. Significant gradations. Nose - tannins, black current. Palette - Medium full body. Blackcurrent, rasberry. Fairly intense fruit. Pepper. Lacks complexity or delecacy.
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6/13/2010 - jonnyc wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured, very tight, mistake. Could really benefit from some decanting time. Opened up over time, but never really got there. What did show up was very good, strong fruit but not too much heat. Decently long finish. Should get better over the next 2-4 years.
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5/24/2010 - dron_ap wrote: 90 Points
Nice, cherries and other red berires on the nose, a bit peppery with some tobacco in the mouth. Medium finish. Did not developed much in the glass. Expected a bit more. Drink now or 1-3 years later.
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5/22/2010 - tobymccathie wrote:
Yummy Bordeaux type, proper claret nose, loads of cherries on the palate. 1/3 of bottle left to see if it changes.
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5/13/2010 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 86 Points
Some coarse (green?)tannin and black fruits. The nose promised more than the palate delivered for me. Sorry I couldn't agree w/the reviews.
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5/10/2010 - philhamelin wrote:
If anyone doubts that carmenère is one of Chile's best and most distinctive grapes, they should try this. Amazing finesse yet with such raw power. A bundle of fresh tobacco and bitter chocolate-laced red berries. There is a touch of a green edge, but that just adds to its beautiful rusticity. Elegant and massive. Cheap carmenère makes me wonder why it was ever bottled, but the expensive ones are some of the more interesting wines I have tasted. Drink now-2016. Food pairing: Steak with peppercorns.
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4/17/2010 - DeRushaJ wrote: 79 Points
Nice cherry and light oak
Overtones. Very delicate finish, not as peppery assume carmeneres. nice but not outstanding.
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4/10/2010 - jkramer65 wrote: 90 Points
needs time.
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2/25/2010 - snaff wrote: 92 Points
Rich and intense with black cherry, mocha and the spices typical of carmenere.
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1/30/2010 - tairanosaurus wrote: 90 Points
Decanted ~2 hr. Rich nose of dark fruit and cocoa with a hint of menthol. In the mouth, somewhat less rich and silky than the nose suggested. Bet it needs a bit more time. Still nice now. The black fruit is similar to wild berries picked off the vine, rather than super-fruity PCC / Whole Foods berries. I get watermellon and rhubarb as well. Acidity and silky tanins on a long finish. Nose makes me think worth waiting as much as a couple years for next bottle.
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1/29/2010 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Decanted 2 hrs, served over the following 2 hrs. It's ripe, the alcohol is still unsettled, and the basket of milk chocolate and creamy red and blue berries is a bit clumsy at the moment. I think I'll revisit this in a year or more. Lots of quality raw material to work with, it simply needs some quiet time in the bottle to come together. Full-bodied and marked by lower acidity, the structure would suggest maximum enjoyment 2011-2015, approx $27, 14,0% abv.
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1/16/2010 - Mlyles wrote: 92 Points
Very nice -jammy and nose of tobacco and cedar.
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12/26/2009 - Squirreljam wrote:
Impression only - well made wine, not my style but a good wine. Rich, thick mouthfeel with the structure to back it up, so it's not cloying. Inky ruby red color and quite tannic but not astringent.
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12/6/2009 - iamandyc wrote: 90 Points
I liked this even if it is young and a bit primary at this stage. A 2 hour decant helped pull it together. Dark, fruity but I think the elements may be there with aging.
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11/2/2009 - brouigu1 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Carmenere. Silky smooth and bursts of dark fruit, leather and earth combined with light tannin makes this a real winner. Drinking great now and will get better in a couple of years!
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7/24/2009 - nycebo wrote:
Nothing really memorable.
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6/22/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
excellent balance, smooth. 91-92.
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5/2/2009 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
Philadelphia Wine Festival (Marriott, Philadelphia PA): Enjoyed this quite a bit. Complex with fruit, tobacco, and earth all there. Probably not a wine with a tremendously long life, but really nice now.
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5/2/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote:
The Eighth Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival (Philadelphia Marriott Downtown): Good, earthy. I liked it better than the Don Melchor.
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