2006 Casa Marin Pinot Noir Lo Abarca Hills

JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  9/20/2010, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Casa Marin, Lo Abarca Hills Pinot Noir San Antonio Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.

i-WineReview.com

• Report 21: The Chilean Wine Revolution, 2/15/2010, (See more on i-WineReview.com...)

  (Casa Marin Pinot Noir Lo Abarca Hills Vineyard San Antonio Valley) Subscribe to see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  9/22/2009, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Casa Marin, Lo Abarca Hills Pinot Noir San Antonio Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  3/9/2009, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Casa Marin, Lo Abarca Pinot Noir San Antonio Red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Josh Raynolds
  March/April 2009, IWC Issue #143, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Vina Casa Marin Pinot Noir Lo Abarca Hills Vineyard San Antionio Valley) Login and sign up and see review text.

Sommelier Journal

• By Tom Hyland
  April 2010, (See more on Sommelier Journal...)

  (Casa Marín Pinot Noir Lo Abarca Hills, San Antonio Valley) The nose features dried cherry, cedar, and nutmeg; on the palate, the flavors are well concentrated, backed by lively acidity and balanced tannins. The persistent finish adds notes of cardamom and red-pepper flakes. Best in five to seven years. Appellation: San Antonio Valley

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  11/25/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (LO ABARCA HILLS Pinot Noir Casa Marin) Holiday Special Dear Friends, I wanted to send everyone off for the weekend with something enticing to chew on (other than turkey) and this fits the bill - a cut-rate Pinot Noir holiday special that should be a contender for our best deal of 2009. For those of you that seek the high-impact style of domestic Pinot Noir or even something like Bass-Phillip, this is for you (or for those on your special gift list). After we offered the 2004 Casa Marin Pinot Noirs last year (the same vineyards as below), many of you complained about the high cost of the wines (in the $40-45 range). They were quite intriguing and electric for the majority of you but just too expensive. How about close to half price? For the brand new 2006 release? The Litoral and Lo Abarca Hills are the two "grand cru" wines from Casa Marin - they are the most complicated and complex examples the winery produces and 2006 is considered as good or even better than 2004. Considering the pedigree of Casa Marin is about the best that South America has to offer (yes, including Argentina), this naturally farmed estate in the cool climate San Antonio Valley of Chile aims to compete with the best of the best. Certainly, the wines have more in common with something like 2007 Melville High Density than Volnay but they also showcase a unique sense of place and soil structure that is singular to this area just above the Pacific Ocean - Chile's closest estate to the cooling influence of the Pacific. Think of this set as New World terroir chasers mixed with a distinct Gevrey-like sense of earth and minerality and a South American smattering of high-alcohol bravado. In other words, they will be immensely appealing to a very wide audience but not necessarily for those that lean toward colorless 11.5% Loire Pinot Noir. In addition, the prices on today's offer are so low, they are now in the same realm as hundreds of middling non-descript domestic examples or even basic Bourgogne from a good producer. At $40-50, I may be more cautious, but at much less (for the very best Casa Marin has to offer), both of the wines below are more than worth your exploration. ONE PARCEL ONLY At this price (we will have a second shipment in late January to accommodate re-orders but the price for each will be in the $38-42 range). (please note: these are not the entry-level Cartagena or basic "Casa Marin" bottlings - these are the top single vineyard wines) 2006 Casa Marin Pinot Noir "Lo Abarca Hills" (San Antonio Valley/Chile) This wine is going to surprise a lot of people, let's just leave it at that... 2006 Casa Marin Pinot Noir "Litoral" (San Antonio Valley/Chile) If you are rummaging around in the cellar with thirsty/antsy dinner party guests waiting for your selection, give them a bottle of this and watch the toe-tapping impatience turn to giddy glee... HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND! Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Chile8710 Chile8720