2005 Viña Chocalán Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 86 points

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  10/30/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 Points

  Some good things happening here. In general, it looks, tastes and smells like some of those unique to Chile, earthy, tree sap, and black tea flavors, really compliment the Merlot grape. I also get some of those chocolate flavors we find with Napa Valley Merlot, probably from medium to heavy toast oak, which I suspect would have been a lot less compelling when this wine was younger. The color is as dark as Merlot can get. The nose first gives an evergreen, maybe cedar, or some kind of a menthol characteristic. There is also some burnt wet tree bark, smoke, sandalwood, and crushed blackberry. Still acting very young, there is lots of vanilla and other oak influences to this slightly more than medium bodied wine. Already seven years off the vine, the fruit has diminished slightly, while the oak and secondary flavors are still maturing. If you are a fan of evergreen and menthol, this wine is for you, and that is not a bad thing. You need a touch of imagination to pull out the blackberry, and black cherry fruit. The mid palate, with some help from a pretty serious hit of oak sneaks up and gives some wow. I'm liking this wine. I appreciate how well it has held up with aging. This is the first time I have had a chance to evaluate a properly aged, Chilean Merlot, and love the way the terroir enhances the grape.

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