(Veramonte Primus, Casablanca Valley) It’s hard to believe that in the early 1990s, less than 100 acres of vineyards were planted in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. Now, there are more than 10,000, and the region is producing wines like this Bordeaux blend. Medium-to-dark ruby in the glass, it has a nose that will command the attention of even the most distracted wine taster: perfumes of chocolate, cherry cordial, and vanilla waft from the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a polished feel on the tongue, and the flavors seem to burst in the mouth, with cherries, chocolate, and old wood paneling swirling in a storm of fine-grained, dusty tannins and velvet texture. The long finish has beautiful aromas of cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar. Surprising, unique, and totally delicious. Hot Picks
By Alder Yarrow
(Veramonte Primus, Casablanca Valley) It’s hard to believe that in the early 1990s, less than 100 acres of vineyards were planted in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. Now, there are more than 10,000, and the region is producing wines like this Bordeaux blend. Medium-to-dark ruby in the glass, it has a nose that will command the attention of even the most distracted wine taster: perfumes of chocolate, cherry cordial, and vanilla waft from the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a polished feel on the tongue, and the flavors seem to burst in the mouth, with cherries, chocolate, and old wood paneling swirling in a storm of fine-grained, dusty tannins and velvet texture. The long finish has beautiful aromas of cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar. Surprising, unique, and totally delicious. Hot PicksDecember 2008, (See more on Sommelier Journal...)