2021 North Coast Wine Club Carménère, American, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

These grapes for this wine come from California, shipped cold to northeast Ohio where they are made into wine.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight rhubarb, slight herbal notes and a bit of coffee grounds.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has nice red fruits (cherries, pomegranate) along with a peppery note.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice wine with pasta or pizza.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2019 Koyle Carménère Gran Reserva, Chile, Alto Colchagua, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This is 85%Carménère, 10% Tempranillo, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries raspberries, cranberries along side green peppers and a slight rosemary note.  Also some spice.  Medium tannins.  Complex.  Tight layers unwind in the glass.  On the palate, cherries, cranberries intertwined with black raspberries and char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  This will work well with roasted fowl.  The label says duck or also ratatouille, and that seems like a good suggestion.  

2018 Emiliana Coyam, Chile, Colchagua Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a blend of 42% Syrah, 39% Carmenere, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Garnacha, 3% Malbec, 1% Tempranillo, and 1% Mourvedre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, black cherries and spice.  Very smooth yet varietally complex on the palate.  Light tannins.  Notes of boysenberries and black cherries with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is quite tasty.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this is even better with food.  Steak, chops or ribs off the grill is a nice choice.  

NV Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Red Blend, Chile, Maipo Valley, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

It is not clear if this is a vintage wine.  The back label states "Assemblage 2018".  It is a blend of 31% Cabernet Franc, 26% Syrah, 22% Carmenere, 11% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Made from organic grapes.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an interesting minty streak.  Also some black pepper and a slight floral not with a bit of air.  On the palate, medium tannins.  Notes of black cherries and black raspberries.  Some peppery notes.  Nice finish.  This improved with about an hour of air.  Somewhat complex and very interesting.  This should drink

2018 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva, Chile, Central Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a Bordeaux styled blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Carmenere, 11% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc from Chile.  It is also a very nice value for the quality.  Purple at the core with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens up to cassis, coffee and spice.  Nothing green on the nose.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, smoke and fresh tobacco.  Medium tannins.  Softer texture.  This is surprisingly open right from the start.  There is a nice complexity.  It drinks easily now and should continue for the next ten to twelve years.  A nice m

2016 Montes Purple Angel, Chile, Colchagua Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 92% Carmenère with 8% Petit Verdot from Chile.  It is a very interesting blend.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, coffee, slight dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is big and on the wilder side.  Flavors of black cherries with underlying gravel and also some chocolate.  It is delicious but rough on the throat (not smooth).  Long finish.  It will interesting to watch this mature although for those who enjoy a bit of a wilder ride, it is probably best drunk over the next five to seven years.  It will smooth out with proper cellar