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As a rule, the last type of wine that one might reach for in single digit weather is a perfectly chilled Chardonnay. We tend to gravitate towards more “robust” wines in cold weather, myself included. However, rules don’t seem to apply anymore when it comes to wine. Old school thought was to serve only red wine with meat and hearty dishes during cool weather. And white wine was usually served with light fare and seafood upon the onset of the warm season. But as long as wine doesn’t clash with the food you are eating, then I say anything goes!  The other evening I opened a 2014 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay from Concha y Toro in Chile. As you might recall, I reviewed the 2014 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks ago. Marcelo Papa is the winemaker for Marques de Casa Concha as well as Casillero del Diablo.  Photo courtesy of Concha y Toro The Chardonnay grapes for this wine are handpicked from a single vineyard; the Quebrada Seca Vineyard is located about 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the north bank of the Limarí River. The clay and chalk soils give the Chardonnay expressive minerality while the limestone soil balances it with crisp acidity. The color is soft yellow with succulent fruity aromas of peach, pear and toasted oak. The palate offers a creamy texture of pear, apple, spice and oak. This is an amazing Chardonnay that has a long and impressive finish!  I paired the wine with a vegetable risotto and sautéed shrimp. Although I may be more partial to reds during the winter months, I won’t hesitate to open a bottle of this Chardonnay again! Alcohol: 14% SRP: $25.  Happy Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  In between the snow and frigid temperatures this past weekend, I ventured out for a holiday party and some good cheer. However, most of my time was spent nesting at home and enjoying friends. Since the cold weather had me craving warm and hearty meals, I put my slow cooker to good use. I made vegetable lasagna, red lentil chili and barley and chickpea risotto. If you would like the recipes, please email me.  To accompany the meals, I gravitated towards “generous” red wines. One of the wines opened was a 2014 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon, another wonderful treat from Concha y Toro. Marcelo Papa, one of five lead winemakers at Concha y Toro, makes the Marques de Casa Concha wines. It is also interesting to note that Marcelo Papa is winemaker for the very successful Casillero del Diablo wines which I have tasted and reviewed. The grapes for Marques de Casa Concha are handpicked from single vineyards, except for the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend from the Puente Alto and Pirque vineyards located close to the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Valley of Chile. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot and 1% Syrah. The color is midnight ruby with lively aromas of dark fruit and black cherry. Smooth and silky on the palate, the wine is layered with rich and lush fruit, blackberry, plum and spice. Hints of pepper and fennel mingle with the fruit on a long finish. Needless to say, this wine would pair well with any hearty meal! Alcohol: 14.2% Price: $25 I can’t wait to open the Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Camenere and Chardonnay.  Happy Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  The autumn decorations are being put away until next year. And I’m chopping up the remaining pumpkins for my furry little friends outside.  Now that it’s December 1st, it’s time to move on to the next holiday season. So, today I’m adorning the house with festive little twinkle lights and unpacking ornaments. Before I move on to reviews and suggestions for “winter/holiday” drinks, I want to give a quick mention to a few more wines that I served on Thanksgiving. Frontera After Dark are entry-level “night harvested” wines from Chile, produced by Concha y Toro. The dramatic dark labels with an outline of the Andes traced in gold, were designed to attract the US millennial market, “with research suggesting that they are more receptive to dark labels”. I purposely opened these particular wines for the younger members at the table…the millennials. I was curious to see how the wines would be received. The below reviews belong to my young tasters!   The Moonlight White 2015 is a Moscato based blend of grapes from Central Valley. A pale straw color with aromas of tropical fruit and flowers was followed by a sweet and gentle effervescence on the palate. A hint of pear lingered for a moment. This is a sweet wine and most of my millennial “tasters” preferred to move on to the next bottle. Alcohol: 9.5%  After Midnight Red 2015 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a touch of Merlot from Itata Valley. The color is cherry red with fruity aromas. This is a medium-bodied wine with red fruit and a hint of vanilla on the palate. They liked that the wine complemented the turkey and side dishes instead of competing with the food. Alcohol: 12% The price of these wines is about $6.00 and sold nationwide. Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com
 I can’t seem to sample enough Chilean wine. With ideal climate conditions and more Chilean winemakers producing quality-focused wines, plus attention being given to organic and biodynamic agriculture, it’s no surprise that eyes and palates are on Chile! The wines are unique, luscious and many are pocketbook approachable. Check out my past posts on Chile. Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is Chile’s first and most renowned icon wine. It is Concha y Toro’s signature red and it’s outstanding! I recently tasted the 2013 vintage. But before I review this wine, let me give you a little background information. Don Melchor founded Concha y Toro in 1883. With the help of Pierre Labouchere, a French enologist, they introduced to Chile, samples of French rootstock brought back from Bordeaux. A century later, in 1986, Eduardo Guilisasti, who had become Chairman of the Board of Concha y Toro, challenged his team to produce a wine that would put Chile on the map as a serious and “world class player” in fine wine production. So, the winery enologist and Rafael (Guilisasti’s son) flew to Bordeaux with Cabernet Sauvignon samples from their Puente Alto vineyard to confer with the father of modern winemaking, Emile Peynaud. Impressed with the samples, Peynaud and Jacques Boissenot gave advice and assisted in the creation of the final blend in Chile. Their trips became annual and today Jacque’s son Eric continues the yearly trip to Chile working with Enrique Tirado, winemaker for Don Melchor since 1995. Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon’s debut vintage was in 1987.   Don Melchor established the Puente Alto vineyard in 1890 with the vines he imported from France. Puente Alto vineyard is located in the sub-region of Maipo Valley which is considered Chile’s “Cabernet Sauvignon heartland”. The vineyard sits on the north bank of the Maipo River and at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The Puente Alto vineyard is home to Don Melchor (314 acres) and Almaviva, (210 acres) a joint venture with Château Mouton Rothschild. The vineyard is akin to a “quilt” grouped into seven blocks (6 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 Cabernet Franc) with 142 parcels. With each parcel offering unique expression that changes from year to year, the key traits of fresh fruit, fine tannins and finnesse transcend through the vintages. Winemaker Enrique Tirado adds, “Don Melchor is not a single Cabernet Sauvignon, but multiple expressions, and that making this multi-Cabernet blend is a challenge.” Tirado selects fruit from 50 to 60 parcels out of the 142 for each vintage of Don Melcher. The rest of the fruit goes into making Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon which I will taste and review in the next week or so! Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon arrived wrapped in tissue paper, inviting and festive.  This 2013 vintage is a beautiful blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% French oak for fifteen months. The color is royal ruby with intoxicating aromas of lush red fruits, plum, black cherry and spice. This is a full-bodied wine with plenty of character. The palate is a convergence of red fruit, dark currents, spice and hints of stone with soft tannins. The finish is silky and long with lingering cherry notes. This is a wine that has an aging potential of 20 to 25 years.  Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $125 http://www.conchaytoro.com I’m looking forward to sharing the rest of this bottle with friends this evening!
Cheers! Penina I seem to keep finding my way back to exploring Chilean wines and rightly so. The wines have become more focused with many producers concentrating on bio dynamic, organic and sustainable agriculture in addition to producing unique and delicious wines. Chilean wines have earned significant recognition among wine critics and connoisseurs. I recently received two bottles of wine from Concha y Toro’s flagship brand, Casillero del Diablo Devil’s collection.   With Halloween just a few weeks away, the story behind the collection is perfect for telling while serving up a glass! Don Melchor Concha y Tora founded the vineyard in 1883. Legend has it that more than 130 years ago a ship set sail from Bordeaux carrying a cargo of precious vines. The ship landed in Chile where the grapes were turned into a mysterious wine. The wines were locked up, but continually disappeared from the cellar. So in order to stop the theft of the wines, he spread a rumor that the devil lived in the cellar. Everyone became terrified and some people claimed to have seen the devil. No one was ever able to solve the mystery and Don Melchor Concha y Toro continued to enjoy his wines. To this day, it is known as the “devils cellar”. Casillero del Diablo means “devils locker” in Spanish. The cellar is located in Pirque, close to Santiago. Casillero del Diablo Reserva 2016 Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Casablanca Valley region. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is a light bodied wine filled with aromas of fresh citrus and pear. The palate offers grapefruit, green apple and has a zesty mouth-feel. This a refreshing wine that is well balanced and would complement light fare such as seafood, light pasta dishes, cheese and fruit. Alcohol: 13% Price: Approximately $11  Casillero del Diablo Reserva 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Central Valley region. It is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Petit Syrah. The color is dark ruby bordering on purple. Aromas of dark berries, plum, cherry and spice set the stage. Cherry and plum dominate the palate with a touch of berry and hints of oak and vanilla on the finish. This is a juicy wine that is nicely balanced with smooth tannins and will pair well with hearty stews and soup, pasta, game and meats. Alcohol: 13.5% Price: Approximately $11  The Casillero del Diablo wines are “best-value” wines that don’t disappoint the palate. Pick up a few bottles and enjoy these wines before they “mysteriously” disappear from the shelves!
Cheers! Penina Wines of Chile Visits Whole Foods Markets Over the past few months, I have written several posts pertaining to Chilean wines. I have described the land, talked to wine producers and reviewed some amazing wines. For a better understanding of Chile, its regions and grapes, please go to http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/06/day-482.html.  Recently, Wines of Chile sent me nine bottles of wine to taste and review. These wines representing eight regions throughout Chile will be available in Whole Foods Markets nationwide for the “Country of Origin In-Store Program” from August 24th through October 26th, 2016.   Odfjell 2016 Armador, Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley Odfjell Winery is located in a small corner of the Maipo Valley. Started 25 years ago by Norwegian born ship owner, Dan Odfjell, it is a family run business carried on today by his sons Laurence and Dan Jr. Odfjell Winery prides itself in producing unique wines with an emphasis on sustainability. Armador, which is the Spanish word for “ship owner”, is 100% Sauvignon Blanc harvested from their vineyard in Casablanca Valley. The color is soft yellow with a green tinge to it. A floral bouquet with citrus and pear continues onto the palate with light fruit and citrus notes. This is a crisp wine that would make a great aperitif or served with light meals. http://odfjellvineyards.cl Alcohol: 14% Price: $12.99  Viña Errazuriz 2015 Max, Chardonnay, Aconcagua Costa Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errazuriz in 1870. It is a fifth generation family owned winery. Eduardo Chadwick Claro is president of Viña Errazuriz and a descendent of the winery’s founder. Errazuriz was the first estate to plant vines and cultivate the coastal area of Aconcagua Valley and also one of the first wineries to be granted the Certification of Sustainability. The Viña Errazuriz 2015 Max Chardonnay Reserva is 100% Chardonnay. The color is straw with citrus, tropical fruit and pear on the nose. The palate is layered with citrus, lush fruit and a creamy mouthfeel. Lemon and flowers are persistent on a long crisp finish. This is a refreshing wine that would pair well with most meals. http://www.errazuriz.com Alcohol: 13.28% Price: $17.99  Autoritas 2014 Pinot Noir, Valle Central Autoritas wines are produced by Luis Felipe Edwards in the Valle Central region. The name Autoritas is derived from the Latin word Auctoritas that means respect and prestige. The 2015 Autoritas is 100% Pinot Noir. The color is dark cherry with aromas of berries, spice and pepper. The palate offers cherry, plum and spice with almost no tannins to speak of. This is a very clean and uncomplicated wine. You can’t beat the price! http://www.lfewines.com Alcohol: 13.5% Price $7.99  Boya 2014 Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley (San Antonio Valley) Boya Winery is a boutique estate winery located just five miles from the ocean. Matias Garces Silva is founder of Boya Winery and pioneered winemaking in Leyda, a sub-region of the San Antonio Valley in the coastal zone. Fittingly, Boya means, “buoy” in Spanish. Boya 2014 Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir with a dark ruby color. The wine has intense aromas of fresh fruit, strawberry, tea rose and a hint of spice. The palate is nicely balanced with ripe fruit and spice. Soft tannins with a little pepper on a medium finish add to the character of this wine. http://www.boyawines.cl Alcohol 13% Price: $14.99  Criterion 2014 Carménère, Colchagua Valley Criterion Cellars is located in the southernmost region of Chile. Colchagua is the southernmost portion of the Rapel Valley and one of Chile’s best-known wine regions. It is noted for the Carménère grape. This is a dark skinned grape that was originally planted in the vineyards of Bordeaux and has found its home in Chile. The 2014 Criterion Carménère is 100% Carménère. The color is deep crimson, bordering on purple. The nose offers black fruits, spice and a hint of earth. The palate is layered with dark cherries, blackberries, pepper, cocoa, coffee and soft tannins. The finish is medium to short, but has all the elements for an enjoyable wine. http://www.criterioncellars.com Alcohol 13% Price: $13.99  Mayu 2014 Carménère-Syrah, Elqui Valley Mayu Winery located in the Elqui Valley at the northern edge of Chile, was founded in 2005 by Mauro Olivier. The focus of Mayu winery is “only the production of Premium wines originated in the Elqui Valley with unique style and personality.” The arid desert climate and cold nights are ideal for growing grapes, leading to more concentrated aromas, deep color and developed tannins. Mayu is the Incas word for “river of stars in the Milky Way”. The 2014 MAYU Carménère-Syrah Reserva is a blend of 55% Carménère and 44% Syrah. The color is deep ruby with purple hues. It is an interesting combination of aromas, from ripe fruit to earth and spice. The palate offers dark cherry, plum, spice and hints of vanilla lingering on a medium finish. It has depth, but yet light enough to serve in the warm days still ahead. http://mayu.cl Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $12.99  Erasmo 2010 Reserva de Caliboro, Maule Valley In 1995 Count Francesco Marone Cinzano, owner of the Col d'Orcia estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, brought his expertise and knowledge to "Riserva di Caliboro" in the Maule Valle of Chile to produce high quality wines from grape clones imported from France. The 2010 Erasmo Reserva de Caliboro is a single vineyard handcrafted wine. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The color is deep ruby with aromas of dark berries, earth and a hint of floral. This is a full-bodied wine with a beautiful richness to it. Layers of blackberry, cherry, candy apple, licorice and pine give way to soft tannins and a long velvety finish. This is a wine to drink now and right through winter. Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $19.99 http://www.erasmo.bio  De Martino 2014 Estate Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley De Martino winery was established in 1934 when the De Martino family moved to Maipo from Italy. The winery is now run by the family’s third and fourth generation and is one of the leading organic producers in Chile. They have vineyards in seven regions throughout Chile. The 2014 Estate Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The color of the wine is ruby with subtle aromas of cherry, red and black fruit with a hint of mushrooms. The palate offers lush fruit with traces of tobacco, earth and lingering spice on the finish. Medium-bodied with mild tannins. Very nice! http://www.demartino.cl Alcohol: 13.5% Price: $12.99  Casa Silva 2014 Los Lingues Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley Viña Casa Silva is a family owned winery that was established in 1997 and is located in Colchagua Valley. Although recently under a new name, the family’s passion for winemaking began in 1892, when Emilio Bouchon arrived from France. The fourth and fifth generation decided to make wines under their own label, creating a new family winery, Viña Casa Silva. The 2014 Los Lingues Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The color is deep garnet with lovely aromas of dark fruit, strawberries, anise and pepper. The palate is lush with juicy red fruit, hints of tobacco, and soft tannins. The finish is medium with a touch of pepper lingering. This wine would pair well with a hearty meal! http://www.casasilva.cl/home Alcohol: 14% Price: $17.99 With all the above wines costing below $20.00, this is a great opportunity to “visit” Chile at Whole Foods Market and experience some wonderful wines. There is a wine for everyone and every occasion!
Salud! Penina It was the perfect evening to sit out on the deck, watch the sunset, share stories and drink wine. There was a delightful breeze and NO humidity!  The empty bottles and the last few mouthfuls of some nice wine…  We started with Montes Spring Harvest 2016 Sauvignon Blanc from the cool coastal region of Leyda Valley, Chile. The grapes are handpicked one month early, making the wine available 2 months earlier than other wines of this variety. Aurelio Montes, the chief winemaker, says this wine is “ideal to celebrate the beginning of the spring season.” The color was light yellow with a green hue. Aromas of citrus, grapefruit, mango and a hint of herbs tickled the nose. The palate offered citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest and hints of pepper. A bitter edge followed at the finish, making this a most delightful experience. Full-bodied with racy acidity makes this wine a perfect accompaniment to most food. Alcohol: 12.5% Price range: $13 to $16 http://www.monteswines.com For our dinner, I made pan seared Halibut with charred corn, mint, scallions, cherry tomatoes and fresh lime juice. A side of pear, walnut and Gorgonzola stuffed ravioli drizzled with balsamic & fig dressing, and homemade country French bread completed the meal.   We chose a 2014 J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay from Arroyo Seco Monterey, Central Coast, CA to drink with our dinner. This is a “tried and true” chardonnay. I reviewed the 2014 vintage in November. The color was pale yellow with aromas of peach, strawberry, honeysuckle and nuts. The aromas carried over onto the palate with oak and a smooth buttery feel on the finish. Alcohol: 13.5% Price is approximately $14 It’s time for a swim.
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina This is a brief look at Chile and its wines.  Chile is a long and narrow country bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountains to the east. It spans 2700 miles of land running from north to south and is only 100 miles wide. Due to the expansive range of terroirs, the style of wines made has an equally wide range, with most of the climatic variations in the wine-growing regions running from east to west due to the influence of the ocean and mountains.  There are numerous wine regions in Chile that are then divided into sub-regions. Rather than listing them all, the map on the right should be helpful. Maipo Valley is home to most of the country’s wineries and is Chile’s most-established wine region. It is considered the birthplace of Chile’s wine production. Curicó Valley is one of the oldest and largest wine regions with Maule being the oldest wine region. Chile has a long viticulture history dating back to the 16th century. There were only 12 wineries in existence in 1995 and today that number exceeds 476 across six regions.  Carménère grape With over 20 varieties of grape grown, the Carménère grape has become the “signature” grape of Chile. Originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, it was thought to be extinct after the European phylloxera outbreaks in the 19th century. However, the grape was rediscovered in Chile in the 1990s. The Carménère grape is known for it’s deep red color with flavors of blackberry, cherry and spice. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for more than one third of Chile’s grape production. In addition, Syrahs, Malbecs and old vine Carignan from Maule are among the more popular grapes grown. White wine grape varieties grown in Chile are also important such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Riesling.  Felipe Ortiz, Chief Winemaker Last week I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Felipe Ortiz, Chief Winemaker of Casa Donoso Winery. Felipe has worked in France, USA, and Australia and has now brought his talents to Casa Donoso. The winery has four vineyards located in the Maule Valley. La Oriental Estate located in the heart of the Maule Valley boasts plants of more than 60 years of age. San Vicente Estate has plants that are more than 50 years old. Las Casas Estate is on the coastal zone of the Maule Valley and Fudno Pencahue is located on the coast. To quote Felipe with regard to Maule Valley’s “multiplicity of characters”; “White wines with very fresh and mineral traces, in particular our Sauvignon Blanc. Red wines with short maturity cycles showing a very good balance between alcohol and acidity, like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. And above all, a nice and silky Carménère, is a tricky and demanding variety which is hard to mature properly in other valleys”. It was a pleasure conversing with Felipe and I look forward to visiting Casa Donoso in the near future and getting a first hand tour!  The first wine Felipe poured for me was Sucesor Romano Limited Release 2015. It is 85% Cesar Noir and 15% Carignan and is made from the grapes in La Oriental Estate. Ruby red and wild berry aromas give way to juicy blackberry and spices. The wine is sophisticated with medium tannins and a long finish. Alcohol: 13.5% The next pour was “D” a 2011 Limited Edition blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carménère, 20% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. This unfiltered estate bottle’s origin is La Oriental Estate. The wine is elegant with dark fruits, oak and spice on the nose seguing into a balanced and silky finish with just the right touch of pepper and licorice. Alcohol: 14% The last wine I tasted was the 2012 Perla Negra, “a selection of grapes from the oldest and best musts of the domaine.” The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carménère, 20% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine has heady aromas of berries, spice and herbs. The palate offers a rich array of ripe berries, spices and a hint of cocoa. Tannins were chewy, and needs time to open. This wine is a gem. Alcohol: 14% I have more Chilean winemakers to talk about and will do so over the next few weeks.
Happy Weekend! Cheers! Penina  Who ever said that Sunday is “a day of rest” was certainly not walking in my shoes yesterday! It was a beautiful day, but a busy one. My postings have been a little sporadic over the last few days and I confess that there is too much going on right now to elaborate. However, I did attend a wine tasting at a local wine shop on Saturday.  Wine shops are gearing up for the summer season with wines that will pair well with outdoor barbecues, sunsets and balmy evenings.  One of the wines that I tasted was a 2013 Veramonte Reserva Chardonnay from Casablanca Valley in Chile. Priced at $8.00 +, you can’t go wrong with it. Citrus, apricot and a buttery feel greeted the palate. And, easy to drink with a nice finish. I’m looking forward to a fun evening, good food and catching up with friends.
Enjoy your Monday! Cheers! Penina  The blizzard fizzled out, but the winds are still whipping around.  I am working from home today and being productive. In between phone calls and paper work, I made pumpkin bread and started my knitting project.  I want to share my thoughts on the 2011 Antiyal Kuyen from the Maipo Valley of Chile that a friend and I shared. This is a beautiful blend of 57% Syrah, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Carmenere and 2% Petit Verdot. The grapes are organically grown and the blend is aged for one year in French oak barrels. Afterwards, it is bottled and aged for six more months. I reviewed the 2010 vintage about six months ago. The 2011 vintage did not disappoint. It had aromas of cherry, exotic fruit and spice that carried over to the palate, with additional flavors of cocoa, plum and a touch of licorice. The finish was long, with an added punch of berry flavors. I loved it!  I will show you my completed knitting project tomorrow! This will be a good night for a roaring fire and a bottle of red! Happy Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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