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Okay, I am not patiently waiting for spring to arrive and I am quite tired of having to endure bone-chilling temperatures. So, I thought I would cheer myself up with a taste of some heartwarming wines from Marques de Casa Concha.  For those of you who are new to my blog, I have written many stories and reviews of the iconic wines of Concha y Toro located in Chile. For an in-depth look at their history, brands, vineyards, wines and winemakers, please click on the menu at right. Today, I’m keeping it short and sweet. Marques de Casa Concha is a renowned brand of Concha y Toro and is known for its fine collection of single vineyard varietals produced by noted winemaker Marcelo Papa. All Marques de Casa Concha grapes are hand harvested from single vineyards except for the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend from the Puente Alto Vineyard and Pirque Vineyard located close to the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Valley of Chile. The grapes for the Carmenere are sourced from the celebrated Peumo vineyard, located in the Cachapoal zone of Chile’s Rapel Valley.  The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean with a strong impact from the Andes Mountains creating extreme temperatures between night and day. The grapes experience a longer ripening period allowing for aromas that are more intense and concentrated. Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere 2016 is 100% Carmenere. Aging takes place in new and used French oak barrels for 18 months prior to release. The color is deep red, bordering on purple with aromas of dark cherry, cranberry, black raspberry and spice. Fresh acidity and round tannins add to the dark berries, plum, spice, pepper and vanilla on the palate. The wine is elegant and I am happy to sip it as an aperitif, but it will pair nicely with roasted meat, game, pasta and cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $25  Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is aged for 18 months in new and used French oak barrels and then aged for an additional month after bottling. The color is dark ruby with abundant aromas of cherry, plum, spice and dark berries that segue onto the palate. Lingering flavors of smoke, pepper and hints of vanilla give way to a lengthy finish. Silky tannins and concentrated flavors add to this expressive wine. Serve with hearty stews, meat, fish and hard cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $25  As always, Marques de Casa Concha wines never disappoint my palate!
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] It is oppressively hot and the added thunderstorms and relentless humidity have “dampened” many spirits of late. So, I invited a few friends over for some chilled wine and appetizers to lighten the mood.  My refrigerator is stocked with whites and rosés, but everyone was leaning towards the Chardonnays from South America.  Argentina and Chile are in the Southern Hemisphere, so their seasons are at opposite times of the year from the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, they are in full winter mode right now! Perhaps my guests were hoping to imbibe a touch of winter whilst sipping the wine. These wines are oaked and un-oaked Chardonnays offering different flavors and regional characteristics. Marques Casa Concha Chardonnay 2016 is 100% Chardonnay made from grapes harvested in the Quebrada Seca Vineyard, D.O. Limari, Limari Valley in Chile. Fermentation took place in oak vats and then the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The color is golden yellow with rich aromas of pear, baked apple, hints of flint and a touch of lemon. The palate offers a creamy texture with layers of pear, pineapple, minerality and flavors of vanilla and toast from the oak aging. This is a full-bodied, crisp wine with a long finish. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $22  For more information about Concha y Toro and their wines, please select and click from the menu at right. Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay 2018 is 100% certified Organic Chardonnay. The grapes are harvested in Tupungato, Alto Gualtallary at the foothills of the Andes in Argentina. This is an un-oaked Chardonnay that was fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 4 months in the bottle. The color is golden yellow with aromas of white flowers, melon, pineapple and hints of citrus. The palate offers pear, melon, tart green apple and a hint of vanilla and zest on the finish. This is a refreshing wine with lively acidity. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $13  For more information about Domaine Bousquet and their wines, please select and click from the menu at right. Both Chardonnays are great to serve as aperitifs or pair with light salads, seafood, light pasta, or fruit and cheese.
It is hard to believe that summer is more than halfway over. Let’s make the most of it before winter is upon us! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] If you have been following my blog for the past few years, then you know that I’m a fan of Chilean wine. And, I enjoy drinking the many noteworthy brands that Concha y Toro produces such as Don Melchor, Casillero del Diablo, Gran Reserva Serie Riberas and Marques de Casa Concha. Since Concha y Toro was founded in 1883, it has become Latin America’s leading wine producer, exporting to 147 countries worldwide. The company owns approximately 10,800 hectares of prime vineyards in Chile, Argentina and the United States.  In 1718, King Felipe V of Spain bestowed upon the Concha y Toro family the title of “Marques”. It was later on that the family moved to Chile and Don Melchor Concha y Toro founded the winery in 1883. As a tribute to the “Marques” title, the Marques de Casa Concha wines were created and launched in 1976.  The Marques Casa Concha grapes are handpicked from single vineyards, except for the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend from the Puente Alto Vineyard and Pirque Vineyard located close to the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Valley of Chile. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean with a strong impact from the Andes Mountains creating extreme temperatures between night and day. The grapes experience a longer ripening period allowing for aromas that are more intense and concentrated. Marcelo Papa, who is one of five lead winemakers at Concha y Toro, makes the Marques de Casa Concha wines.  The Marques de Casa Concha 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Syrah. It is a dark and inky red with lush aromas of dark fruit, plum, wood and spice. The palate offers layers of blackberry, dark plum, pomegranate and spices. The finish is long and peppery with black cherry lingering on the palate. The wine has a smooth texture and medium tannins and it will pair well with meat, game and hearty fish. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $25  While I’m on the subject of Concha y Toro, I had quite the treat the other evening. A friend, who is also a wine writer, opened a bottle of Concha y Toro 1985 Cabernet Blanc that had been hibernating in his cellar for many years. Although the back label stated that it was a “blush” color, it had clearly turned to a rich cognac tone due to oxidation. The cork was removed easily and intact. I was sure that the wine would be a “pour down the drain” bottle. However, we were both pleasantly surprised. Subtle aromas of perfume segued onto the palate. It had hints of vanilla and caramel with a port like quality to it. This 33-year-old vintage was quite drinkable!     Until next time!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected]  With an impending snowstorm on its way, my thoughts are turning to comfort food and red wines. Last month I made a big vat of vegetable bean soup, poured it into airtight pint sized gelato containers and stored them in the freezer. I do this with a lot of freezable recipes such as chili and stews. It’s a great way to store food and makes for an easy, no fuss meal. Just thaw as many containers as you need, then heat and serve! Several of my friends liked the idea so much, that they are doing the same thing. And the bonus is, you have an excuse to buy and enjoy gelato…just say that you’re running out of containers!  So, while the containers of soup are thawing, I’ll tell you about the wine I chose to pair with the soup.  Marques de Casa Concha is an outstanding brand of Concha y Toro and is known for its fine collection of single vineyard varietals produced by noted winemaker Marcelo Papa. The grapes for the 2014 Carmenere are sourced from the celebrated Peumo vineyard, located in the Cachapoal zone of Chile’s Rapel Valley. The Carmenere grape is a member of the Cabernet family and was originally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France. It is considered part of the original six grapes of Bordeaux. The name Carmenere comes from the French word crimson. The Carmenere grape was first imported to Chile in the 19th century which now has the largest area of planted Carmenere in the world. Today, Carmenere grows chiefly in the Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, and Maipo Province of Chile and produces the majority of Carmenere wines.  The Marques de Casa Concha 2014 Carmenere is a medium -bodied wine made with a blend of 88% Carmenere and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The color is an intense dark red with hints of light purple on the rim. The aromas of dark fruit, cherry, spice and a touch of floral are very inviting. The palate offers an amazing rush of black pepper that is immediately infused with layers of plum, dark fruit, essence of oak (from 16 months in French oak), dark chocolate and hints of vanilla and spice on the finish. Soft tannins, velvety mouthfeel and beautifully balanced, this is a wine that speaks. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $25 Although I paired this wine with a hearty soup, it would certainly complement meat, game and fish entrees such as tuna and swordfish. Try some Manchego or Brie cheese with this wine. Trust me, it’s an interesting combo!  My guest was happy that I saved some wine to serve with the soup!
Have a great Wine Wednesday! Cheers! Penina 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 |
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