WINE OF THE WEEK #010
Woot, we made it already to number 10!
And it’s a good one
CLOS CENTENAIRE, 2007, Maule Valley, CHILE
Blend : 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 20% Carmenere and 10% Cabernet Franc on volcanic soils and aged for 12 months in French & American oak.
Some info from their website :
Las Casas estate:
Located on the way to Constitución, approximately 15km southwest of San Javier , at latitude 35°36 ’ 12.20 ° S and 71°48 ’ 14.15 ° W, and 115m above sea level.
Vineyards: Our Las Casas estate has its organic certification, by the Swiss Company IMO, our first organic Harvest was on January 2009. We have 101 hectares, of which 50 are planted with Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Carmenere grapes. The grapevines are between 10 and 30 years of age. This estate is home to a drought resistant native esclerofil forest, which grows in the glens and by the streams around the Coastal Mountains.
Soil: The soil type is Melozal series, of granitic origin (rock which has eroded over the millennia), the surface layer is sandy clay loam and below, dark coffee coloured sandy loam, with a moderate depth of 90cm.
Climate: This region has a Mediterranean Climate with a dry season lasting 4 to 5 months; winters are very cool and wet with an average annual rainfall of 720mm (28,3 in).
During the ripening period from January to February, the minimum temperature is approximately 12°C (54°F), with maximums reaching 33°C (91°F). These temperature differences between daytime and nighttime provide excellent conditions for the development of aromas and color, especially in the red varieties.
Here are my tasting notes :
Appearance
An elegant red, very classic.
Nose
The nose is very fresh and clean. Biggest notes are strawberry, violets and fig. Secondary notes of vanilla and those oily peppadews. (That’s where carmenère kicks in)
Taste
Delicious, round, elegant, soft tannins and good acidity. Alcohol is really well covered (13,5%).
Almost no mid-palate which bothers me a bit.
Finish
Licorice, coffee & chocolate, and something green/bitter. I really like the finish.
This wine is a superb value for €8 ! But I cannot give it a gold medal because of the lack of mid-palate. Otherwise I wouldn’t doubt a second.
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