Chilean wines are one of my “go to” choices when looking for exceptional value. And it’s not just for one type of wine. You can find really good reds and whites from Chile and given the broad range of wine regions within Chile, there are a number of different styles to be found too.
And within Chile, the Colchagua Valley region is one of my favorite regions for red wine—although most of what I’ve tasted has been carmenere, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. I haven’t had a lot of merlot from the region, so I was curious what this one would have to offer.
Within Colchagua Valley there are a few different zones. The grapes for Santa Carolina’s wines come from the Miraflores and Los Lingues estates at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The cool ocean breezes in this region result in a long ripening period, which some producers claim results in better wine.
The nose on this merlot is a bit angular. It shows some smokiness, oak, salami and cherry. It’s interesting, although not totally balanced. The palate offers raspberry, cherry and plum flavors with moderate intensity. While it has plenty of fruit flavors, it’s not a fruit bomb. It finishes with soft fruit and black tea flavors. It’s a bit on the earthy side, which some folks really like.
This is a good wine with unique character. And it hints at the potential of merlot from this region, but doesn’t fully realize that potential. I will look forward to future vintages of this one.
Wine: Santa Carolina Reserva
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $10.00
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Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.