POV 1 - Outside the Bottle: What makes this carmenére special? From outside the bottle it's difficult to say. An opaque glass weighty enough to give an impression of 'quality'. A stylish tapered label tells a brief outline of Valle de Elqui, the most northern Valley of Chile offering long dry (arid) summers where day and night breezes often stress the vines. Accordingly all grapes used were planted in a single vineyard with consistent soil with planned drainage. Grapes were allowed to dry on the vine for an appassimento style producing density and richness and perhaps encouraging fresh and fruity, ripe and bold - even warm and penetrating. I'll guess it's pleasing to sip with a long penetrating smoke plush with dark chocolate. Ready for several years cellaring achieving a smoother companion for grilled and savoury beef or game.
POV 2 - Inside the Bottle: I, as a consumer, now have to decide whether to purchase this red based on the anticipation of PVO 1. If I'm fortunate to have read a critics opinion and if that critic has a taste similar to mine I may luck out.
FALERNIA RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2013, Valle de Elqui , Chile, 15% D 14g/L, #269175 $19.95 (Tasted April 16, 2016)
My Tasting notes: From the bottle this red has a mild cranberry edged with a light rhubarb. The colour is a rich ruby opaque to view and a swirl lays a fine film crinkled at the rim then receding quickly. Smooth on the lips with cherry aromas and a light tang. A soft ripeness suggests silky vanilla and a very warm swallow fades quickly leaving only the fruit and soft reminder. A pleasing sipper that earns a quaff at times. A medium-bodied companion to lamb, beef or duck. Three years cellared and a few more to go before this starts its decline possibly losing some of its brightness /freshness. A flexible house red and no need to aerate.
Rating: B50 C5 N12 F&F16 P2 T5 90
Value 1
(see side panel for more details)
96-100 Extraordinary
90 - 95 Outstanding
86 - 89 Interesting to Excellent
80 - 85 Drinkable to Enjoyable
70 - 79 Uninteresting to Simple
60 - 69 Unpleasant
50 - 59 Unacceptable
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