Featured Reviews




Concha y Toro in New Zealand

22 June,2012

Concha y Toro is one of the great wine brands in the world. In May of this year, Drinks International magazine reported the company the ‘World's Most Admired Wine Brand' for the second year running, as polled by leading wine authorities. The company is indeed venerable, being established in 1883, nearly 130 years ago by businessman and politician Don Melchor Concha y Toro. Concha y Toro is arguably the force that modernised the Chilean wine industry and introduced Chilean wine to the world. The ‘Don Melchor' wine was Chile's first super-premium wine, and the establishment of cooler vineyards led the country in fine and modern wine production. www.conchaytoro.com The wines are distributed in New Zealand by EuroVintage, and I review a selection from the available ranges. www.eurovintage.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW



Concha y Toro ‘Casillero del Diablo' ‘Reserva' Chardonnay 2011

Chardonnay from Chile

16.5+/20

Fruit from Casablanca and Limari Valley, 65% stainless-steel fermented with 35% in barrel to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 6-8 months. Bright, full, light golden-straw colour. Delicate, fine citrus fruit aromas are well-balanced by nutty, hop-like oak and minerally elements on the nose. Dry and medium-bodied, this is elegant in proportion with refined, subtle citrus fruit flavours. Bright and lively acidity enlivens the fruit and a little nutty oak and creaminess adds interest. This has a good palate line that has drive, leading to a crisp, dry finish with a good fruit and oak mix. This is a light, refreshing Chardonnay showing light oaking. Match with seafood over the next 2-3+ years. 16.5+/20 Jun 2012 RRP $15.99

Concha y Toro ‘Casillero del Diablo' ‘Reserva' Pinot Noir 2011

Pinot Noir from Chile

16/20

Fruit from Casablanca and Rapel fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine fully aged in French oak barrels for 8 months. Dark, deepish ruby-red colour, lighter on rim. Fresh aromas of dark cherries and raspberries intermingle with brackish herbal and stalky notes, revealing some confectionary whole berry characters along with smoke and toast-like reductive elements. Light weighted, this has attractive presence and mouthfeel, but with restrained, lightly sweet raspberry and strawberry fruit flavours. The tannin extraction is modest, but a subtle core and palate depth is present. This finishes with moderately sustained fruit flavours of red fruits. This is a light Pinot Noir with some vinosity and mouthfeel. Match with Middle Eastern cuisine over the next 3-4 years. 16.0/20 Jun 2012 RRP $15.99

Concha y Toro ‘Casillero del Diablo' ‘Reserva' Shiraz 2011

Syrah from Chile

17.5/20
Very full, dark, near saturated black-red colour with purple hues. Fresh ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit aromas feature on the bouquet, unfolding dark herb, game and spicy oak notes, along with black pepper. Medium-full bodied, spicy, dark raspberry and black pepper fruit flavours are interwoven with herbs and oak spices. The fruit has richness, enhanced by fresh acidity. Soft supple tannins are in support and provide a full, rounded mouthfeel and texture, and the flavours are sustained on the long finish, with pepper and oak elements lingering. This is a full, spicy and rich Shiraz to serve with hearty, grilled red meat dishes over the next 4-5+ years. Fruit from the Rapel Valley fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 8 months in American oak barrels. 17.5/20 Jun 2012 RRP $15.99

Concha y Toro ‘Casillero del Diablo' ‘Reserva' Merlot 2011

Merlot from Chile

16.5/20

Very full, very dark, near impenetrable black-red colour with purple hues. This has an elegant nose of ripe blackcurrant and black plum aromas, underlined by dark herbs, all up-front and openly expressed. Medium-full bodied, dense and concentrated, rich black fruits reveal some currant and pepper flavours, with herbal notes. The fruit is framed in good tannin extraction, with soft acidity lending soft textures and some plumpness. There is a good care that carries to a rounded finish with plums, spices and coffee-like oak. This full, soft, but dense and textured Merlot will match casseroles and slow-cooked meat. Fruit from the Rapel Valley, fermented to 13.5% alc., 60% aged 8 months in American oak barrels. 16.5/20 Jun 2012 RRP $15.99

Concha y Toro ‘Marques Casa Concha' Carmenere 2010

Other Red from Chile

18.5-/20

Full, near impenetrable black-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has a soft and full nose of dark plums and green olives, near ethereal and quite refined, with layers of floral fragrances with oak toast. Full-bodied, complex flavours of dark curranty fruit with layers of olives, dark herbs and pepper feature. Savoury spice elements emerge in the glass and fill the palate adding interest. The fruit is supported by very supple, fine-grained tannins that build, resulting in concentration and depth. The acidity is fresh and bright, and carry through to a zesty and sustained finish of dark plum fruit, oak toastiness and cedar. This is a fresh, lively Carmenere with classical supple structure and fine textures. Serve with roast lamb or beef over the next 5-7 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Peumo' vineyard in the Rappel Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 16 months in French oak barrels. 18.5-/20 Jun 2012 RRP $27.99

Concha y Toro ‘Marques Casa Concha' Merlot 2010

Merlot from Chile

18.5/20

Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Peumo' vineyard in the Rappel Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc, the wine aged 14 months in French oak barrels. Very full, saturated black-red colour. The nose is powerful and densely packed with layers of ripe, inky black plum and berry fruits with strong spicy oak in support. Full-bodied, rich and ripe fruit flavours are boldly expressed. Black plums and liquorice flavours are well-spiced by considerable oaking. The palate is seriously structured, with plenty of extract, the tannins very fine-grained and ripened. This has great drive and energy with underlying freshness and acidity which continues to a concentrated and very long lingering finish of oak spices, liquorice and earth. This is a very powerful and concentrated Merlot that is seasoned with strong oak. It will be a match with grilled and roasted red meats, or serve with hard cheeses over the next 8-10 years. 18.5/20 Jun 2012 RRP $27.99

Concha y Toro ‘Marques Casa Concha' Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile

18/20

Very full, saturated black-red colour with some garnet hues on edge. Soft, intense aromas of blackcurrant fruit, savoury herbs and olives show on bouquet with a little sappiness and resiny oak. Medium-full bodied, deep and concentrated blackcurranty fruit is complexed by a savoury herb note and a little oak resin. The palate is underlined by firmly defined tannins which provide real drive, but are sufficiently fine-grained to allow approachability. The brightness of the fruit expression is enhanced by brisk acidity, which features on the moderately sustained pure curranty finish. This is a classically structured Cabernet Sauvignon with the drive to develop over the next 6-8+ years. Match with herb-marinated, roasted red meats. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Puente Alto' vineyard in the Maipo Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 15 months in French oak barrels. 18.0/20 Jun 2012 RRP $27.99

Concha y Toro ‘Don Melchor' Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile

18.5+/20

The ‘flagship' wine of Concha y Toro, a single vineyard wine from the ‘Puente Alto' site in the Maipo Valley. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc hand-picked and fermented to 14.8% alc, the wine aged 15 months in French oak barrels. Very full, saturated black-red with some garnet hues on edge. The nose is softly full and densely packed with ripe, savoury blackcurrant fruit laced with a touch of dark herbs and game, all quite intricate and subtle in expression. Medium-full bodied, this is very tightly bound and concentrated with richly sweet blackcurrant fruit flavours forming a deep core. The tannin extraction is significant and provides an excellent, firm structure supporting the fruit. The tannins are very fine-grained, and along with balanced acidity, there is freshness and detail. The palate is near unctuous and builds in weight. Layers of fruit and some oak spice show on the long finish. This is a rich and seriously constructed Cabernet Sauvignon that will develop greater inter interest over the next 10-12+ years. Match with roast lamb or beef, or serve with hard cheeses. 18.5+/20 Jun 2012 RRP $99.99

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