Variety: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon; 3% Syrah; 2% Malbec; 2% Cabernet Franc; 1% Petit Verdot; 1% Petit Syrah
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Cost: $11 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes:Â
Bright, dark plum color with aromas of appealing ripe cherries, black currant, and dark plums with a touch of vanilla and toasted oak. In the mouth there are hints of plums and cherries with a generous touch of toasted American oak. Pairs with hearty cuisine, such as roasts, stews, and pasta dishes.
My Review:
Monday was the first Presidential debate (not getting into politics on here), and regardless of which candidate you support, I think we can all agree that alcohol was called for. So, with dinner cooking and the TV on, my wife and I opened up a bottle of 2015 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon that I’d recently received.
In the glass the wine was a nice dark reddish-purple, and on the nose I picked up notes of ripe cherry and plums. In the mouth the wine was medium-bodied, though I’d call it on the heavier side of medium, and showed flavors of cherry most prominently, with some of the toasted oak coming through on the finish as the wine opened up.
We paired the wine with a dinner of cheeses, hard salami, crackers, and pickled okra (our own little charcuterie), but I’d definitely like to try this with some kind of stew or pasta dish as we (finally) move into the cooler months – something with a bit of juiciness to it to balance some of the tarter cherry notes that showed.
As for pairing it with the debate? I mean it was wine – just about any option would have paired well with the debate.
I’ve tried several vintages of this wine over year years, and always find it to be a good value. While it’s not revolutionary or life altering, on a Monday night after a long drive (we’d spent the weekend in Charleston), it was a nice bottle to open and enjoy without having to give too much thought to it. Enjoyable without being ponderous, and a good option at $11.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.
