A Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot

Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot

Over the years I have reviewed lots of Chilean reds including many in this $10 column. This is our second review of a wine from the Santa Carolina winery whose vineyards are located in the Rapel Valley. In case you don’t remember this valley stretches about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes mountains. The winery itself was founded in 1875 and a mere two years later they built wine cellars that are still in use. They take unprestigious Carmeniere red grape and make a $100 wine that merited a 92 from the prestigious Wine Spectator. I don’t know whether it’s the $100 or the Carmeniere grape that scares me more. Today’s companion wine is an Israeli Merlot at over twice the price of its Chilean cousin.

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Wine Reviewed
Santa Carolina Merlot D. O. Valle del Rapel 2012 12.5% alcohol about $9.

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Deep brick red colour; Rich, plumy, blackberry fruit aromas and flavors with notes of cedar, earth and spice; Dry medium-bodied with moderate tannins. Serving Suggestion : Beef and pepper stir fry; Roast beef; Lamb.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine displayed good power but it was short and slightly sweet and offered light tannins. When paired with crunchy coated Cuban-style peanuts the liquid’s sweetness remained while its acidity went soft. The meal’s centerpiece, a barbecued chicken leg, brought plums to the fore of my glass and the tannins increased. In the face of fried rice the Merlot weakened at first and I tasted some berries. Dessert was a square or two of Praline filled Bitter-Sweet Swiss chocolate, which rendered our Chilean friend upbeat, long, and dark.

This review of a Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot
continues on my web site at http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_sccm.php