William Cole Vineyards (Chile) Columbine Special Reserve Carmenere 2012
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William Cole winery is located deep within Chile’s prestigious Casablanca Valley, the area often referred to as “Chile’s Burgundy.” This cool climate vineyard near the coast is comprised of over 129 contiguous hectares and provides a long, warm growing season with cool nights to develop excellent fruit acidity. Owned by the Martin Weinstein family, the winery specializes in cool climate varieties, producing wines that are crisp, clean and complex. The winery’s primary line is Albamar, which pays homage to the Casablanca Valley’s foggy sunrise (“alba” means sunrise) and the cooling breezes of the ocean (“mar” means ocean).
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-19th century. However, the variety went a bit undercover until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Somm Secret— Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.