Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A balanced, fresh-tasting red, with a sense of power to the focused flavors of dark cherry, hot stone, smoke and spice. Shows good complexity, with plenty of ripeness and a lingering finish of dark chocolate and anise. Drink now through 2018. 2,000 cases made
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Have you ever wished for the best of all worlds? Well, you are in luck for the 2011 Koyle Royale Carmenere does it all. The wine stays true to the varietal and finds the balance point where the classic old style meets the New World boldness. Medium to dark ruby color; attractive red fruit aroma, with some dried savory notes, excellent depth; medium to full bodied, textured on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balance; ripe red currant flavors, pleasing; medium finish. (Tasted: November 23, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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.