Wow! This Pinot Noir from Chile is beautifully dark and seductive. A great value at $19.99.
This might be the only Chilean Pinot Noir I’ve ever seen. Chile certainly has no Pinot heritage, so I’m guessing this winery’s foray into Pinot is very recent. Perhaps inspired to capitalize on the Sideways Pinot boom or just to indulge the quirky passion of an individual winemaker.
I got this bottle from Garagiste in early 2009 for $19.99 – it’s worth nearly twice the price. (Drank it on Thanksgiving of the same year.)
The 2004 Casa Marin “Cartagena” Estate Grown Pinot Noir (Chile: San Antonio) is a wonderful hybrid of the Old and New Worlds. It leads with earth and funk like a Burgundy, but the middle palate and finish are thick and fruity, like a California Pinot. The texture tends toward the heavy side without heading into syrup. Even though it’s not overly viscous, this Cartagena Pinot has a brooding personality that is just wonderful. I wonder if that comes from the types of barrel they use, since there are hints of deep oak and even very faint smoke. This wine stands up well to air, asserting its distinctive dark characteristics over many hours.
A great find from Chile. I wish I had stocked up on this one. If you see other wines from this winery or other Pinots from this region, take the risk.
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