Concha y Toro (Chile) Reserva Privada 2005
I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of this wine just after Christmas when I had dinner with winemaker Marcello Papa. Since then, I have awaited it coming to the UK, which it now has, and the good news is that it is also on introductory offer until September 9th, reduced from 8.99 to 6.99. A blend of selected grapes (65% Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo with 35% Syrah from Rapel), it is aged 14 months in French oak barrels. It has beautifully leafy, cassis fruit, with complex nuances of herbs, smoke and black tea, and a little liquoricy note. On the palate it has real life about it, with refined but delicious blackcurrant fruit sweetness, backed up by the fragrant smokiness of the oak. The tannins are very refined and chocolaty, and the wine has good balance. Around 45,000 cases have been produced (as opposed to two million cases of Casillero del Diablo for example). 8.99, Morrisons, but on offer at 6.99 until September 9th 2007.
