Root:1 Carménère 2009

Reunited and it feels so good. After months of being in storage and packed up in boxes I finally have access to all of my stuff! Now comes the daunting task of finding a place for all that stuff. I think George Carlin put it best when he said “That’s the whole meaning of life isn’t it, trying to find a place for your stuff.” Well, I know that’s what my life meaning will be for the next several weeks.

While getting reacquainted with my stuff, I’m getting accustomed to the sounds of rural country life. Roosters crowing and cows mooing intermingle with the birds in the trees and the dogs barking in the distance. Rural life, getting back to man’s roots I guess you could say. Seems like a good intro into my latest wine, Root:1 Carménère  2009.

Intense red fruit aromas of cherry & blackberry and spicy notes. Full to medium bodied with woodsy red berries and just a hint of smoke in the finish. Perfect balance of smooth tannins and residual sugar. It’s dry but not mouth puckering. A really a lovely wine to sip while sitting in our rocking chairs on our front porch. You can find this at most retailers for around $12.99. Picked this one up at the local Kroger store.

Rooted in Chili (pun intended) Root:1 the Original Ungrafted takes pride in their unique wine region. Geographic and climate conditions create an environment resistant to Phylloxera which  forced so many wine makers in other countries to graft their vines to generic rootstocks. Root:1 roots are grown on original ungrafted roots, allowing all the surrounding flavors to absorb through the roots and shine through in the wines.

The Carménère vineyards are located between the Andes Mountains and the coastal mountains on the Pacific. The steep and rocky slopes consisting of sand and clay help retain moisture during the warm days and the ocean breezes provide for cooling during the night.

Originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, the Carménère grape, was thought to be extinct and was only rediscovered in Chile in 1994. The name "Carménère" originates from the French word for crimson (carmin) referring to the crimson color of the autumn foliage. Now rarely found in France, Chili is the largest producer of the Carménère variety with more than 8,800 hectares cultivated in the Central Valley. Carménère is considered part of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, France and is referred to as the “lost grape of Bordeaux”.   

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

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Castillo de Molina 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva

Hope you’re not getting tired of the Chilean wines yet. With such a large selection now available, I’ll try to keep it interesting. I picked up a bottle of Castillo de Molina’s 2007 Cabernet during a recent Bottle Rack visit for $8.99.

The nose presents vanilla, peppery spices and oak along with a high alcohol smell. Flavors are fruity with strong tannins and it takes my palate a few sips to adjust to the dryness. Tastes of cassis and smoky oak with a very long and dry finish. It seems most of the inexpensive wines tend to be on the sweeter side, although I do not prefer overly sweet wines, my palate takes some time to get accustomed to this full bodied tannin structure.

Castillo de Molina is produced by Viña San Pedro founded in 1865 by the Correa-Albano brothers Chile’s Curicó Valley. San Pedro with their 1200 hectacres of vineyards is Chile’s second largest exporter of wines. The winery contracts with producers in seven of the country’s viticultural region producing a number of different brands.

The wine is labeled as a "Reserva", what does this mean exactly? Generally there is no regulation on what defines a wine as Reserve but it’s generally accepted rule if a wine is labeled as “Reserva” the wine has undergone special aging techniques. For Castillo de Molina, the grapes are hand harvested picking only the best Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The wine then is treated to an extended maceration period that begins prior to and continues 2 or 3 weeks after fermentation. This allows the fruit to achieve a higher concentration of flavors.

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How will I help the country of Chile get back on their feet; I’m going to purchase more Chilean wine

In the wake of the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday, I asked myself how can I help. The answer was easy, buy, support and promote Chilean wine. Chile's wine industry was severely affected by the devastating earthquake that struck the southern part of the country early Saturday morning. Wineries in both the Curicó and Maule valleys were hard hit, and wineries to the north in Rapel and Maipo also reported damage. Many wineries report damage to equipment, tanks destroyed, millions of liters of wine spilled on the floor and bottles strewn everywhere.

In January I tasted 120 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon and it was divine. Later that month I picked up a bottle of 2006 Santa Rita Reserve Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon at my local BJ’s Wholesale Club. No better time to crack it open then now.

The color is a ruby red with aromas consisting of plums, blackberries, vanilla, oak and herbs. Flavors are complex, and well balanced. Hitting the palate first is the taste of cassis, oak and black pepper. Fantastic lingering finish makes me go back for sip after sip. Wine Spectator rated this wine with 89 points for Top 100 Best Buys of 2007 and 87 points for Great Values under $20 or less, not too shabby.

Santa Rita was founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernández Concha in the area of Alto Jahuel where the main winery is still located. He introduced French varieties and the most advanced winemaking techniques. In 1980, Grupo Claro acquired the Santa Rita property, introducing technological improvements and wine elaboration techniques unknown in Chile at that time. Checkout the Santa Rita Cares section on their website where you can nominate a hero in your life or support the troops.

Chile’s viticultural history dates back to the 16th century. In the mid 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced to the region. In the 1980’s, Chili experienced a winemaking resurgence due to the use of steel tank fermentation and oak barrel aging, low cost of labor, mostly disease free conditions and the mild climate that is described as a climate between California and France. All of these factors allowed the region to produce and ship inexpensive wines to the United States with the familiar Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay labels. The number of wineries has grown over time with just 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005 and is now the fourth largest exporter of wines to the United States.

Wine is a leading industry in the two regions around the epicenter, Maule and Bío-Bío, and wineries will be crucial to the area’s long-term economic recovery. The timing of the quake couldn’t have been worse as harvest is about to get underway, but with roads and bridges damaged, damaged facilities and no electrical power, it will be difficult for wineries to process grapes.

So do your part and go drink some Chilean wines, who knows when we’ll get a plentiful supply on store shelves again.
2010© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

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It’s time for some Chilean wine

Let me start by saying I really love Chilean wines and tonight’s wine choice, a 2008 120 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon, is no exception. The region’s long history of viticulture dates back to the 16th century. In the 1980’s stainless steel fermentation tanks were introduced along with the use of oak barrels for aging. This resurgence truly primed the region for both inexpensive and expensive great tasting wines.

The colors are a ruby red with hues of purple, aromas are full leather, currants and black pepper. Flavors are boasting of berries and a touch of spiciness. Good mouthfeel with smooth tannins and a nice oak flavor on the finish. This is one I’ll be picking up again.

Technical Details :

pH: 3.72

acidity: 3.19 g/l (exp. sulfuric acid)

alcohol: 13,9 % vol

residual sugar: 2.6 g/l

Santa Rita was founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernández Concha in the area of Alto Jahuel where the main winery is still located. He introduced French varieties, winemakers and the most advanced winemaking techniques. In 1980, Grupo Claro acquired the Santa Rita property, introducing technological improvements and wine elaboration techniques unknown in Chile at that time.

In the late 1980’s, Chili experienced a winemaking resurgence due to the low cost of labor, mostly disease free conditions and the mild climate. All of these factors allowed the region to produce and ship inexpensive wines to the United States with the familiar Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay labels. The number of wineries has grown over time with just 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005. Chile is now the fourth largest exporter of wines to the United States.
Next time you’re at your local wine store or any store with a decent wine selection, step away from the California wines (just for a little while anyway) and look for some of the great Chilean wines. I have many more at home just waiting to be opened, consumed and hopefully enjoyed.

I found this wine at ABC Fine Wine & Liquor for less than $9.99.

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Marnier family wines, hit me with your best shot

Throughout my months of tastings, there were some wines that were awful, some that were drinkable and fine for that night and then there are those that are added to my rotating wine repertoire. Tonight’s wine a 2007 Lapostolle Casa Cabernet Sauvignon from Rapel Valley, Chili, is definitely one I will be purchasing again.

The color is a deep decadent ruby red with aromas chock full of ripe plums, figs, vanilla and oak. Flavors are smooth with just a hint of dryness along with luscious raspberries createing a great long lasting finish.

Lapostolle is a joint venture between the Marnier-Lapostolle family from France and the Rabat family from Chile. That is the same Marnier family famous for the liqueur Grand Marnier. The Marnier-Lapostolle family was looking for a new venture when they discovered the Clos Apalta vineyard located in Colchagua, Rapel Valley. In the previous century, original French cuttings were on the vineyard and are still healthy and growing to this day, making this a Chilean wine with a French lineage.

Lapostolle makes wine under three other labels and operates and owns three vineyards producing around 200,000 cases a year. The Casa Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 5% Carmenere and 2% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are hand harvested in April then aged for seven months in oak barrels.


If I can find the other labels and they fall into my price range, I’ll be sure to let everyone know. I found this wine at a local wine store for $9.99.

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