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Casas del Bosque Tasting - Sept 2016

Jennifer Havers

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Casas del Bosque Pequenas Producciones Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Casablanca Valley, Chile: Great freshness on the nose of this Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Small production this vintage of just 500 cases. Voluptuous and food-friendly. No fruity-tuity wine, as winemaker Grant Phelps likes to say. More saline, smoke and grapefruit. Pair with seafood. Drink: 2015-2017. 13% D 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 93/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review
Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Casablanca Valley, Chile: A spirited and energizing Chilean Sauvignon Blanc with lots of texture and mouth-feel. Aromas and flavours of grapefruit pips that make you hungry and thirsty for more wine. More citrus than herbal. Tannins and structure come from the grapes not seeds (which are bitter and are kept tamed by 5 degree maceration). This wine undergoes 100% skin contact for 7 days to get its rich texture. Pair with rich seafood dishes. Drink: 2016-2018. 974717  13% D 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 92/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review
Casas del Bosque Pequenas Producciones Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Casablanca Valley, Chile: A terrific and vibrant cool-climate Chilean Sauvignon Blanc sourced from two grape clones planted on hillsides in decomposed granite soils that are 110 million years old. There's also a thin layer of red volcanic clay. Pair with shellfish. Drink: 2014-2017. 13% D 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 92/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review
Casas del Bosque Pequenas Producciones Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Casablanca Valley, Chile: This zesty Chilean Sauvignon is made from grapes grown on 10-year-old vines planted on hillsides within the Cantera sector of the winery's vineyard. Cropped for low yields at just 2.6 tons per acre. Pair with seafood. Drink: 2013-2016. 13% D 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 91/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review
Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2013, Casablanca Valley, Chile: A rich, luxurious Chilean Pinot Noir with aromas of dark plum and spice. The 2013 vintage was the coldest one on record for the Casablanca region in 120 years. Contrary to what you might expect, the alcohol level in this wine is 14.7%, usually the result of a warm vintage. However, in cool vintages, Grant Phelps, the winemaker, waits for full physiological ripening in the grapes and as a result, grape sugars build with longer hang time and convert at higher levels of alcohol. That said, this wine has great freshness and there's not a hint of alcoholic warmth. Pair with grilled lamb. Drink: 2016-2021. 525022 14% XD 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 93/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated Red Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review
Casas del Bosque Reserva Carmenère 2015, Rapel Valley, Chile: A rich, full-bodied Chilean red wine made from the country's signature red wine grape Carmenere. Aromas of dark fruit and smoke. Made from grapes grown in the Rapel Valley that are hand-harvested in May. The grapes were crushed and de-stemmed in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months. Pair with roast beef. Tremendous value. Drink: 2015-2019. 205872 13.50% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. August 19, 2017 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

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