Medium ruby colored with a purple meniscus, and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of bell pepper, black raspberry, blackcurrant, licorice, violet, perfume, loam, and brambleberry.  It’s quite a green nose but intriguing and layered.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavor intensity is medium and mimics the fruit of the nose but with less green pepper, not as vegetal.  Violets and perfume with some earthy loam round out the flavors.  The finish is very interesting- almost sweet with ripe black fruit intertwined with some earthy and floral elements that run medium length.  I like this wine, it has complexity and balance and it’s interesting.  91 points at least and for $13, it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

We took the whole gang to Fogo de Chao for dinner last night.  It’s the same list that I discovered Vina VIK Mila Cala and fell in love with this Chilean winery.  Apparently the O Leão is produced primarily for this particular restaurant chain and is hard to find elsewhere.  If you have ever had any of their wines they follow a profile…. the most obvious being fine-grained tannins and a silky smooth mouthfeel.  This particular version is 49% Carmenere with 29% Cab Sav, 17% Syrah and the balance Cab Franc.  It has a dense ruby color bordering on garnet with medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  Bright black fruit, baking spice, a hint of green pepper, cassis, and some red berries on the nose and palate.  It’s dry with medium acidity plus their trademark medium (+) tannins that are polished to a shine.  The finish of this medium to full-bodied wine is long and caressing.  It was delicious with our carnivorous extravaganza as the structure held up to hearty red meat yet was gentle enough for the lighter fare we gorged on.  I’m guessing a $27 retail price if you can find it.  I would drink this 92 point wine till 2027.  5 Stars.  Salut….

I’m re-visiting this varietal as it intrigues me.  Back in the day I had some great Carmenere’s but recently had the misfortune of trying one that was over-the-top vegetal.  I really despised it and could not bring myself to drink any for quite a while.  This one is quite opaque in the glass and purple in color.  The nose has got some creosote, cooked black plum, iron, graphite, blackberry and cracked pepper.  The palate is a touch thin but I get black fruit and earthy minerality along with the tar-like flavors I got on the nose.  It is very smooth with low to medium tannins and medium acidity on the back end.  The wine would be classified as light weight in body even though it sports 14.5% ABV.  The finish is medium in length and I get more of that black pepper component along with some espresso notes.  It’s a decent drop that gets 87 points from me.  I would drink until 2024 with grilled meats and chimichurri sauce for sure.  At under $10 it’s easy to stock up on this 3 star wine.  Salut….