Casillero del Diablo Reds

Samples of Casillero del Diablo? Yes, please! And they didn't disappoint - we tasted 4 reds, and all were really tasty wines, good for both sipping and complementing dinners.

A simple pizza and this Cabernet Sauvignon made for a dynamic pairing -- dark cherry and earth flavors, moving into a lingering cocoa finish were good foils for the tomato sauce's acidity and the green flavors of the broccoli.

Maybe my favorite of the reds (hard to choose), this 2011 Reserva Carmenere was earthy plum on the nose, cocoa, plum and bright berry flavors with a black pepper bite, nicely balanced, and smooth finish to add to the luxurious mouthfeel.

The Casillero del Diablo Merlot was a deep, dark ruby red, with green pepper and dark plum flavors, a surprising bit of a zing towards the end, then into a nice long finish.

The 2012 Pinot Noir has a darkish ruby red color, muskmelon (a bit offputting at first) and red cherry scents, earthy tart dark cherry flavor, with a smooth finish. From the original musky aroma, we weren't sure we'd like this wine, but it opened up beautifully.

Retailing around $10, these wines tasted far above that price, a great Quality Price Ratio!

Disclaimer: I received these wines for tasting purposes -- all opinions are my own.

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Casillero del Diablo

"The beautiful vineyards of Casillero del Diablo are home to some of the finest wines in the world. But few outsiders know the dark secret that lies beneath them. For the locals say that in the depths of the cellar lives the Devil himself. A tale so infamous, they named the wine Casillero del Diablo, the Devil’s Cellar."

I'm a big fan of Concha y Toro wines; their Gran Reserva Serie Riberas were some of my favorites I've tasted in the last six months or so, sorry to see them leave our "cellar." When I was offered a chance to get some tasting samples of their Casillero del Diablo line, I didn't hesitate.

Founded in 1883, Concha y Toro's aim is to be a leading global branded wine company, with a portfolio of wines and wine partnerships. A successful history of nearly 130 years, plus a deep dedication by the winery and constant research, provides internationally praised wines from a diversity of soils and climates. The Wine Tourist Center of Concha y Toro is the principal winemaking attraction of Santiago. It’s located in Pirque in the Maipo Valley, so a visit there one day surely is on order.

Wine tasting notes to follow.

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WBC13 = New Business Cards!

Nothing like a Wine Bloggers Conference to impel me towards professionalism (not that it's ever going to happen). First order of business, business cards! Love going on the websites and just playing around with the designs. It just so happens that Vistaprint is having a sale on their "Premium" business cards (much like rug stores, business card websites are always seemingly having going out of business sales). I've designed a card once before for the blog, but it's somewhat flowery and fey and hard to read, not the image I want to project. Today I found a nice simple design (as seen above) that gave me a nice, simple, clean design, with neutralish colors and a clear indication that I'm all about wine. Not only will I no longer be embarrassed at wine tastings and restaurant reviews to pass over my business card, but even more so at WBC13!

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JL Quinson Rosé

Rosé for Mother's Day: 2012 JL Quinson Côtes de Provence - nice floral aromatics, citrus and stone fruit taste, good tart acidity, good with food, a great value for the price.

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