William Cole Albamar Carmenere 2019
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Intense ruby color, black fruit on the nose with spices and black pepper. Silky and lengthy on the palate.
Pairs well with cheeses, stews and grilled meats.
Other Vintages
2018-
James
Suckling
William Cole winery is located deep within Chile’s prestigious Casablanca Valley, the area often referred to as “Chile’s Burgundy.” This cool climate vineyard near the coast is comprised of over 129 contiguous hectares and provides a long, warm growing season with cool nights to develop excellent fruit acidity. Owned by the Martin Weinstein family, the winery specializes in cool climate varieties, producing wines that are crisp, clean and complex. The winery’s primary line is Albamar, which pays homage to the Casablanca Valley’s foggy sunrise (“alba” means sunrise) and the cooling breezes of the ocean (“mar” means ocean).
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-19th century. However, the variety went a bit undercover until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Somm Secret— Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
A region that has become synonymous with some of the best whites of Chile, the Casablanca Valley is full of dozens of bodegas who either grow fruit here or come from outside to source from local growers for their own white wine programs. The valley runs from east to west, which means that its westernmost vineyards receive the most cooling influence from the reliable afternoon sea breezes. The soils also tend to be heavier in clay in the west, whereas the eastern end of the valley is warmer and its soils are predominantly granitic. Sauvignon blanc thrives here, Chardonnay does well and Pinot noir is not uncommon.