90
points
Calina 2001 Cabernet - Carmenere Red (Maule Valley)
-
$14
Carmenère has a rude, rough character to it, but the addition of 60% Cabernet fancies things up a lot. This is a fascinating wine. It’s big, rich and dense. Glycerin coats the glass, and the flavors stick to the palate. Yet the thick tannins are fine and complex. Like a fine Cabernet, with an undercurrent of tobacco.
— S.H.
(12/1/2002)
90
points
Calina 2000 Reserve Carmenère (Maule Valley)
-
$8
Carmenere is popular in Chile, less so in this country, although that's changing. This Cabernet-like wine is inky black, and opens with big gooey aromas of blackberry jam, dark honey, smoky vanilla and a rich earthiness. It tastes simply grand, with enormously extracted blackberry flavors, hugely rich and complicated, but bone dry. Try it with rich foods like…
— S.H.
(11/15/2001)
89
points
Calina 1999 Bravura Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley)
-
$50
Calina’s first attempt at a super Chilean is successful. The wine, a multiappellation blend, really pops in the mouth. The fruit is ripe and the power is there. However, for someone looking for a reserved red made in the Bordeaux style, something that Chile can deliver, this could come across as aggressive, as the acidity is a bit sharp.
— M.S.
(7/1/2003)
88
points
Calina 2007 Reserva Carmenère (Maule Valley)
-
$9
Dark plum, herb and charcoal aromas give this Carmenère a very sound bouquet. The palate is ripe and smooth, and when you take in the fact that it costs but $9, the value factor skyrockets. With pure berry fruit, a smack of fresh herbs and even a hint of silk to the feel, this wine overdelivers.
— M.S.
(9/1/2008)