With spicy aromas of kirsch and dark plum accented by cedar and tobacco, this blend of Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot is a whopper. In the mouth, it’s thick and syrupy, with chewy tannins and bold flavors of baked berry and chocolate. On the finish, brown sugar and coconut enter the frame. This is ultraripe and aggressive, but it honestly…
— M.S.
(6/1/2013)
La Rosa’s first-ever prestige wine is a burly blend of Cab Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah and Cab Franc. There’s a deep color to it, with coconut, mint and pencil shaving aromas giving way to sweet, chocolaty, dark-fruit flavors. The 30% Carmenère in the blend is evident in the herbal, leathery notes on the finish.
— M.S.
(3/1/2008)
Big, roasted and concentrated, with mocha, black fruit and cola on the nose. The palate is chewy but right for the variety, and the flavors are sweet, pure and tilt toward black plum and blackberry. Chocolaty on the finish, with density and meatiness. A good vehicle for getting to know Carmenère.
— M.S.
(9/1/2010)
Only 300 cases of this blend were made, and it’s a jammy wine with plenty of wood, leather and blackberry notes on the nose. It feels thick and borderline syrupy, with tastes of baked black fruits, prunes and molasses. Toasty and black in flavor on the finish, with chocolaty-oak notes. Drink now.
— M.S.
(9/1/2012)
Ripe and rich, with a lot of dark fruit on the nose. The palate is a bit more snappy than the bouquet as it deals upright black cherry flavors resting on a bed of detectable acidity. There’s ample oak late in the game, but the fruit and overall quality of the wine can handle it. This is one of La Rosa’s better efforts in recent years.
— M.S.
(3/1/2007)
Dark, deep and layered on the bouquet, with spice, black fruit aromas and an acceptable level of herbs that don’t suggest green in any way. Lush and cushioned in the mouth, with chewy flavors of herbal blackberry, tobacco and savory broth. Finishes big and chocolaty, with smoke and spice.
— M.S.
(9/1/2011)
A step up from previous years. It’s ripe and minty on the nose, with coconutty oak but also offsetting raspberry and plum aromas. Forward and full, with berry and plum flavors that handle ample toast and mint accents. Spicy, dry, peppery and long on the finish.
— M.S.
(12/1/2011)
Dense and lightly herbal on the nose, with hints of cinnamon, cassis, blackberry and tobacco. It feels powerful but not heavy or clumsy, with flavors of cassis, blackberry and chocolate. As the wine turns more concentrated and syrupy, this shows a candied character on the finish. This is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah.
— M.S.
(9/1/2012)