Let's hang here in Chile for a while...

There's a lot of great wine here and one of my favorites hails from Concha Y Toro in the Central Valley. You might know this wine from it's sponsorship of Hell's Kitchen, the reality TV show featuring famous Chef Gordon Ramsay. Concha Y Toro is also the largest producer in South America with many lines of wines.

Casillero del Diablo, or The Devil's Cellar, was so named by the founder, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, to discourage theft, if the history is to be believed. The vineyard was established in 1883 when grapes from Bordeaux, France were brought to Chile. The first varietals were Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, and Carmenère.

The label is decidedly Spanish inspired. Red and black lettering on a pure white background, it emotes Old World in the New World.

A deep ruby red, this Cabernet Sauvignon begins with an intense plum with a slight vanilla aroma. It is one of the bolder noses that I have encountered. The taste begins big and maintains its intensity throughout the pour. Ripe plum, currants, and cherries on the palate, this is a medium bodied wine that soaks the senses in rich dark fruit flavors.

The reverse label states chocolate and mocha flavors that my pedestrian palate could not easily detect. It is the dark fruits that maintain the performance, and captivate the moment. It has a very long finish that is both enjoyable and satisfying. Perhaps it's the aging process in oak barrels that lends patience and perseverance to this Cabernet.

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is PERFECT with red meat or spicy fare. It is not a vintage to be held, but to be enjoyed now. I have a second bottle stowed away in my small collection for later this spring.

I'm offering this wine a full FOUR glasses out of five 🍷🍷🍷🍷.

Visit Concha Y Toro here: https://www.conchaytoro.com/?lang=en_us. This is a stellar website. The winery looks to have a terrific tour offering that I am considering for 2019.

Cheers!