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I love the color of the 2010 pinot, it's this lovely shade of purple that you can see right through. To me the color conveys a sense of balanced intensity with a delicate nature. Very, very appealing to at least one of my senses, so naturally I couldn't want to see how this Santa Carolina did with the others.
The aromas coming out of the glass are beautiful, loads of ripe red berries with a streak of green herbs running through them. Some noticeable earthy notes that surprised me, not what I expect from Chile. Dried violet petals and a hint of warm oak round out a complex but restrained nose. If the wine tastes half as good as it smells, I'll consider it a winner.
After tasting through the 2010 Santa Carolina, I think it's a riper style than say something from France. I tasted some good, linear flavors of earth and bramble. Mixing in with that was a nice black fruit flavor, like black raspberries and plums. I thought I could even pick up the oak too, but it wasn't distracting at all. There's definitely some weight on the palate from the 14.5% alcohol level, I figured it could be about 1% less and the wine would still be delicious, just going in a slightly different direction. While some Chilean wines I've tasted can go the distance with age, the 2010 pinot is ready to go now and for the next year or two.
Robert Parker gave this one an 88 points and I'm inclined to agree, it's a B+ and a BUY recommendation. You can find it distributed in almost every state, I'd contact Carolina Wine Brands and ask them who sells it in your area. For a suggested retail of about $10, it beats many California pinots but doesn't quite stand up to something like the 2009 Parducci pinot noir. However, if you do prefer your pinot noir in a riper, rounder style, this is for you. Give it a shot.
This wine was received as a media sample for review purposes.
Beau Carufel
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