Full Review

La Playa

La Playa
2022 Estate, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Carmenère

Date Tasted:
Country: Chile
Alcohol: 13% RS: .3%
Certified Sustainable
91 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$9
Best Buy

La Playa
2022 Estate, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Carmenère

Date Tasted:
Country: Chile
Alcohol: 13% RS: .3%
Ruby black color. Aromas and flavors of green pepper and sautéed spinach, pine boughs, pickled plums, and woody rosemary and thyme with a satiny, lively, dry medium body and a tingling, intriguing, medium-length finish manifesting impressions of roasted dates, black tea, black plum and leather, and pickling spices and green herbs with clunky tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A tangy and greener example of Carmenere that will make a delicious companion to grilled meats.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: green pepper and sautéed spinach, pine boughs, pickled plums, and woody rosemary and thyme
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with impressions of roasted dates, black tea, black plum and leather, and pickling spices and green herbs
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A tangy and greener example of Carmenere that will make a delicious companion to grilled meats.

The Importer

Cabernet Corporation

The Importer
285 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Suite K
Novato, CA 94949
USA
1 415-884-9000

Their Portfolio

88 Axel 2018 Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $17.00.
89 Axel 2019 Red Blend, Maule Valley 14.5% (Chile) $17.00.
88 Axel 2020 Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $17.00.
86 Axel 2022 Reserve, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 14.5% (Chile) $17.00.
BR Belasco De Baquedano 2020 Rosa De Argentina, Luján De Cuyo 14% (Argentina) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
90 Belasco De Baquedano 2021 Llama Bonarda-Malbec Blend, Luján De Cuyo 13.5% (Argentina) $13.00.
90 Belasco De Baquedano 2022 Rosa De Argentina, Malbec, Luján De Cuyo 14% (Argentina) $12.00.
89 Belasco De Baquedano 2021 Llama, Cabernet Franc, Luján De Cuyo 13.5% (Argentina) $13.00.
87 Belasco De Baquedano 2023 Llama Rosa, Malbec, Mendoza 14.5% (Argentina) $14.00.
87 Belasco De Baquedano 2023 Llama Rosado De, Malbec, Argentina 14.5% (Argentina) $17.00.
93 Berton Vineyards 2021 Metal Label, Cabernet Sauvignon, South-Eastern Australia 13.9% (Australia) $13.00.
89 Berton Vineyards 2021 Metal Label The Black, Shiraz, South-Eastern Australia 14.5% (Australia) $13.00.
95 Berton Vineyards 2022 Metal Label Flavored Moscato Frizzanté, Riverina 7.5% (Australia) $13.00.
91 Berton Vineyards 2021 Metal Label Rosé, Shiraz, Big Rivers 13% (Australia) $13.00.
88 Berton Vineyards 2021 Metal Label, Petite Sirah, Riverina 14% (Australia) $13.00.
92 Clark Estate 2023 Riverside Terrace, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 11.5% (New Zealand) $17.00.
BR Don Rodolfo NV Extra Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendoza 12% (Argentina) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Don Rodolfo NV Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine, Luján De Cuyo 12% (Argentina) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Don Rodolfo 2021 Art of the Andes, Malbec, Argentina 14.5% (Argentina) $12.00.
87 Don Rodolfo 2022 Art of the Andes, Pinot Noir, Argentina 13% (Argentina) $12.00.
85 Don Rodolfo 2023 Art of the Andes, Pinot Noir, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $12.00.
88 Hay Shed Hill 2021 Pitchfork Pink Rosé, Margaret River 12.5% (Australia) $19.00.
85 La Playa 2021 Estate Series Rose, Maule Valley 12.5% (Chile) $9.00.
85 La Playa 2021 Estate Series Un-Oaked, Chardonnay, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
87 La Playa 2019 Estate Series Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
90 La Playa 2021 Estate Series, Viognier, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
87 La Playa 2019 Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, Maule Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
85 La Playa 2019 Reserva, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00.
87 La Playa 2019 Reserva Claret Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $13.00.
88 La Playa 2021 Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00.
91 La Playa 2021 Estate Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
90 La Playa 2020 Estate Series, Merlot, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
87 La Playa 2022 Estate Series Un-Oaked, Chardonnay, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
89 La Playa 2020 Estate Series, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 12.5% (Chile) $9.00.
88 La Playa 2019 Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
88 La Playa 2022 Estate Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 13% (Chile) $13.00.
87 La Playa 2021 Reserva, Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00.
91 La Playa 2020 Reserva, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
92 La Playa 2020 Claret Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
BR La Playa 2021 Estate Series Dry Rosé, Maule Valley 12.5% (Chile) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
88 La Playa 2020 Estate Series Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
88 La Playa 2022 Estate Series Dry Rosé, Maule Valley 12.5% (Chile) $9.00.
88 La Playa 2023 Estate Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 13% (Chile) $9.00.
92 La Playa 2022 Estate Red Blend, Maule Valley 14% (Chile) $9.00.
85 La Playa 2022 Estate, Viognier, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
91 La Playa 2022 Estate, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
93 La Playa 2020 Reserva Claret Red Blend, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
85 La Playa 2022 Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, Maule Valley 14% (Chile) $13.00.
86 La Playa 2022 Estate Series, Viognier, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00.
88 La Playa 2022 Estate Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
87 La Playa 2023 Estate Series Un-Oaked, Chardonnay, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $9.00.
86 La Playa 2023 Estate Series, Viognier, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $10.00.
87 La Playa 2023 Estate Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $10.00.
85 La Playa 2023 Estate Series, Viognier, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $10.00.
94 Paxton 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale 13.5% (Australia) $19.00.
BR The Charmer 2021 Bourbon Barrel Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
88 The Charmer 2022 Reserve, Pinot Noir, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $13.00.
BR Vino De Eyzaguirre 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 12.5% (Chile) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2019 Syrah, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $11.00.
88 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2019 Merlot, Colchagua Valley 13% (Chile) $11.00.
86 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 13.5% (Chile) $11.00.
88 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2022 Merlot, Colchagua Valley 14.0% (Chile) $11.00.
87 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2022 Syrah, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $11.00.
86 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2022 Merlot, Colchagua Valley 14% (Chile) $11.00.
88 Vino De Eyzaguirre 2022 Syrah, Maule Valley 14% (Chile) $11.00.

Carmenere

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Carmenère is a red wine produced from the eponymous variety in Chile. It was originally thought to be Merlot that was brought over from Bordeaux in the 19th century, but in the mid-1990s, research proved it was not Merlot, but indeed Carmenère, which had been thought of as extinct.

Top examples originate from the warm Maipo and Colchagua valleys in Chile; the wines are medium- to medium-full in body and offer red cherry fruit along with distinct pepper, tobacco and brown spice aromas and flavors. While early versions were rather bitter, recent examples have displayed great balance and refinement.

Enjoy Carmenère between three to seven years after the vintage date in most cases. The wines pair well with most red meats and are especially enjoyable with heartier fare, such as grilled meats and game.