PALO ALTO RESERVA - 2005

I am thrilled to write about this red wine from Chile. I bought it on a whim this week and ended up going back to buy four additional bottles. Made from 65% Cabernet, 25% Carmenere and 10% Syrah. These are the best grapes from Concha Y Toro that are grown in the soils and climate of the Maule Valley.

TASTING NOTES:

Vivid purple-red color with a huge nose of creamy vanilla oak and candied fruit. Smooth, fine tannins with astoundingly vibrant, ripe red berries, black cherry, sweet tobacco, a slight hint of black pepper and a sweet vanilla finish that keeps going and going. Wonderfully balanced.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

93 PTS
I adore this wine. It has New World sweet red fruit with aromas that explode in the glass and flavors that burst in the mouth followed by Old World Bordeaux-like finesse. The creamy vanilla nose and finish reminds me of a great California Cabernet. This is a phenomenal effort that retails for a mere $15 a bottle. Enormous QPR. This is perhaps my best find of the entire year. An absolute must buy!