Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Carmen — Gran Reserva Single Vineyard Carménère 2024
Colchagua Valley, Chile 🇨🇱

Overview:
100% Carménère. A step up in precision and refinement, labeled as Single Vineyard. This vintage elevates the style with greater clarity, structure, and a more polished finish.

Aromas & Flavors:
Ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark plum, layered with baking spices, cocoa, and tobacco. Subtle herbal tones remain present but better integrated, adding complexity without dominating.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied yet more defined and structured than the 2022. Silky tannins, excellent balance, and a longer, more refined finish that lingers with elegance.

Food Pairings:
Grilled steak, braised short ribs, roasted eggplant, or aged cheeses. Handles richer dishes effortlessly.

Verdict:
The standout of the two. More composed, more complete, and more refined, this vintage shows the next level of Carménère with finesse and depth.

Did You Know?
Chile holds the largest plantings of Carménère in the world today, transforming what was once a nearly extinct Bordeaux grape into a national icon.

🍷 Personal Pick:
2024 takes the crown, better structure, cleaner finish, and overall a more elevated expression. Cheers!
— 5 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Carmen – Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserva 2025
Casablanca Valley – Chile 🇨🇱

Overview
A refreshing and youthful 100% Sauvignon Blanc from one of Chile’s premier cool-climate regions. Casablanca Valley is known for its coastal influence and ocean breezes that give whites their piercing freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Classic grassy notes, an abundance of passion fruit, and a sharp lemon peel zest that lingers persistently. Bright and aromatic with a clean edge.

Mouthfeel
Crisp, zesty, and linear in structure. The acidity is razor-sharp, carrying the citrus and tropical fruit flavors through a refreshing finish.

Food Pairings
Perfect alongside ceviche, sushi, goat cheese salads, or even grilled asparagus.

Verdict
A vibrant Sauvignon Blanc that screams coastal freshness—youthful, sharp, and highly refreshing.

Did You Know?
Casablanca Valley is one of Chile’s first coastal appellations to gain worldwide recognition, pioneering cool-climate winemaking in the country in the 1980s. — 6 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Delicious. No malo. Step up from the entry level. — 2 years ago

Hamilton Schwartz

9.0

Passover 26 — 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Carmen — Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, D.O. Maipo Valley, Chile 🇨🇱

Overview
A simple, casual, easygoing Cabernet built for everyday drinking rather than contemplation. Lightly spicy with juicy red and black fruit, soft structure, and friendly tannins, more “Netflix couch wine” than cellar trophy.

Aromas & Flavors
Black currant, red cherry, plum, mild peppery spice, touch of cocoa and gentle oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, smooth and approachable, modest tannins, easy finish with no hard edges.

Food Pairings
Burgers, weeknight pasta, roast chicken, tacos, pizza night, or honestly… takeout + sofa.

Verdict
Straightforward and pleasant. Lacks complexity or depth, but delivers exactly what it promises: a relaxed, no-thinking-required pour. Good value, low stress, easy company.

🍷 Did You Know?
Carmen is one of Chile’s historic wineries (founded 1850) and was instrumental in rediscovering Carménère as a distinct variety after it was long mistaken for Merlot.

Personal Pick
Not a study wine, a “second glass without noticing” wine. Perfect for unwinding when the day’s over and the brain is off duty. — 2 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.3

A beauty. What Bob McDonald said about this wine is spot on! — 2 years ago

David Miska

9.0

Nice table wine — 3 days ago

Ericsson

9.6

Petrus Night at Teodoro in Playa del Carmen. Bold with evolving character and depth. — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Bright medium ruby with medium wide violet pink rim . This is quite exuberantly fruited on the nose at first , with plum , dark cherry , violets then some dry spices, anis, with some slightly toasty , earthy hints after a while . On the palate this is velvety in texture , medium bodied with red plum , dark cherry , ripe blackberry , with a discreet dried spice note . Balanced alcohol , ripe but lightly grippy tannins , and good freshness . Medium length , with cherry , anis and toasty , earthy notes on the finish. Youthful but certainly enjoyable now and , I would imagine , over the next 5-10 years. — 8 months ago

Angel Free

9.6

Very good wine - would def drink again — 2 years ago