2013 TH Rarities Garnacha Carinena Monastrell
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Tasting notes
From Cauquenes in the Maule region; aged a year in barriques and a further year in foudres. Cariñena seems to dominate the nose. This is pretty wild and gamey with some elderberry flavour and lots of acidity. I think you could probably find better value – and a less-forced wine – in the Languedoc. (JR)
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Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
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I tasted a new version of the Mediterranean red blend, the 2013 TH Rarities Garnacha-Cariñena-Monastrell from an almost experimental range of unusual wines. This is a selection of ten barrels of wine from a granitic slope in the Cauquenes zone of Maule from the varieties regrafted on old País vines from the 1940s. It's approximately 60% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 15% Monastrell, and it matured in second use 400- and 500-liter oak barrels and a further ten months in oak foudres. It has a lovely, perfumed and open nose. It follows the line shown by the initial 2011 vintage, with contained ripeness and especially a long, vertical mouthfeel but with enough body and volume, coming through as an elegant, characterful Mediterranean red. The Chilean cousin of Clos Mogador from Priorat with a Cauquenes accent. 3,994 bottles were filled in July 2015.
60% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena, 15% Monastrell. Potent red fruit, a little stinky sulphur aroma too. Sweet fruit. Simple, light, very savoury finish. Good gluggable stuff and has a leathery note that would be good with a simple rustic lunch. (RH)