I explained to you last August why I was showcasing a Chilean wine in my Central Coast wine blog: https://decantingmonterey.com/a-wine-from-chile-in-a-central-coast-wine-blog/ In February, we opened the Alchemy 2015 Syrah – and I thought it was terrific, as I did the 2017 Alchemy Carménère. So, here is another one!
About Cachapoal Valley: “The northern half of the great Rapel Valley has traditionally been known for its red wines, particularly Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, which account for approximately 80% of the region’s total production. The valley features diverse microclimates that produce a suitable environment for a wide array of wines, ranging from cold-climate varieties in the vineyards at higher altitudes in the foothills of the Andes, to varieties requiring warmer climates in the areas surrounding Lake Rapel along the coastal hills. Here in this valley, the gentle breezes from the Pacific Ocean and the clay soil create synergy to pave the way for one of the leading regions producing Carménère in the country.” https://www.winesofchile.org/en/chile-a-wine-producing-country/valleys-and-guarantee-of-origin/cachapoal/ A good map of Chilean wine growing regions can be found here: https://vineyards.com/wine-map/chile
2015 Alchemy Syrah, Cachapoal Valley, Chile, 14.1% ABV, $22 (Wine #651*)
About Alchemy and the 2015 Syrah (from the bottle): “Alchemy is a hand made creation of Winemaker Alphonse DeRose and friends. Inspired by a late night evening of music played by Chilean friends Juan Pablo and Omar, the three concocted a vision of only the best grapes being processed 100% by hand. Each berry is hand removed from every cluster one by one. The result is a robust wine with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and toast. Alchemy is only produced from exceptional years and has limited availability with only 100 cases produced!”
Additional Winemaker’s Notes: “Our Syrah is a 100% handmade wine, fermented with natural yeasts, has a 12-month age in French Oak. Unfiltered bottling.” (translated by Google Translate) https://www.movilatienda.cl/en/vinas/alchemy
My Review: Rich dark ruby in the glass. Intense red and black berries on the nose. Bold flavors on the palate – dark berries, rich and smooth with enough red currant tartness balanced by Chambord on the finish to keep it from being over the top. I really liked this wine. February 2022
You find more information on purchasing DeRose Winery and Alchemy wines here: https://derosewine.com/online-store/. You can also visit them daily at their winery in Hollister: 9970 Cienega Road. When we visited in 2019, Alphonse himself presented the wines.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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