Falernia Reserva Carmenère 2012

This wine comes from Chile's most northerly wine estate (keep in mind, 'northern' means warm in that hemisphere), which explains the sheer massiveness of this big, ripe, plush Carm with its aromas of warm earth, woodsmoke, charred meat and blackberry jelly. Ripe plum and dark cherry join the picture on the palate, which shows earthy undertones and ends with a smoky flourish. (VINTAGES panel, Dec. 2014)