The 2009 Riberas Cabernet Sauvignon (with 10% Carmenere in its makeup) was sourced from the Palo Santo Vineyard in Marchigue, Colchagua Valley. It spent 14 months in mostly seasoned French and American oak. It offers up an initially reticent nose of cedar, tobacco, spice box, violets, and black currant. This sets the stage for a wine with layered fruit, savory, spicy flavors, excellent volume, and a lengthy, pure finish. This excellent value can be approached now but will drink nicely for another 5-6 years. Cocha y Toro is the largest wine producer in Chile as the above list attests. Remarkably, they are also one of the quality leaders and innovators leading the country forward. The Gran Reserva Serie are wines made from a single vineyard meant to display a particular terroir. The Marques de Casa Concha wines are also sourced from single vineyards but exposed to more new oak and a longer elevage. Some of the finest wines produced in Chile, particularly from the Carmenere grape, are being bottled and sold under the Terrunyo label under the direction of veteran winemaker Ignacio Recabarren.Importer: Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY; tel. (516) 626-9200