As we mentioned in another recent review, Chile isn’t really known for pinot noir.  But there have been a few Chilean pinots that we’ve tasted that have impressed us recently, like this one.

The William Cole Columbine Special Reserve pinot noir comes from the Casablanca Valley.  This area is generally known as a cool-climate region with a strong maritime influence, which makes it a good candidate for pinot noir.  But ironically, the Casablanca Valley isn’t really a valley.  It does have a valley at it’s center, which is where the bulk of vineyard plantings are located, but the region as a whole extends beyond what is technically “the valley” and into western coastal hills.  As such, there are a variety of micro-climates, altitudes, soils, etc that make this a diverse region.

As a side note, this William Cole from Chile should not be confused with the one from California.

Wow, just wow.  I wasn’t ready for the intensity on the nose of this pinot noir.  The aromas are incredible from this wine, with raspberry, cola, violets and a little bit of bacon fat making a beautiful bouquet.  On the palate a strawberry flavor stands out along with raspberry and a touch of spice.  The tannins are moderate and the acidity is good.  There’s a slight bitter note on the finish, which I would attribute to a touch too much oak, but overall this is a very nice pinot noir.

This wine would pair well with a simple marinara sauce on pasta.  A friend of mine started a recipe blog a couple years ago and did a great recipe for marinara sauce, but stopped updating his blog after only two recipes.  Nonetheless, I highly recommend his marinara recipe and encourage you to comment on his blog to get his ass in gear and post some more recipes.

Wine: William Cole Columbine Special Reserve
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.9%
Rating: 88
Price: $15.00

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.