TerraNoble Ca2 Costa Carmenere, 2018
TerraNoble Ca2 Costa Carmenere, 2018
- 75cl
- 14.7%
- Red Still
- Carménère
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2032
About TerraNoble Ca2 Costa Carmenere, 2018
This vibrant and expressive Carmenère comes from a single vineyard of TerraNoble's in Chile’s Colchagua Valley, where the grape thrives in the coastal region’s granitic soils. The result? A bold yet elegant red, packed with juicy red fruit flavours and structured by firm, velvety tannins.
On the palate, it’s rich and concentrated, bursting with ripe berry notes while maintaining a fresh, balanced character. A perfect match for all kinds of grilled meats.
Currently showing beautiful primary fruit character with well-integrated oak and tannins that suggest this wine is approaching its optimal drinking window. Over the next 2-3 years, we expect the blackcurrant fruit to develop more savoury complexity whilst the herbal elements become more prominent and sophisticated. The wine should maintain its freshness and structure until 2030, though the primary fruit intensity will gradually give way to more earthy, evolved flavours. Beyond 2032, it may begin to lose some of its vibrancy, making the next few years ideal for consumption.
What the critics say:
"A medium-to full-bodied red with aromas of blackcurrant, rose petal, chocolate, thyme and green chili. Firm, fine tannins and fresh acidity with a concentrated, chewy finish. Drink or hold."
"The tasty 2018 Carmenere Ca2 Costa is also a lot less oaky than the 2017 I tasted the last time. It was produced with grapes from the coastal part of Colchagua from a cooler year. It's ripe and hits the scale at 14.7% alcohol but has an XL way of balance. 14,400 bottles produced."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep ruby with purple highlights, showing the wine's youth and concentration.
NoseBlackcurrant leads, followed by rose petal aromatics and a hint of dark chocolate. There's a distinctive herbal note of fresh thyme and a subtle green chilli spice that adds intrigue without overwhelming. The coastal influence shows in a mineral freshness underlying the fruit.
PalateMedium to full-bodied with impressive concentration and ripe berry flavours dominating the mid-palate. The tannins are firm but fine, providing structure without aggression. Fresh acidity keeps everything balanced despite the 14.7% alcohol, which integrates seamlessly into the wine's generous but controlled frame.
FinishConcentrated and chewy with lingering dark fruit, chocolate notes, and a mineral persistence from the granite soils.
Overall impressionA Carmenère that successfully balances ripeness with coastal restraint, showing both varietal character and site expression.
Food Pairings
In Colchagua Valley, this style of Carmenère would traditionally accompany asado, the region's legendary barbecue featuring grass-fed beef cooked slowly over wood coals. Local favourites include cordero al palo (spit-roasted lamb) and choripán (chorizo sandwiches), whilst empanadas de pino filled with spiced beef, onions, and hard-boiled eggs make perfect casual pairings. The wine's herbal character also works beautifully with cazuela, a hearty stew featuring beef, pumpkin, and corn that's popular throughout central Chile.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-18°C to allow the fruit and herbal complexity to show properly. A brief decant of 30-45 minutes will help integrate the tannins, though it's not essential given the wine's accessible nature. Use large Bordeaux-style glasses to concentrate the aromatics, and consider opening the bottle an hour before serving to let it breathe naturally.
The Ca2 Costa vineyard sits in the coastal section of Colchagua Valley, where granite soils provide excellent drainage whilst the Pacific Ocean's influence moderates temperatures. This maritime climate allows Carmenère to ripen fully whilst maintaining freshness, avoiding the over-extraction that can plague the variety in hotter inland sites. The granitic terroir adds a mineral backbone that supports the wine's natural richness.
Colchagua Valley is one of Chile's most prestigious wine regions, part of the larger Rapel Valley about 120 kilometres south of Santiago. The valley runs east-west from the Andes to the Pacific, creating diverse microclimates that suit different varieties. The coastal areas like TerraNoble's Ca2 site benefit from cool ocean breezes and morning fogs, making them ideal for varieties like Carmenère that need careful temperature management to achieve elegance.
The 2018 vintage in Colchagua caught everyone off guard in the best possible way. After a string of challenging years, Mother Nature delivered what winemakers had been hoping for: a long, even growing season without the dramatic temperature swings that had become the valley's calling card. The key was a cooler than usual summer that allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and steadily, preserving the bright acidity that makes Colchagua's reds so food-friendly whilst building proper phenolic ripeness.
What emerged from the cellars was a vintage of surprising freshness and balance. The Cabernet Sauvignon shows particular poise — we find wines with proper structure but none of the overripe jammy character that can plague warmer years here. Syrah and Carmenère followed suit, producing wines that feel vibrant rather than heavy, with the tannins sitting exactly where they should. Most 2018s are drinking beautifully now, showing their fruit whilst the supporting cast of acid and tannin keeps everything lively, though the best will happily cellar for another decade.
FAQs
What does this Carmenère taste like?
Rich blackcurrant and chocolate with distinctive herbal notes, balanced by firm yet velvety tannins and fresh acidity. It's elegant rather than overpowering.
When should I drink this wine?
Perfect now until 2032. It's approachable immediately but will develop more complexity over the next few years.
What food pairs well with Carmenère?
Excellent with grilled meats, especially lamb and beef. Try it with barbecue, hearty stews, or even spicy chorizo dishes.
Should I decant this wine?
A brief 30-45 minute decant will help, but it's not essential. Opening an hour before serving works just as well.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Yes, for 4-6 years. It will develop more savoury complexity whilst maintaining its fresh fruit character.
How does this compare to other Chilean Carmenères?
This coastal vineyard produces a more elegant, balanced style than many warmer-climate Carmenères, with better freshness and herbal complexity.
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