The more I drink South American wines, the more I think they’re hit or miss. Some are just awesome. Some are just terrible. There’s not much in between. Last week, as I was doing my weekly shopping trip at Trader Joe’s, I spotted a Chilean wine called Panilonco. The blend of Merlot and Malbec was interesting. Excited by the combination, I bought a bottle and headed home.
Big mistake. This wine was terrible. If you regularly read this blog, you know that terrible is not a word that I use lightly. I reserve it for the worst of the worst. This was one of them. In fact, it was one of the select few wines I have dumped down the kitchen drain. I couldn’t drink it. I couldn’t even power through the half glass I poured myself. It was that bad. I wouldn’t even know where to start to explain why I hated it so much. Just take my word for it. Avoid this import. You’ll thank me for this advice. I promise.
Recommendation: Don’t buy it
Have you tried the Panilonco carmenere ?
Thanks...Jack
Posted by: Jack Lindberg | March 24, 2008 at 04:23 PM
I enjoy a bottle of wine now and then with friends and family. I was at a friends house and my friends mother brought out this wine, though it was a 2002 bottle and not 2005.
The 2002 bottle was sweet and very balanced. Everyone really liked it, we enjoyed two bottles of the 2002 reserve.
Then a few months later I went to Trader Joes and bought another bottle, 2006 reserve. It was more bitter and not as pleasing.
Posted by: Tekiewolf | April 20, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Really? I've bought this a couple of times. I found it to be full-bodied, dry, very smooth, yet fruity. I loved it! I suspect it's more of a preference of taste and ones buds!
Posted by: Diane | May 08, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I also suspect it has to do with shipping. So many "bad" bottles are really just victims of poor shipping, especially the ones from S.A. and Australia. Often they sit in hot warehouses waiting to be shipped, are put in hot cargo holds on the ships, sit in the sun after they are unloaded and finally sit in warehouses like Trader Joe's and Costco's before they finally make it to the shelf. The handlers bake way too many wines by mishandling. I've had the Panilonco camenere and the chard/viognier and found them both pleasant and well worth the $5 I paid.
Posted by: Mike | October 12, 2008 at 04:01 PM
I really like the Panilonco Carmenere. Well worth the $5 or so from trader joe's. better than many 15-20 buck wines.
Posted by: Evey | December 15, 2008 at 12:09 PM
the panilonco 2007 reserve is excellent! tried it over the weekend and it was verrry smooth! paid 3.99---and well worth more than that!!!
Posted by: Keri | January 22, 2009 at 11:46 AM
I tried a bottle of the 2007 vintage of this stuff today and found it to be quite palatable. Maybe a bit weak on the nose but what can you expect from such an inexpensive wine? It's a perfect choice for that second or third bottle when your guests' taste buds have been numbed by alcohol and plying them with additional fine vintages is, ...well, wasteful.
Posted by: wayne ferrell | January 31, 2009 at 04:30 PM
I liked it, the TJ wine guy referred me to it for my purpose, awesome for the daily 5 oz with 1 piece of dark chocolate.
Posted by: Nila | March 23, 2009 at 04:44 PM
I have to weigh in on this one: Panilonco Carmenere 2008 is such an incredible value that I regret not buying a case of it when I had the chance. Clearly, I'm not going to drive 725 miles to the nearest TJ to buy more, but I'll confess to having considered it. It's a wonderfully robust and well-balanced (if somewhat sweet) red that would be perfect for a party.
Posted by: Blair Davis | August 19, 2009 at 06:33 PM
I am just now sampling this wine, which is why I looked up this blog. I was shocked by the bitterness. It seems like someone took a very nice, full-bodied wine with flavors of dark fruit, and POURED GROUND ASPIRIN INTO IT. There are lovely flavors lurking behind this bizarre bitter streak, and I wish that I could isolate them.
Perhaps the bitterness is a result of some sort of storage problem, but I doubt I'll be taking the risk of purchasing it again, especially with so many other wines to explore.
Happily, from the responses here, I've learned that the Panilonco Carmenere may be well worth a try. Thanks for the advice, folks!
Posted by: Jasper | August 28, 2009 at 12:51 AM
I think you got a bad bottle. I never had the 2005, but have been drinking later vintages for a year off and on. Just finished a 2008 tonight and it's just fine. A $5 wine that tastes like $8 or $10.
Posted by: Steve Struck | October 06, 2009 at 05:33 PM
FYI for the Carmenere it should be opened the day before.
Posted by: dnrpdx | January 07, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Drinking the 2009 Panilonco Carmenere Reserve as we speak. Fine plonk for $4 - doesn't taste nearly as young as the label suggests.
Posted by: Reg Oignon | February 09, 2010 at 09:00 PM