Marques de Casa Concha is sub-brand of Chile’s popular Concha y Toro winery, though it’s hard to tell whether the Marques label is a step up or a step down. (Methinks… a step sideways.) This 2016 cabernet blends in 5% syrah and 4% cabernet franc, all sourced from Chile’s Maipo Valley.

It’s a rich and fruit-forward wine, laced with notes of dark chocolate and licorice to oppose the notes of currant, blackberry, and black cherry. Lightly tarry, with an echo of fresher fruit on finish to give the wine a bit of a lift and improve its “drink now” capabilities. The finish jabs at dark chocolate notes, adding some complexity to a nice little value wine.

B+ / $17 / conchaytoro.com [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]

2016 Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo

$17

8.5

Rating

8.5/10

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