By Dwight Casimere
Marques de Casa Concha is one of Chile’s most emblematic wines and winemaker Marcelo Papa is considered a master of his craft. A recent virtual tasting of his Marques de Casa Concha Heritage 2020 ($75), led by Papa via Zoom from his winery in Chile, also featured a selection of cheeses from Brooklyn Larder, that were shipped to participants along with the wine.
Colangelo and Partners, the preferred public relations and marketing agency of regional, national and global food and beverage brands and institutions, organized the virtual tasting.
Marques de Casa Concha Heritage 2020 is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, all from the El Mariscal vineyard which is more than a thousand feet above sea level. Growing conditions are perfect with mineral-rich soils of alluvial origin. A strong influence of winds from the Andes Mountains extends the ripening process, creating grapes with intense aromas and concentrated flavors.
As winemaker and technical director of Concha Y Toro, Marcelo Papa is involved in every aspect of the winemaker process from the vineyard to the bottle. “In 2020, we had a glorious season in Maipo. We had a good amount of rain and higher humidity, which made the Cabernet absolutely happy! The grapes showed more opulent fruit, sweet fruit, black fruit that showed elegance and juiciness. This helped to create a really nice wine.”
It is possible to age Concha Heritage 2020 for as long as ten years, and the wine will still have youth and vitality. However, most of the people I know who enjoy wine, want wines that are ready to drink now.
“The beauty about this wine is that there are parts of it that make it ready to drink now. There’s juiciness and a smoothness and elegance that comes through the moment you taste it. I like this wine with grilled
meats and firm, strong cheeses.”
To emphasize the point, Papa sent a sampling of cheeses that make excellent companions for the wine. Moliterno al Tartufo, an Italian cheese aged for 6 months with truffles. Named for the town in which it originated in southern Basilicata, it is primarily a sheep’s milk cheese made with a small amount of goat’s milk. Formed in a basket for 24 hours before being left to age, the cheese is rubbed in olive oil, which gives it its distinctive golden color. A balance of rustic and sweet flavors mingles perfectly with the rich fruit flavors of the wine. Delicious slices of truffle infuse the cheese with a unique flavor that intensifies with each sip of wine.
Mimi Lotte is an interesting hard cheese from France that resembles a cantaloupe. Produced in the city of Lille, it was inspired by the Dutch Edam cheese. The bright orange color comes from the natural seasoning, annatto. With its hint of hazel nuts, it brings out the bright fruit flavors of the Concha Heritage.
Red Lancaster, a hard cow’s milk cheese similar to cheddar is one of my personal favorites. Its history goes back to the 17th century and it is still made from unpasteurized cow’s milk as it was in the beginning. The reddish-orange rind and the powdery mold that goes along with it are part of the experience. Possessing a slightly sweet, caramel-like flavor that builds in the mouth, it brings out the robust qualities of the wine that come from careful gaining in French oak barrels.
Crown Jewel has a unique pedigree. A collaborative effort between Wisconsin cheese maker Chris Roelli of Roelli Cheese Haus in Wisconsin, Crown Jewel is aged at Crown Finish Caves in subterranean Brooklyn. Complex, with a balanced profile that delivers notes of butterscotch, fresh fruit and buttered toast, this is a cheese that should be savored with the wine after a hearty meal of grilled Cowboy Rib Eye or Porterhouse Steak. It brings out all of the complexity of Marques de Casa Concha Heritage 2020. In fact, there’s even a recipe online for a deserts made with this magnificent cheese.
For more visit marquesdecasaconcha.com/en.
