2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay Vintage Not Specified
The Chardonnay reveals pear, apple, and pineapple in its fragrant perfume, leading to an intense, ripe, and lengthy wine for drinking 12-18 months.
Robert Parker's Wine Bargains
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2006
… Chardonnay from Chile doesn’t come much better or more consistent than this. It’s toasty on the nose, with candied, lightly creamy banana and citrus flavors. Very nice as a fresh young wine, with a touch of heat on the finish. Great for picnics and backyard summer parties. 87 Points.
Wine Enthusiast - July, 2008
Top Value 2008
88 Points!
Wine Spectator - January, 2009
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2005
Full bodied, finely flavored, and well balanced; a Chardonnay that is crisp and medium long on the palate, tasting of pear, lemon peel, roasted nut, and peach. Great value. * * * * (Excellent - Highly recommended)
Ronn Weigand Restaurant Wine # 117 - June, 2007
"One of the best under-$10 Chardonnays anywhere is Casillero del Diablo, made by Marcelo Papa of Concha y Toro. The wine overdelivers on the nose, where custard, lemon blossom and buttered popcorn work in tandem to set up eye-opening apple, melon and light mineral flavors. Not heavy but still full and toasty. A rewarding and generous wine; get it while you can." 88 - Best Buy
Wine Enthusiast - May, 2007
"Forward, with piecrust, pear, gig and butter notes backed by a hint of hazelnut on the soft finish. Drink now." 87
Wine Spectator - April, 2007
"I rated the rendition of this wine from 2004 Very Good, but for 2005 we'll go up a notch to Very Good+; truly, if you tasted this vibrant, full-bodied Chardonnay blind you would think it cost twice as much. Seventy percent is fermented and aged in stainless steel, the rest in French oak; only 10 percent goes through the malolactic process, so the wine retains brightness, crispness and freshness while couching its vivid, spicy apple-pineapple-grapefruit flavors (with a hint of the tropical) in a soft, almost cushiony texture. Plenty of stones and bones provide the foundation to keep it all honest." Very Good +
Fredric Koeppel - Koeppel on Wine - June, 2006
"...The Chardonnay is from Maipo Valley with Pear, apple, peach and toasted nut aromas. Quite nice of the palate with creamy pear and fig flavours and balancing vanilla oak."
Rick VanSickle - Sunday Sun (Alberta CN) - November, 2006
"Chile is better known for its red wines, but the cool Casablanca Valley produces some vibrant Chardonnay. The dramatic toast, cantaloupe, pineapple and lemon flavors of this layered, stylish white will have your guests asking how much it cost and where they can buy it."
Cooking Pleasures (MN) - January, 2007
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2004
"A refreshing quaff, with juicy apple and lemon flavors that mingle with mineral and toasty oak touches. Ready to drink now."
Robyn Tinsley - WineSkinny.com (TX) - June, 2006
"Medium yellow color. High-pitched orchard fruit aromas of pear, quince and Granny Smith apple. Round and juicy, with a pure pear flavor that takes an exotic turn toward peach with air. Round, silky and juicy, finishing with vibrant notes of pear skin and lemon thyme." 87
Josh Raynolds - International Wine Cellar - March, 2006
A Top 100 Best Buy of 2005
Wine Enthusiast - December, 2005
"Medium bodied with pineapple, grapefruit, pear and a hint of vanilla; moderate finish. Shellfish." Buy and serve youngest vintage available.
Santé - December, 2005
"Light and fresh, with flint and apple flavors followed by modest toast on the finish. Drink now." BEST VALUE 85
Wine Spectator - November, 2005
"Pale greenish. Dumb nose, spritzy, fresh, limey fruit, good value." Bronze Medal World Wine Awards
Decanter - November, 2005
"Nice and clean, with ample stone fruit and apple aromas. No, not a lot of nuance on display. But plenty of ripe, pure apple and melon flavors followed by some length on the mildly creamy finish. Solid, with mass-market appeal." 87 BEST BUY
Wine Enthusiast - November, 2005
"Fermented and then aged six to eight months 70 percent in stainless steel and 30 percent in oak, this attractive chardonnay is bright, ripe, fresh and tasty. Pineapple-grapefruit flavors are powered by spice and a wafting of oak set into pleasing weight and substance. A Great Bargain. Very good."
Fredric Koeppel - Koeppel On Wine - September, 2005
"Yellow-green hue. Rich aromas of lemon curd, banana and wet stone. Buttery flavors of pineapple, peach and lime. Clean, sweet, chewy finish." 87
Wine News - August, 2005
"Green pineapples and melons, rich, intense fruit."
Fred Tasker - The Miami Herald - June, 2005
"...an excellent, value-priced choice."
Paul Lukacs - The Washington Times - June, 2005
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2003
"Medium bodied, crisp, and refreshing with aromas of citrus oil and ripe tropical and pitted fruit and flavors of pineapple, Granny Smith apple, lemon, and vanilla; medium finish. Grilled firm whitefish or scallops." Fully mature, serve now.
Santé - September, 2005
Bright and minerally, with floral, flint and green apple notes that stay lively through the finish. Nice, unadorned style. Drink now." 85
Wine Spectator - June, 2005
85
Wine News - April, 2005
"It's incredible to me that such a large volume white (over 155,000 cases) can deliver such remarkable quality, panache, and elegance for les than $10. Made from 100% Chardonnay from Chile's cool and wonderful Casablanca Valley, Casillero bursts with sophisticated fruit (pineapple, green apple) and lemony scents that keep it fresh and vital the whole bottle through. Buy 2 cases for spring and summertime enjoyment. No better value out there." Recommended & Best Buy * * *
F. Paul Pacult - Spirit Journal - March, 2005
"This Chilean wine is absurdly well priced. It is fresh, well structured and elegant, with wisps rather than gales of vanilla, thanks to the fact that only part of the blend spends time in oak. Ideal with pasta, seafood or chicken." Wine of the Week
The Daily Telegraph - London - January, 2005
"Look for melon, pear and apple aromas with a touch of honey and lees and a super fresh entry. On the palate you will find plenty of green apple, citrus, honey, baked pear flavours with a touch of vanilla butter and pineapple on the finish. Fine fruit and balance at a great price. Drink all summer with any seafood. The most affordable, high quality Chardonnay in the market." 15.5/20
Anthony Gismondi - Vancouver Sun - May, 2004
"Creamy and plump; this is a fine bargain-priced Chard, one with character and balance. Sure, there are the telltale pear and banana flavors, but on the back it offers subtle apple notes prior to a light, casual finish." 87 "Best Buy"
Wine Enthusiast - March, 2004
". . .we get a faithful follow-on from the 2002, where a teasing plumpness plays fast and loose with the liquid's citrussy side." 16 points/20
Malcolm Gluck - The Guardian (UK) - February, 2004
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2002
"I'm a sucker for cool, flavourful Casablanca fruit but who wouldn't be when it tastes as good as it does in the Casillero Chardonnay and costs so little.. . .The nose is bright and fresh with melon/pear aromas with undertones of green apple skin and bread dough. It is extremely friendly on the palate with a crisp attractive pear fruit and pie crust flavours in the finish. This is as good as it gets for the price." 15.5 points/20
Anthony Gismondi - Vancouver Sun - January, 2004
"High-toned pear and floral notes, with fresh acidity. Clean style, with little toast and a medium-bodied, easy finish. Drink now." 85
Wine Spectator - October, 2003
"My high opinion of this line of wines is hardly a secret. Few Chardonnays in the world match this price/quality balance. Should remain at top quality till early spring 2004."
John Rempel - Winnipeg Free Press - October, 2003
"...fresh in its apple and pear flavors, has moderate richness (toast and butter) and almond and backing spice nuances."
San Francisco Chronicle - September, 2003
"Pale straw hue. Aromas of pineapple, lemon drop and lime with an herbal nuance. Crisp and fresh with flavors of white grapefruit, peach and toasty oak. Tart apple in the bright finish." 85
The Wine News - September, 2003
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2001
"An appealing fresh-from-the-fridge white with sweet lemon and peach on the nose and a long flavour trail of juicy, green apple and vanilla."
Peter Rockwell - Halifax Daily News - August, 2003
"The nose is fruity, with hints of vanilla bean. In the mouth, peach and lemon flavors carry a note of cinnamon spice, although the finish veers toward asparagus and green beans. Acidity and balance; are both on the money." Best Buy 86
Wine Enthusiast - July, 2003
"...excellent for the price. This Chilean wine has a tropical fruit, toasty oak and vanilla nose, with buttery-toasty flavors of tropical fruit, and kiwi-lime notes and a nice, lingering finish. Would I buy it again? Definitely. On a side note, the Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is also an excellent buy."
Kirby Pringle - News-Gazette - May, 2003
"Nice weight to the juicy pear fruit here, with pie crust and floral notes adding nuance to the crunchy finish." 86
Wine Spectator - December, 2002
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2000
Light gold in color, this Chilean Chardonnay has a pretty nose of pineapple and vanilla. Medium to full bodied, it is lush on the palate and has an elegant mouthfeel. Well structured with good acidity for dining, it delivers dry apricot flavors that linger on the palate. The finish is good with distinctive mineral notes. A lovely wine that would go well with rich seafood dishes or grilled poultry."
Tablewine.com - June, 2002
"Toasty lees scents carry through this clean, fresh Chardonnay, its lively fruit offering a grassy edge that keeps it breezy. The integration of the fruit and the oak holds the wine in balance, with neither dominant."
Wine & Spirits - February, 2002
"...has balanced fruit/wood texture and a bouquet of the crispest apples. If oak is okay, then you'll love this."
Arturo Ciompi - Herald-Sun - October, 2001
"...shows apple, peach, pear, and sweet oak on the nose before flavors of sweet apple, medium-ripe peach, pear, anise, and cream and a short, focused finish. Nicely balanced and integrated."
Harold J. Baer - Colorado Wine News - December, 2001
"This zesty young Chardonnay is firm and fresh, its acidity crisp and green as a scallion while the fruit holds varietally true." 88
Wine & Spirits - Annual Buying Guide - December, 2001
"...is one of the finest white wines in its price range that I have tasted in the past year. It has luscious citrus and tropical fruit flavors, a creamy texture and a crisp finish accented by attractive notes of toasty oak."
Robert Neralich - Arkansas Democrat Gazette - August, 2001
"This zesty young Chardonnay is firm and fresh, its acidity crisp; and green as a scallion while the fruit holds varietally true. Sauté up some scallops with leeks for a fine accompaniment to this wine." 88
Wine & Spirits - February, 2001
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 1999
"...very good value for the money. It has rich lemon flavours on the palate with a hint of more luscious tropical fruits as it opens in the glass. Thirty per cent of the wine spent eight months in oak barrels on its lees; the rest was fermented in stainless steel. This gives a neat touch of vanilla to the wine. Excellent for fish in cream sauces." ****
Malcol Anderson - Gazette (Montreal) - April, 2001
"Pale gold in color, with an intriguing nose of butterscotch and cream, this wine is crisp and dry on the palate. It delivers buttery oak and lime-citrus flavors that linger on the tongue. Medium-to-full bodied, it's well structured with good acidity and has a nice citrus finish. Oak is used judiciously, and the style is attractively austere. This wine would be wonderful with broiled scallops or almost any seafood dish." Wine of the Week
TableWine.com - March, 2001
"The bouquet has lemon citrus and pineapple notes and, in the mouth, the wine is also fruit driven and crisply refreshing. This is another example of the growing trend for New World Chardonnay to tone down exuberant flavours. It is still very good value in a more food-friendly style."
Sean Wood - Chronicle Herald - September, 2000
"...remarkably elegant, apple flavour with a kiss of oak."
Toronto Star (ON) - August, 2000
"Featuring wines of Rich, Famous... and the white winner is Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay - with mellow buttered toast and apple."
Gordon Stimmell - London Free Press (ON) - August, 2000
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 1998
"Medium straw hue. Clean, fresh aromas of citrus and butter. A juicy entry leads a medium-bodied palate with bright varietal flavors that linger through the finish. Oak is very subtle."
Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute) - July, 2000
"...cool-climate crisp, green fruit flavor" Best Values
Wine & Spirits - June, 2000
"Refreshing acidity, generous fruit flavours and a good shot of vanilla." ***
Gazette (Montreal) - May, 2000
"Reticent nose opened to show lime, spearmint, flowers and dusty stone. Juicy, brisk flavors of orange, tangerine, lime and peach. Not overly sweet, and very nicely delineated. A medium-bodied wine with good length." 87
International Wine Cellar - March, 2000
"The green tropical fruit flavor of Casablanca comes through in this bright and frisky Chardonnay." 86
Wine & Spirits - February, 2000
"Golden-yellow, it has a nose of exotic fruit, pears and nutmeg (nutmeg is the dead give-away that the wine has been aged in oak barrels). On the palate there is refreshing acidity, generous fruit flavours and a good shot of vanilla, the other indicator of oak aging." Wine of the Week
Malcolm Anderson - Gazette (Montreal) - February, 2000