Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan

Is a premium Chilean red wine crafted from 100% Carignan grapes in the renowned Maule Valley. This full-bodied Chilean wine exemplifies the region’s tradition of bold, characterful reds, combining Maule Valley terroir with expert winemaking. From the first pour, Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan impresses with depth and complexity, offering wine lovers a genuine taste of Chile’s Carignan heritage. In this description, we’ll explore the wine’s tasting profile, production, food pairings, and what makes it special among Gran Reserva wines.

Tasting Profile 

Gran Reserva Carignan greets the eye with a deep ruby-red color and violet hues, hinting at its intensity. On the nose, it bursts with ripe dark fruit aromas — think blackberries, plums, and cherries — layered with subtle herbal and vegetal notes. There’s a whiff of spice and oak in the background, owing to its barrel aging. The palate is bold and earthy, with meaty notes and a touch of smoky complexity. Firm tannins provide structure without overwhelming the fruit. Despite its power, the wine remains balanced, offering a smooth texture and a long, pleasant finish. This full-bodied red wine fills the mouth with rich flavor yet retains an elegant harmony. Each sip of Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan showcases the grape’s rustic charm refined by polished winemaking, making it both expressive and approachable for enthusiasts of robust red wines.

Vinification and Aging 

The quality of Gran Reserva Carignan starts in the vineyard and continues in the winery. Grapes are hand-selected from mature vines in Maule Valley, ensuring concentrated flavors. The vinification process is carefully controlled: fermentation is conducted at 27–29°C to extract optimal color and structure from the Carignan grapes. After the primary fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, which softens the acids and contributes to a rounder, smoother mouthfeel.

Crucially, Gran Reserva Carignan earns its Gran Reserva title through extended aging. The wine is aged for 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, absorbing subtle oak influences that add complexity and depth. This barrel aging introduces gentle notes of vanilla, cedar, and toast that complement the fruit without dominating it. The extended maturation also helps to tame Carignan’s natural tannins, resulting in a more refined texture. The outcome of this meticulous vinification and aging process is a well-structured Chilean red that balances power with elegance, reflecting the winemaker’s dedication to quality and tradition.

Food Pairings 

One of the delights of Gran Reserva Carignan is its versatility at the table. This Chilean red wine pairs beautifully with hearty dishes, enhancing both the food and the wine’s flavors. Here are a few delicious food pairing suggestions:

• Grilled Red Meats: Try it with a juicy grilled steak (such as picanha steak) served alongside garlic-roasted potatoes. The wine’s firm tannins and dark fruit depth complement the savory, charred flavors of beef, while its acidity cuts through the richness of the meat.

• Spiced Fatty Fish: For seafood lovers, a flavorful fatty fish like seared tuna or salmon seasoned with garlic, black pepper, and herbs is an excellent match. The Carignan’s earthy notes and acidity pair well with the oily texture of the fish, and any herbal seasoning will echo the wine’s subtle vegetal nuances.

• Mushroom Risotto (with Bacon): A creamy risotto cooked with wild mushrooms and smoked bacon highlights the wine’s earthy character. The earthy notes in Gran Reserva Carignan resonate with the umami flavors of mushrooms, and the wine’s structure stands up to the richness of the dish. The hints of smokiness in the wine are also drawn out by the bacon’s flavor, creating a harmonious pairing.

These pairing ideas showcase how Gran Reserva Carignan can elevate a meal, whether you’re enjoying robust meats or an umami-rich vegetarian course. The wine’s bold yet balanced profile makes it a great companion to any dish that’s equally rich in flavor.

Serving Tips 

To fully appreciate everything this Gran Reserva Carignan has to offer, a bit of preparation goes a long way. Here are some serving tips to ensure the best experience:

• Decanting: It is advisable to decant Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan about 15 minutes before serving. Giving the wine a brief time to breathe allows it to open up, softening the tannins and unlocking more of its aromatic complexity. As oxygen interacts with the wine, you’ll notice the dark fruit aromas becoming more pronounced and the palate rounding out even further.

• Serving Temperature: Serve this wine at around 18°C (approximately 64–65°F). This slightly cool room temperature is ideal for full-bodied reds from Chile. At 18°C, the wine’s flavors are at their most expressive – fruit, earth, and oak notes will be well-balanced. Serving too warm can make the alcohol more noticeable, while too cold can mute the flavors, so aim for that middle ground.

• Glassware: Use a large-bowled red wine glass to serve Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan. A generous glass allows you to swirl the wine and concentrate its aromas, so you can fully enjoy the nuanced nose of dark fruits and spices.

• Aging Potential: While already enjoyable now, this Chilean Carignan can develop further complexity with a bit of age. If you have the patience, you might cellar a few bottles for another 3–5 years. Over time, the tannins will continue to soften and the wine may gain even more harmony, with tertiary notes (like dried fruits, leather or tobacco) emerging to complement the existing profile.

By following these serving recommendations, you’ll ensure that Gran Reserva Carignan shows its best self. From the first sniff to the last sip, you’ll experience the full range of its aromas and flavors as the winemaker intended.

Bodegas Tagua Tagua: Crafting a Chilean Carignan Classic

Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan is the product of a passionate team at Bodegas Tagua Tagua, a winery that has made a name for itself in Chile’s Central Valley. The estate sources grapes from some of the country’s best terroirs, including the Maule Valley where this Carignan is grown. The Maule Valley is known for its old-vine Carignan vineyards and a climate that yields grapes with intense concentration. By tapping into this rich heritage, Bodegas Tagua Tagua creates wines that reflect Chile’s winemaking traditions while using modern techniques to ensure quality.

The winemaker, José Tomás Correa Lisoni, oversees the creation of Gran Reserva Carignan. His expertise and commitment to excellence are evident in the wine’s balance and expressiveness. Under Correa Lisoni’s guidance, each step – from vine to bottle – is handled with care. This includes sustainable vineyard practices, precise fermentation control, and judicious oak aging to enhance, not mask, the grape’s character. The result is a wine that embodies Chilean viticulture at its best. Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan carries the imprint of its origin and maker: it’s at once a distinctly Chilean red and a signature of Bodegas Tagua Tagua’s craftsmanship.

It’s worth noting that Gran Reserva on the label signifies a superior selection. In Chile, Gran Reserva wines often use grapes from older vines or special plots and receive extra aging. This bottle lives up to that reputation, standing out as a Carignan of exceptional quality in its price range. The winery’s dedication is not just in producing great wine, but also in celebrating the Carignan grape – a somewhat underappreciated variety that, in the right hands, yields spectacular results.

Conclusion: A Must-Try Chilean Red Wine Experience

In summary, Gran Reserva Carignan offers a compelling journey through one of Chile’s iconic wine regions. It delivers a harmony of rich dark fruit, earthy depth, and refined oak influence, all tied together by expert winemaking. Whether you are a seasoned wine enthusiast or just starting to explore beyond the more common Cabernet and Merlot, this Gran Reserva Carignan is a rewarding discovery. Its bold yet balanced character invites you to savor each sip, especially when paired with a hearty meal or shared on a special occasion.

For those looking to further explore the world of Chilean wines, consider comparing this Carignan with other offerings from the region. Fans of bold Chilean reds might also enjoy the renowned Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon (Reserve), a Chilean Cabernet known for its ripe black plum and cherry notes with an elegant finish. To experience a different side of Chile’s winemaking, try the Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay (Reserve) – a Chilean white wine that offers fresh tropical fruit flavors and a hint of vanilla and hazelnut from oak aging. These related products from Garrafeira da Ilha provide a broader context to appreciate what makes Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan unique.

Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Carignan embodies the spirit of Chilean winemaking – vibrant, robust, and rooted in tradition. It’s a wine that tells a story of its terroir and the people who crafted it. Pour a glass and enjoy the journey to Maule Valley, Chile, one satisfying sip at a time. Cheers!

Country: Chile

Pairing: A good heart is excellent company of this wine. It can also be good company of a traditional corn cake.

Size: 75cl

Grapes:

Sulfites: Sim

Temperature:

ABV%: 14%

Year:

Region:

Our delivery cost change on each 12 bottles. The best way to decrease the delivery cost per bottle is buy at least 24 bottles.

Example:

12 bottles case - 21€

24 bottles case - 28€