[Mysterious images have been borrowed from the Casillero del Diablo Website. I recommend that you visit the site for some fascinating flash.]
Deliciously naughty… and foiling thieves in the night… What gives us more pleasure?
Casillero del Diablo is an ambrosial story that’s so worth sharing. It’s inspired me to also outsmart a neighborhood thief, using the same methodology of Don Melchor de Concha y Toro. Our thief has been quite the little diablo, just as in Casillero del Diablo’s story.
Our story first, so I get it out of the way… We discovered a neighborhood thief in a very unusual way. THE STORY:
Jose got an Email from Comcast that we’ve been downloading porn, with the names of the movies included. [Huh? He’s with me just about every minute, and I with him; so, we knew this was something very fishy.]
Digging Deeper Diaz (Jose) spent the rest of our Saturday evening figuring it out. It seems that one of our *neighbors,* whose neck I’d like to ring, broke into our WiFi connection. He actually hacked our password code. It wasn’t one with capital and lower case letters, didn’t have symbols, etc., so BE ADVISED. He was not only enjoying free WiFi, but he was also downloading films illegally. A copyright firm notified Comcast about the infringement, and Comcast notified us. Not knowing that we weren’t the ones doing it, the law firm expects us to pay $200 for each film ($400 TOTAL).
Yeah, right, I’m supposed to pay for someone else’s porn? See you in court… [#principle]
Jose changed our WiFi password to something outlandishly long, and the bloodsucker was immediately dropped from our list of users and is now history. But, which neighbor was it, we can’t help but still wonder?
Meanwhile… Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, and eminent Chilean Statesman, entrepreneur, and vineyard owner, discovered that his most treasured wines had been pilfered from the “Casillero” (cellar) beneath his ancestral home. To discourage further theft, the enterprising Don spread the rumor that his deepest, darkest cellars were haunted by the devil. Thus was born the Legend of Casillero del Diablo… (from marketing materials).
The wines, I loved them. If you’re not familiar, this winery has become Chile’s best selling one worldwide, through the Concha y Toro Wine Company. They talk about these wines being stored in hell and made in heaven… I love a good romance novel.
It all begins in the vineyards, with the sun pouring down its warming rays. Cool breezes caress the vines, that sweep across the landscape… The fleshy grape clusters are spied by the viticulturist, as they abundantly hang low and ready. This arouses harvest’s exact moment of contact. It’s love at first sight…
The Wines
Casillero del Diablo from Concha y Toro wines are what the wine business refers to as “line-priced.” This means that regardless of the variety you’re buying, it’s the same price across the board… From Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon, every bottle sells for $12.00. In our world, these wines are very affordable, and can easily become your own “house” wine.
They have the following wines available for you to enjoy:
- 2011 Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay ~ Santiago, Chile
- 2012 Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc ~ Santiago Chile
- 2011 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Santiago, Chile
- 2011 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere ~ Santiago, Chile
- 2011 Casillero del Diablo Merlot ~ Santiago, Chile
- 2002 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir ~ Santiago, Chile
The 2011 Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay has prominent flavors of butterscotch, with the finish reminding me of the Worthers Originals ad… just sweet, drippingly smooth butterscotch. This one I’d enjoy by itself, before I even think of food… a great wine to sip… If you’re thinking foods, run with fish and chicken dishes.
The 2012 Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc is a classic. It has all of the elements that I look for in a great Sauvignon Blanc. Three claws: Click here for my “Claws” legend and recommendations. This was a perfectly balanced wine, with just the right amount of tartness, bright acidity, and a lingering finish of pink grapefruit. Think cheese dishes.
The 2011 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark, plum colored wine, with flavors of cherries and cassis, and firm, young tannins. Think about your heartiest dishes, like a beef and barley stew, loaded with fresh basil, a touch of rosemary, and lots of fresh oregano. I also added a bit of this wine to the stew, so it would be seamless, when we enjoyed our dinner. I found it all to be very delicious on a cool fall evening.
The 2011 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere is every bit of the following description ~ from the Wines of Chile Website.
Chile’s own signature grape, this red varietal disappeared from European vineyards in the mid-19th century and reappeared among Chile’s Merlot vines a hundred years later. The deepest, darkest, purplest of all red grapes needs a long growing season to reach its fullest potential. Rich in berry fruits and spice (think blackberries and black pepper), with smooth, well-rounded tannins, making this a very pleasing and easy to drink varietal. Enjoy it with red meats and corn-based dishes, such as Chile’s favorite pastel de choclo (corn and meat pie), or take advantage of its natural fruity spiciness and serve it up with Indian curry or a Mexican mole.
The 2011 Casillero del Diablo Merlot ~ Oh, Merlot… You used to be everyone’s darling, simply because you slipped off the tongue so easily… Now, you’re the back up singer, but that’s okay, because we all still love you. This wine also tastes like black plums and a hint of chocolate and herb accents. This wine is perfect with your pasta dishes that have a light red sauce.
The 2002 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir is my favorite of these wines. Delicate in color and flavors, strawberries and blue berries characterize this one. With a 13.5 percent alcohol, this is a very easy to enjoy and food friendly wine.
Again… as with all of them, being a $12 bottle of wine tells you that there’s going to be a simplicity about these wines that make them perfect for everyday enjoyment. They’re very easy to have as your standards as a Monday through Thursday night wine… They’d also be great wines for large gathering celebrations; affordably priced, offering great flavors, and satisfyingly delicious for your food and wine pairings.
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