As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Carménère is a variety once used in Bordeaux wines that has recently made a resurgence.  It was always a difficult grape in Bordeaux, due mostly to late ripening.  And then it was wiped in France, in part by a phylloxera infestation in the 1880’s.  For years it was considered a lost grape, but was actually still growing in Chile, misidentified as Merlot for years.  It was actually in the vineyards of Viña Carmen that Carménère was rediscovered and they just celebrated the 15th anniversary of that rediscovery this past fall.

This particular Carménère is also a wine that you can read about in my recent column about bargain-priced Chilean red wines in the January/February issue of Mutineer Magazine.

Cinnamon, cedar and cherry give this wine a pleasant nose.  The palate has plenty of fresh cherry and raspberry flavors, and black pepper and coffee come in on the finish to make it interesting.  It’s not going to blow you away, but for ten bucks it’s a decent Carmenére.

Wine: Viña Carmen
Variety: Carménère
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $10.00

Find Viña Carmen Carménère with Snooth

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.