Ten Carménère Under $20

February 2nd, 2010 | 4 Comments | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Carménère , or Carmenere, was once one of the grapes of Bordeaux. It was always a problematic grape, due to late ripening, but brings some unique qualities to the wine in which it’s used. In particular, it’s known for giving a green pepper characteristic to wines, which is intensified when the grapes are harvested under-ripe. [...]

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Valdivieso Reserva Carménère

January 31st, 2010 | No Comments | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Viña Valdivieso originated as Champagne Valdivieso way back in 1879. It was the first producer in South America to make sparkling wine, and didn’t even begin producing still wine until 1980 when they expanded and formed Viña Valdivieso. The grapes for this Carménère are from Central Valley, which means that they aren’t from one region, [...]

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Casillero del Diablo Carménère

January 26th, 2010 | 6 Comments | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Casillero del Diablo is one of the brands produced by Concha y Toro, the largest wine producer in Chile and one of the best in terms of consistent quality and good value for the price. The story goes that in starting in 1891, the founder of the Concho y Toro Winery, Don Melchor, kept a [...]

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Viu Manent Reserva Carménère

January 24th, 2010 | 1 Comment | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Viu Manent is a family-owned winery in Colchagua Valley, Chile. Founded in 1935, it originally under the name Vinos Viu. Seventy-some years after its inception, the winery is still run by descendants of its founders. The grapes for this wine come from a vineyard named La Capilla, near the town of Peralillo. It’s 100% Carménère [...]

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Espiritu de Chile Classic Carménère

January 17th, 2010 | 1 Comment | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Espiritu de Chile is a joint venture between A. Racke from Germany and Aresti Vineyards in Chile. And while they have a long list of awards, accolades and good reviews from well-respected reviewers I don’t expect they’ll be adding the 2007 Classic Carménère to that list. I guess not all the wines I review can [...]

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Cono Sur Visión Carménère

January 14th, 2010 | 1 Comment | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

We’ve previously reviewed a number of good wines from Cono Sur, and I’d even go so far as to say I’m a fan. The breadth of the wines they produce is phenomenal and the quality of what we’ve tasted has been consistently good. I think of them as an innovative and experimental producer from Chile, [...]

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Viña La Rosa La Capitana Carmenere

January 12th, 2010 | 3 Comments | email this | digg it | trackback

Published in Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Red Wines

Viña La Rosa is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, established in 1824 by don Francisco Ignacio Ossa y Mercado. That’s a name and a half, if you ask me. I’m not going to get into a lot of background on this wine, but instead jump ahead to, “90 alert, 90 alert!!!” As a [...]

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