Apaltagua Rosé Carmenere

One of the things that makes wine such a fun beverage (besides the obvious) is the vast variety of option out there.  It’s always fun to try something new, or as in this case, try a varietal you’ve tasted before vinified in a totally different way.

Carmenere is the lost grape of Bordeaux that was rediscovered in Chile.  It is typically used to create tasty, dark red wines.  But here’s a fun rosé version of this varietal that is actually quite awesome!

Cherry and mineral aromas blend harmoniously on the nose of this rosé carmenere.  The palate is lively, with plenty of acidity providing a solid backbone to the fruit.  It starts out with tart lime and apple flavors up front, but evolves into cherry flavors on the finish, which is exceptionally long.  The wine also has a little bit of spice on the palate, which makes this wine even more enjoyable.  This would be a fabulous salad wine.

Wine: Apaltagua Rosé Carmenere
Variety: Carmenere
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $11.00

Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.