Carménère

This is a blend of Corvina 50%, Trebbiano 25%, Syrah 15% and Carmenère 10% from the northeast corner of Italy.  The name comes from the duration that the skins are allowed contact with the juice after pressing.  Pale pink in color with slight orange hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has orange citrus, slight orange peel, floral notes and a bit of spice/pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet (more like off dry) with good acidity.  The palate has strawberries, some orange and slight minerality.  Good finish.  This is easy to drink on its own.  It will also work a bisc

Another impressive Carménère from Chile.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, cherries, spice, slight cigar box and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Plenty of depth.  Flavors of black cherries with black pepper.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but will improve.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  While it would work well with a steak, this would also work great with (vegetarian) chili.  

This is an impressive wine.  It is not inexpensive but not crazy either especially for the quality.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, tobacco, slight fig notes and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It has depth and complexity if still tight (and young).  Flavors of black cherries with some char and a bit of leather.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but will improve with a bit of cellaring.  Old for a couple years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, but t

Another very nice Carménère from Chile and a great value.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight green pepper, some black pepper and char.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance with nice acidity.  On the palate, there is some depth here.  Cherries and black cherries with underlying spice and slight smoke.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to ten years.  This would be a nice match with meatloaf or burgers.  

This is a wonderful value in red wine.  It has 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in addition to the Carmenere.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is peppery with black cherries and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is very tasty.  Some depth.  Cherries, black pepper and some baking spices.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should for the next five to eight years.  Nice on its own, this is a great wine for Pizza or burger night.  

Another great value coming out of Chile.  This is 100% Carmenere grape which is fast becoming one of the stars of Chilean wines.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper, sorrel and spice.  Full bodied.  Very nice almost lush texture.  Good balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black currants, slight coffee and a hint of chocolate.  A slight bitter cherry nod on the finish.  Obviously young, this is drinking well now, but would be better with another few years in a good cellar.  Drink ove

Earthy tannins leads to blackberry, blueberry, plum, and violets. Made from mainly Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are small amounts of Syrah, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the mix. This has always been a solid wine for a very reasonable price. It deviates from much oak treatment and instead promotes the raw, earthy flavors of its organic vineyards. The aging consisted of 66% of the wine placed in French oak for 18 months, therefore the oak is supporting and not dominate. Nicely balanced this is a great go-to everyday drinking wine. ORIGIN: Apalta, Chile. ALCOHOL: 13.5%

These grapes for this wine come from California, shipped cold to northeast Ohio where they are made into wine.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight rhubarb, slight herbal notes and a bit of coffee grounds.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has nice red fruits (cherries, pomegranate) along with a peppery note.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice wine with pasta or pizza.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This is 85%Carménère, 10% Tempranillo, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries raspberries, cranberries along side green peppers and a slight rosemary note.  Also some spice.  Medium tannins.  Complex.  Tight layers unwind in the glass.  On the palate, cherries, cranberries intertwined with black raspberries and char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  This will work well with roasted fowl.  The label says duck or also ratatouille, and that seems like a good suggestion.  

This is a blend of 42% Syrah, 39% Carmenere, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Garnacha, 3% Malbec, 1% Tempranillo, and 1% Mourvedre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, black cherries and spice.  Very smooth yet varietally complex on the palate.  Light tannins.  Notes of boysenberries and black cherries with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is quite tasty.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this is even better with food.  Steak, chops or ribs off the grill is a nice choice.