Chilean Renaissance! Bang for the Buck!
February 15, 2007
Carmenère
[car-men-EHR] - In 1867 the
phylloxera plague destroyed all of the Carmenère vineyards in Bordeaux and
Europe. Replanting attempts were unsuccessful. However, just
prior to the phylloxera outbreak, grapevines of Carmenère had been brought
to Chile by European immigrants. The new planting of this varietal
flourished, especially in the temperate Colchagua Valley. However, up
until the end of the 20th century, Carmenère, which looks very similar to
Merlot, was inadvertently identified as Merlot and treated
and processed as this earlier ripening grape.
In 1994 Carmenère was re-identified by genetic testing.
More recent research has shown Carmenère may be distantly related to
Merlot. This discovery awakened the Chilean wine trade to
separate the two varietals. A renaissance of higher quality
red wines has been the result, as the true potential of fully
ripened Carmenère has been realized. In fact,
Carmenère typically ripens after the late Cabernet Sauvignon harvest.
This may help explain why many Chilean reds were once maligned by overtly
vegetal and astringent qualities that made for unappealing wines (from
underripe Carmenère picked with Merlot). Once allowed to
fully ripen from old vine, or fruit reduced low yielding
vineyards, Chilean Carmenère has proven to be an excellent blending
varietal with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, or an enticing stand alone
wine.
Carmenère's deeply saturated color is
immediately inviting. Its heady aromas, deep flavors, soft
and expansive palate impressons will leave most Cabernet fans
gasping. However, Carmenère's real appeal is the "BIG
BANG FOR THE BUCK" it offers the
consumer.
Casa
Silva's roots go back
to one of the original pioneering French
families to settle in the Colchagua Valley. We were blown away
by this winery's 2004 Carmenère
Reserva. I paid $22 American dollars in a Chilean
wine shop for this amazing value! A few phone calls later, and I had purchased all 27 cases
available for distribution here. I realize it does not make any sense, but
your price is a give away bargain at $11.95 a
bottle. - ORDER
NOW BY REPLYING DIRECTLY TO THIS E-MAIL!
We also have limited amounts of the Casa
Silva's old vine Sauvignon Gris arriving at $14.95 a
bottle.
Even if it is already sold out, I will have
the Casa Silva's 2004 Carmenère Reserva & OTHER GREAT
ARGENTINE AND CHILEAN DISCOVERIES AVAILABLE TO SAMPLE AT THE TASTING
BAR THIS SATURDAY FROM NOON TO 4 PM (check out the
virtual tasting bar page for full roster posted every Friday afternoon).
> http://www.thewineconsultant.com/tastingbar
Eric Stumpf
The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA
95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
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