{"id":2427,"date":"2014-06-27T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.winemonthclub.com\/blog\/?p=2427"},"modified":"2014-07-09T14:48:51","modified_gmt":"2014-07-09T21:48:51","slug":"carmenere-still-best-red-wine-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winemonthclub.com\/blog\/carmenere-still-best-red-wine-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Carmen\u00e8re: Still the Best Red Wine Value"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Carmenere<\/a>
Carmenere Grapes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carmen\u00e8re deserves more recognition that it gets.\u00a0 Of all South American wines, Carmen\u00e8re stands out to me as the most distinctive and enjoyable, especially in the first five years of life which is when the vast majority of all wines are consumed, and as an added bonus, well made Carmen\u00e8re ages gracefully to perfection for up to a decade or more.\u00a0 Critics and writers sing the praises of Carmen\u00e8re, especially from top producers such as Casa Silva, Carmen, and Errazuriz, and every time I bring a fine Carmen\u00e8re to a tasting or share it with friends, it\u2019s a hit among young and old.\u00a0 When asked why they don\u2019t drink more Carmen\u00e8re, the usual retorts sound something like these:\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t know what it was\u201d or \u201cI never had one before, so I was afraid to try it.\u201d\u00a0 Adam could have exercised a bit more caution when handed the apple, but when it comes to wine, let\u2019s be more audacious!\u00a0 And to help dispel the mystery surrounding Carmen\u00e8re, it\u2019s safe to say that it is close to being the missing link of Bordeaux varietals, and that link now thrives in Chile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although still one of the six legal red Bordeaux grape varietals and in evidence at a few Bordeaux ch\u00e2teaux among a sea of Merlot and Cabernet, Carmen\u00e8re has not figured prominently in Bordeaux since the advent of phylloxera in the 19th\u00a0century.\u00a0 Brought to Chile in the 19th\u00a0century before the dreaded vine disease, Carmen\u00e8re was mistaken for a clone of Merlot until the 1980s, and perhaps this is the reason it languished in relative obscurity, though it\u2019s hard to believe that one of Bordeaux\u2019s six legal red grape varietals could be misidentified for so long, but then the truth is nearly always stranger than fiction.\u00a0 So, what does Carmen\u00e8re have going for it?\u00a0 Plenty!\u00a0 Let\u2019s start with Carmen\u00e8re\u2019s deep purple color, followed by a hedonistic aroma: savory red and black fruit flavors, deft touches of bell pepper, black pepper, dark chocolate, coffee and spice.\u00a0 But best of all, Carmen\u00e8re\u2019s tannins are smoother than those of Cabernet and its other Bordeaux compatriots.\u00a0 Most of all, people enjoy it, especially after it\u2019s had a few minutes to breathe.\u00a0 But never judge a Carmen\u00e8re on first sip; any good Carmen\u00e8re needs a few minutes of aeration to undergo metamorphosis in the glass.\u00a0 One doesn\u2019t have to wait years to enjoy this varietal, but allow it a little time in the glass to collect itself, and enjoy!<\/span><\/p>\n

Salute!
\nDon<\/p>\n

photo credit: Carlos Varela<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carmen\u00e8re deserves more recognition that it gets.\u00a0 Of all South American wines, Carmen\u00e8re stands out to me as the most distinctive and enjoyable, especially in the first five years of life which is when the vast majority of all wines are consumed, and as an added bonus, well made Carmen\u00e8re ages gracefully to perfection for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[7,11,14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nCarmen\u00e8re: Still the Best Red Wine Value | Wine Blog from The International Wine of the Month Club<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Carmen\u00e8re can be one of the most distinctive & enjoyable wines, 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