Let’s see if we can understand why the Chileans mistook Carmenère for Merlot for so long… Montes Alpha Merlot 2012, Colchagua Valley, Chile (£12.99 Philglas & Swiggot, D.Byrne) Typical Chilean imprint of blackcurrant pastilles, also note sof rosehip and mulberry, but while the fruit is generally quite juicy, there’s also […]
Carmenere
A tasting of two halves… Aquitania Carmenère Reserva 2013, Maipo, Chile (£9.95 Winety – looks like I got the price wrong on the video) The more elegant end of the Carmenère spectrum, just the right side of jammy, this has lightly spicy blackcurrant and blackberry flavours joined by a note of […]
Two Carmenères from Chile
Have to say that I’m not usually a huge Carmenère fan, but this one hit the spot Morandé Reserva Carmenère 2010, Maipo, Chile (£10.29 The DrinkShop, The Wine Company) Classic combination of plus blackcurrant and dark berry flesh with earthy coffee bean and just enough of the green pepper tang […]
Morandé Reserva Carmenère 2010, Maipo, Chile
So why’s there a Madeira in among all these reds? The answer is chocolate… Changyu Cabernet Blend 2011, Ningxia, China (£9.90 currently not in the UK) Has the gentle leathery character and slightly figgy dark fruit of mature but not especially great Bordeaux, plus a slightly smoky note. OK, but […]
Wine Tasting Video: Red wines from China, France, Argentina & ...
Red Rhino Merlot/Shiraz 2011, Western Cape, South Africa (£6.49 The Drink Shop) Simple style, ripe, but a touch baked and volatile. C- Viña Casa Silva Silva Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère 2011, Colchagua, Chile (£7-8.95 Averys, Wine Rack) Combines the blackcurrant pastille of Cabernet with the more exotic herbal berry and […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cabernet Sauvignon and more from Chile, Australia ...
Alain Grignon Carignan Vieilles Vignes IGP Pays d’Hérault 2011, Languedoc, France (£7.49 Majestic) Starts off well with a fresh spicy edge, fruit is OK but veering towards the jammy dodger/baked spectrum, and there’s also a muddy vanilla softness. Can we have more spikes please Mr G? B- Miguel Torres Cordillera […]