Carmenere

Where in Concord is Carmenere San Diego?

Do you remember the TV show or computer game or movie about Carmen San Diego?  If you don't, your kids probably do.  I watched it with my girlfriends nephew a few weeks back.

This is my story about trying to find Carmen excuse me, Carmenere  San Diego.   First I had to think long and hard about where in the world ol' Carmenere could be found.  I checked all our favorite wine-making regions.  Just about every major wine-making region has a grape or a style of wine that put them on the consumer map of wine.   But Carmenere?    You don't have to be a detective to see what grapes besides Carmenere are well represented on the shelves of any fine wine store.

Burgundy is known for  Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
New Zealand is known for  Sauvignon Blanc
Argentina is known for Malbec and Torrontes
Bordeaux is known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Rhone is known for Grenache and Syrah
South Africa is known for Pinotage
Germany is known for Riesling
Barolo and Barbaresco are known for Nebbiolo
Tuscany is known for  Sangiovese
Australia is known for Shiraz
and of course the USA is the melting pot of grapes

But what about Chile??? 
Chile is known for.........

Carmenere!  That's where she is, in Chile.   Besides being a little used blending grape in some Bordeaux wines, Carmenere stands out wonderfully as a single varietal  when grown and bottled in Chile.    Carmenere has been on my mind for a few weeks now since I watched the show.   I've been searching for a winery that produces the perfect example of this grape.   It shouldn't be too hard, right?  Just another small task in my quest of  finding amazing examples of wine from under-appreciated areas at a fantastic price.

I  tried some Carmenere's that were real Cheap-O's and some that were delicious, and what I call Expensive-O's.  The real Cheap-O's were under-ripe, thin and tasted like green pepper and the Expensive-O's were silky smooth, lush, dense and chewy.   But that's what I expect from an expensive bottle - either something totally unique and tasty or something so juicy I could drink the entire bottle myself in a night.  



(Carmenere goes great with a BBQ burger eaten on your porch, especially when it's 80 degrees out like it's going to be this coming Saturday!)

Anyone can walk into any store and spend a lot to get a great bottle.   Getting a great bottle for a great price requires research, trial and error and the desire to hunt!  My hunt for Carmenere San Diego continued on until I found her last week.  She had the looks and the makeup of a $30, expensive and awesome Carmenere but the price tag of a Cheap-O.   Now, that sounds like my kind of date!

For $15 this is a no-brainer purchase.  Why? Let me give you 5 reaons why.  Here comes the windup, and the  pitch.....

1. It's different.  I know, different doesn't necessarily mean better but it's easy to get caught in that Cabernet, Merlot, or Pinot Noir rut.   If you've tried Carmenere, this one will be the best you've had under $25.  If you haven't tried Carmenere, you're about to be spoiled.  It'll be like watching Forest Gump as your first introduction to all Tom Hanks movies. 
   
   
   
2. In a single word, this wine is hedonistic. The reviewers at the Wine Advocate use this term fairly often to describe a wine which is fun to drink for sheer pleasure rather then for a critical review. A proper definition for hedonistic?  "devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses". Pleasure, good. Pain, bad.
   
   
3. The price is right.  It will be very difficult to find this wine at a better price. Don't worry, I already checked.
   
   
   
4. Tastes great...and filling.  I just poured myself another sip.  It's the deepest of deep purples in the glass follow by spice, woodsy and red fruit aromas.  Very round and juicy in the mouth.  A creamy texture.  Finish shows soft and elegant tannins with a long, caressing and soothing finish. 
   
   
   
5. If you like modern versions of Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and even Malbec it will be hard to not enjoy this wine.  If you like old world style wine - more rustic, earthy, and sometimes sharp I encourage you to try this one out.  It's different.  Or wait for my next email which should please your tastes.  
   
   Click the label to see what other consumers think of this wine on Cellartracker.com

2007 Concha y Toro Carmenere Marques de Casa Concha

Found elsewhere @ $21
Our special E-Club Price is $14.99 net (over 30% off)

91 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:

"The Marques de Casa Concha series begins with the 2007 Carmenere which spent 16 months in French oak. Saturated purple in color, it offers up a splendid bouquet of toasty oak, tobacco, Asian spices, plum, and blueberry. Mouth-coating, layered, and bordering on opulent, there is plenty of ripe tannin lurking under the fruit, succulent flavors, and excellent balance. This is an awesome value "  91 Points - Wine Advocate

In stock now and next to the registers up front. You can reserve a bottle, a case or more by emailing me or just stop by the store.