Heh, I was going to say the Castillo del Diablo was one of the only ones I’ve had, but the one I had was AGGRRRGGG Oak Monster USA. They’ve still got it here at Walgreens, maybe I ought to try it again.

I have to agree with missatiejacket. Carmeneres imo tend to be overly tanic and stemmy. I can’t comment on production quality, but the fruit is very often overshadowed by the greenness. Over oaking seems common as well, but I think that’s a tendency in many chilean wines. Fruit bomb is about the last thing i would describe any carmenere I’ve had as. That’s like comparing cab franc and zin…. I’m only chiming in here because I drink lots of the stuff. I am a fan on carmenere, but on a limited basis. It seems quite trendy at the moment, and a lot of folks locally tend to pick up on that and hail it as the second coming just because it’s a lesser know varietal.

I’d like to see carmenere blended with some fruitier wines, i.e. syrah. I’ve had a few very good syrahs from chile that could have been great with some refinemnt.

Well you don’t get it don’t ya???

Try Terrunyo Carmenere,,,, and if you don’t like that well…. F*ck off then!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean THAT!

We don’t have to agree, have we?

xoxo

QOTD: I've only ever had the Chocalan…I liked it well enough!

NIce, Carmenère, a new favorite of mine. Side question: see the following links for my experience with Carmenère.-
http://www.garalysoka.com/vinos/2008/10/1/la-ca…

http://www.garalysoka.com/vinos/2009/2/3/casa-s…

http://www.garalysoka.com/diario/2009/1/28/cata…

QOTD: First time was in a tasting we attended last year, overall Casa Silva won appraise and is now a regular with us.

QOTD: I've had about 3 different Carmenere. Not a huge fan. Had a bit of a cat box finish.

I have tried a few (3-4) in the past but not one ever made an impression on me. They were usually to tanic or to much black pepper and coffe grounds for my liking. But after watching you I think I shall try again.

JSGP!

Hey man how's it hangin' ?

Casillero is GREAT QPR!

Yeah that was a cool bit…. You gotta try Carmenere…… DO IT!

Cool, cat box, really?

Yep! Gotta love it!

But try other things as well….. Chile makes serious Carmenere.

You look just like a Carmenere taste…. Very nice!!! ; )

Yeah. It was “Killer Bee” Carmenere. I bought it once myself and then my parents bought it to bring to a blind tasting. Both times, cat box. Not good times. The ones I've tried at wine bars have tasted a bit beat, but that's probably more of an indictment of how wine bars keep their wines “fresh”. Maybe I'm getting ahold of some poor examples. I'll have to seek out a better one, if I can get over the previous experiences.

Hi Gary, love Carmenère as it gives Chile a point of difference. However, I remember, back in the mid-1990s when Chilean wines were just becoming popular in the UK, Oz Clarke was a huge fan of Merlot and used to say on TV (terrestrial in those days) how Chilean Merlot was really typical Merlot. As a wine educator I did it too in tasting classes – how wrong we were … back then, most of the Merlot was actually Carmenère they just hadn't identified it then, but we loved it! Now they've separated the two grape varieties and are trying harder, but the grape has to be grown in one of the warmer valleys to avoid too much of that 'green' flavour that you spotted on the first two.

Glad you focussed on it – they're getting better and better, though I love the Cabernet/Carmenère blends too as the Cabernet gives an extra structure to the Carmenère and its flavour takes away some of the greenness too. It's in all those top icon wines too as part of the blend. My favourite is from the Casa Silva winery in Colchagua – tasted several from them yesterday in London and the Los Lingues was wonderful.

Thought you showed a good contrasting thre wines and great value too.

QOTD: I've had at least 20 in the past year. Carmenere is also often used in the Bordeaux style blends in Chile. The best ones I've had lately are the 2008 Natura and the 2007 Anakena Single Vineyard.

Carmenere…I've had 3 or 4, almost all of which are in the $7-$10 range.

This episode is timely, as my store has a Carmenere rated 90 points Wine and Spirits on Sale for $6.74 for a few more days. The wine is the Santa Alicia Carmenere Maipo Valley Reserve 2008, and for $7, I think it is fantastic for the price. Great for the burgers and pizza and such, and right in the same range of complexity as the other Carmenere's I've had.

I do believe that many of the Carmenere's are more medium bodied than I would like, and if they can come across with a heavier profile, I would like them much more than I do. Even so, within the store-wine kind of envelope, it's hard to go wrong with a Carmenere. The comparison to Malbec is particularly apt, and I would imagine that we will see Malbec peak just before Carmenere does in the market. Both have a ways to go yet, as Reserve Malbecs are still below $20. I would look for them to hit that $20, $30 price point over the next 5 years, but for sure, enjoy them for now.

I think I've had a couple many moons ago. Not memorable but not bad. I will have to give it another try.
I like the wrinkled T-REX shirt rockin it out. Is that a band or a reference to all the oldies stations across the country.

Allan, first you say you don't know about Carmenere, then you reply as THE Expert. WTF?

Marc Bolan nuff said!!!!!

Hello you old school rocker!

What are your thoughts on ZZ Top & Carmenere? Seperate and together… Do they Rock?

Short term memory….. Split personality…. Expert Not likely… Haven't tasted that many, really.

Cool. Thanks for the advice. I'll have to check the Carmin de Peumo out.

Finally a chilean wine episode, I 've been waiting…and carmenere!

QOTD: Too much to keep track of since I live in Chile. I have pretty much infinite choices when it comes to carmenere. It has become one of my favorite types of wine. I would love to see it become more widely known in the U.S., especially since Malbec is really “hot” right now..maybe carmenere will be the next thing. There are some other great carmeners out there like Tabali 2007, Casa Silva Gran Reserva Los Lingues 2007, Santa Cruz Gran Chaman 2006 and Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha 2007….just to name a few faves 🙂

Chile really makes some really goods Carmenere I live in South America and have tried really good Carmenere from Chile. The one I liked most was De Martino – Legado Carmenere Reserva 2004. If you can get one tried. This wine really show you how a really Carmenere should be.