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EP 822 Chilean Carmenere Tasting

Gary introduces a grape that’s made a splash in Chile and brings some great value to the table.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Vina Chocalan Carmenere 2008Chile Carmenere
2008 Tamaya CarmenereChile Carmenere
2006 Vina San Pedro 1865 CarmenereChile Carmenere


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AndersN

Wrong video for this caption….its 821 showing Mott 🙂

Tags: Carmenere, Chilean, red, review, wine, wines

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  • jsums

    Had 4 or 5 Carmeneres. I've liked them all to some degree, but two really stood out. The Portal del Alto Reserve '05 and the Santa Rita Medalla Real '07. There's a particular characteristic that both have which I've found only in Carmenere. Maybe it's the grape, maybe it's Chile…I don't know. But there's a kind of a coffee grounds meets bitter wet earth meets green nettle that I adore in both those wines. Combine that with some luscious fruit and good structural tannins, and you've got a serious contender under $20. Awesome char-grilled steak wine.

  • QOTD: Carménère… I've had somewhere in the Range of 10 to 20

  • Really concise show. Chile, they do make good wine. A lot of chilean wine sold in Sweden, really popular for good taste and good price.
    QOTD: Had 3 carmenere, all in the last year actually, one was gooooood, the other two meh kindoflike.

  • YoungDave

    QOTD: I am a big fan of Chilean Carmenere, I have carried 2 or 3 different selections by the glass at the restaurant, and I guess I have tasted around 15 in my time in this business.

  • audiofan

    This is why Carmenere is nowadays a tiny percentage 'blending' grape in Bordeaux; very difficult to produce a balanced wine when it's the dominate varietal, especially in this price range. I don't much appreciate 'green', vegative flavors in red wine, as this is typically considered a “flaw” – but that's not to say it's wrong if that's your style (as it apparently is for GV).
    The show seemed a little hurried (more than usual). This, and the taping of multiple episodes at a time (despite the changed & VERY wrinkled shirt) shows how time is now at a premium in GVs life…careful you don't 'overcrush it', bro, and become an even bigger workaholic like me! ;-]

  • boughtrecords

    It is hillarious that you used 1 and 7 because I have BOTH. I started to really like the value of Chilean wines and the guy at the shop I usually go to showed me a Carmenere and mentioned like you did that it started out in france and made its way to south america. I tried it and thought it was a great change from the cab rut I was in. Every time I went back I picked up a bottle and I think I had that one 7 times. As I started to count I had to laugh!

  • earkin

    I first had a Chilean Carmenere at the Plough & Stars in Cambridge (I guess they were early adopters, as this was a few years ago) and now I feel like it's quite common to find in stores and on wine lists around here.

    Gary, I keep waiting for the right moment to make this comment but I'm too impatient so I'm just going to blurt it out now. I have the greatest synergy idea of all time and it's totally off-topic to this episode: Wine Library TV meets Mythbusters. You should totally have Adam Savage on as a guest–he talks about food and restaurants frequently in interviews so I wouldn't be surprised if he liked wine, and just think of the wine myths you could bust together!

  • Richie

    QOTD: Never heard of it until a couple of minutes ago.

  • pawncop

    I had a Terre Noble 2003 Reserva Carmenere back in 2006 when I really first started enjoying wine. It was one of the first wines I recall that I really began to distinguish the flavors other than it tasting “like wine”. Very smooth with cherries as you have mentioned.

    Very good episode and will revisit my friends from down south.

  • That’s good to know for those that might not get it at a local shop. How many did they have roughly?

  • CoffeeSmith

    Nice, I was pysched to see Tamaya on the show today. Its been a “go to” wine with my girlfriend and I for the past year or so. One of the few wines available that you review here in Delaware. Two things, I need a BIG ASS glass and some casis!

  • Such speed, 3 wines 9 minutes. Holy cow! 😉

    Had about 2 or 3 Carmeneres.. Can't remember if I liked all of them, but I remember all had a big fruity body, not overdone and slightly softer tannins than Cab Sauv. Need to try more of them, though.

  • BTW Carmenere has it roots in the Bordeaux, before the phylloxera disaster, does anyone know if there are some Carmenere-Bordeaux nowadays, or is it totally extinct?

  • poconnor

    The name of the game with Carménère is pyrazine. Methoxypyrazines are chemical compounds that exacerbate vegetal, herbaceous notes, green pepper, bell pepper (the same aromas found in Sauvignon Blanc wines); and Carménère has huge amounts of it.
    Chilean scientists are searching desperately for a more economically viable clone, with lower pyrazine levels.
    According to UC Davis scientists, the only way to avoid the undesirable (for red wines) vegetal aromas is to obtain indisputable physiological ripeness; and the tricks are: a very delicate balance between plant growth and quantity of fruit on the vine; and a lot of sunlight, and dry weather, between fruit set and veraison.

  • El Diablo es muy importante!

  • Phil G

    I traveled to Chile in 2005 (on my way to Easter Island) with some friends and we check out a few of the bigger name wineries. While taking one of the tours, they were talking about Carmenere, which I had not heard of. I quickly told my friends that I thought this would be a big marketing push for the “wine of chile” folks – sort of their Malbec. It hasn't completely exploded like that, but it is getting bigger…

    QOTD – Have had more than 5, less than 10. No strong opinion, just not in a strong rotation…

  • Worth the money…try the Concha Y Toro “Terrunyo” …. the big brother version of the Diablo.

  • Waits

    Have tried it many times…. ; )

    What i would like to taste is the Carmin de Peumo, the even bigger brother of the Terrunyo, but it’s hard to find. Parker likes it so= EXPENSIVE

  • I agree. I’ve got a bottle of 2005 sleeping, which I probably need to get on and drink so I can buy some of the 2006.

  • I’m jealous…my wife’s Dad has lived in Chile for the last 35 years, and we’ve visited there a few times since we got married…can’t wait to go back and hit the Vendimia in Pirque again. Salut!

  • pedromota

    QOTD – Had a lot of carmeneres. Very popular grape in south america. Have to tell you that´s not my favorite kind of wine.

    Really enjoy your show!

  • I have a bottle that I found in a great little specialty foods store in Great Barrington, MA…it was expensive, so I called it a self-birthday present. Still in the cellar though.

  • ronribbons

    I think Gary should routinely have the components he tastes in wine talk to each other, a la chocolate and jalapeno.

  • legrec

    I like Carmenere when it's done properly and I'm doing a tasting on it soon. So I am happy to see you do it. I think the oak is there to camouflage the greeniness of the varietal. Tought to find a good one with no oak.
    This show was a little quicky and we could notice the wrinkle shirt no fooling us here. I don't mind you taping multiple shows the same day but my advice make sure the last one is as good.

  • ewb

    QOTD: Two. Both Terra Andina. I enjoyed the Reserve. I think the Varietal bottle I had was corked. Drank it anyway.

  • corkscrew

    have had a couple different Carmenere, all from Chile also, hit or miss, interesting roasted meat on nose, something to have now and then, not my fav fav. http://www.winelx.com

  • MarcBelgium

    Not the best episode but enjoyable. A little bit rushed. I doin't like the + 30 min episodes but just 8 min is a little short.

    QOTD. I had some but don't remember if it was good or bad.

  • MooseSox

    QOTD: I've had three bottles, two wines. The first time was in December when I saw a Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere, and we had liked another of their wines on our honeymoon, so I wanted to try a new varietal. Loved it, and the in-laws liked it too. I saw the same bottle in a LWS, so I got another just for me. I can't remember what the other wine was, unfortunately, but I'm really enjoying this grape from what I've tasted.

  • Cristian M.

    Gary: I enjoy “the thunder show” a lot. I'm chilean, so I've been following very closely the carmenere variety from its initial showings (roughly 15 years ago). At the very beginning, the excess of that “greeniness” was a headache for the producers, so the only way to deal with that was to plant in very warm environments (i.e. Colchagua valley). But through the years they have learned that through vineyard management, they can allow more sunlight to reach the grapes in colder weather regions. That's why now you can find very good examples of “cool weather” carmeneres in regions like Limari valley (i.e CASA TAMAYA, one of the wines in your tasting). The bottom line: now there are several “styles” of carmenere in Chile, with different profiles that will appeal to different people, from fruit (and chocolate) forward, easy drinking samples from Colchagua valley (Casa Silva is a good example), to very complex approaches that add earthines, herbal notes, even animal notes in Aconcagua, Cachapoal, Curicó, and Limari valleys. The only way to narrow the scope and choose the favourite, is to DRINK 'EM ALL !!!

  • DAveAll

    haha. the comments below say it all. haha. I thought it was in fast forward as fast as you talked. rushed these days? haha. Aren't we all! Having a hand ful of tshirts to change, and empty the spit bucket, then rack out another one. I found it very fun and funny. good show.

    Carmenere is interesting, can't say I found a good food with it yet.

  • shamula62

    Gary:

    Another solid show. Along with Malbec from Argentina, Carmenere is probably my favorite South American wine. Haven't had a lot of experience, but have tasted Carmeneres from Cono Sur, Concha Y Toro, Sierra Cruz and Casillero del Diablo. All have been quite good, and for the price point of arould $10 – $15 on average, it is a great value as well.

    Can't wait to see the next T-shirt installment.

  • howardhewitt

    Have experimented off and on with Carmenere for a couple of years. I find a lot of hit and miss with the quality. Actually had a bottle of Santa Emma last night – 89 points Wine Advocate, Jay Miller. Pretty darn good wine for $9.99

  • englishexlurker

    QOTD

    Yeah drink lots of carmenere. Its rather popular here and there are lots of good value examples to be had. Fantastic one called Los Robles is available in a couple of large chains for only £5-6.

    great stuff. love it.

  • QOTD: had some in a blend once, but definitely not over 50%

  • dz

    The 2008 Carmenere Calina Reserva with the royal blue foil is probably the best $8 bottle of red wine I've had in recent memory. It's delicious without being over the top and tasting of oak and it stands up to repeated drinking, my highest recommendation.

  • weighdownsouth

    Love the show Gary!!! Know that you have some fans in Mississippi??

  • Quick, quick show…it seemed like a record for three wines.

    QOTD: I've grown up with Chilean wines care of my mother and her side of the family. I'd say I have had around 10-12. Santa Rita was the first exposure I got back in the day, though most recently I had The Portal del Alto Reserve '05 like jsums. I definitely see the trend of over-oaking. I remember having great-bodied Carmenere without that cloying Yankee Candle-like bouquet. I think it's the spiciness, the body, and the pairing with steak that keeps me coming back for more. In NYC, you can hit PuroChile, as sometimes they will do wine tastings including Carmenere.

  • A_S

    QOTD: Never had a 100% Carmenere based wine yet:(

  • Rats! been offline because of the storm…missed the Carmenere while it was fresh!

  • QOTD: Lost count. Had it in Chile for the first time back in 1999, and completely fell for it. We seek it out and try new vintages of known brands, and new brands when they appear. There are a lot more bottlings down there than we see here in the US, and some less acceptable stuff is starting to appear on the low price end, as the band wagon starts to pick up speed.
    Want a beautiful example?
    Try the Concha Y Toro “Terrunyo”

  • Green still may be an issue of early harvest…the Carmenere was originally accidentally planted with Merlot, misidentified as such, and harvested along with, probably two weeks too early. It may still happen.
    The dusty smell is a serious Chile terroir aspect.

  • Cristian M.

    I agree with Burroboy, Terrunyo is a FANTASTIC wine from a Cachapoal area called PEUMO. For around 25 bones, it is probably only surpassed by its bigger brother: CARMIN DE PEUMO (also from Concha y Toro), and by Casa Silvas's “Microterroir”… both of them fairly expensive wines, even here in Chile.

  • QOTD: I've had a couple, but have yet to find one that blew me away. I do like the price points, though.

  • Falernia up in the Elqui Valley also has a pretty nice Carmenere.

  • I started buying the terrunyo by the case a couple of years ago after we got back from our last trip…having tried it in Pirque at the Concha Y Toro shrine… I mean winery. Picked up a bottle of the Carmin de Peumo last year and have been sitting on it. I may need to come up with a special occasion sometime soon.

  • Claus

    Carmenere…$8 at Trader Joe's! Chilean, the one with the bull on it. Had all that super young green bell pepper stuff…

  • JayZee13

    Okay, I've had Carmenere many times in blends, especially from Spain. But as far as straight varietal Carmenere, I have had a handful. I had the 1865 at a wine tasting a couple of years ago (probably 2004 or 2005 vintage) and I remember that it was pretty decent overall.

  • Cristian M.

    I think you are very lucky. You have real “treasures” evolving at home. Please hold some of those terrunyos (regardless of the vintage), and open them up every 2 o 3 years. Try to open them together with more current vintages, to be able to compare them. Believe me, the change will not be what you expect… Regarding Carmin, just keep sitting on it.

  • Gracias for talking me down away from the Carmin…you are right, I should not rush that one…maybe stick it in the empty slot of one of the Don Melchor cases I also have hidden under the stairs. I'm usually pretty reserved about how I spend the dinero por vino, but these are my special purchases.
    You live in Santiago or someplace else?

  • Had lots of Carmenere – and I generally like it.

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