I am ever excited about the many interesting wines that are coming from Chile. This one is the creation of the exceptional Valle de Aconcagua vineyard called Errazuriz.
It is a beautiful wine of 97% Carmenère and just a touch of 3% Shiraz. While Carmenere is a prominent grape in Chile many who enjoy it do not know it is also know by wine historians as the “lost grape of Bordeaux.” Many decades ago it was one of the major grapes of the Médoc region. Even under the best of circumstances, it was a difficult grape to grow in Bordeaux, but in Mediterranean like climate of the Valle de Aconcagua with it's warm summers and cool Pacific Ocean breezes this grape seems to do well.
This wine has a distinctly Bordeaux character and we enjoyed it immensely with dinner of South American cuisine. Selling at between $16+20 it is an excellent value.
I thank my friends at Vintus Wines for the introduction to this excellent wine.
While very new world in their approach to producing their current wines, it was over 140 years ago that Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errázuriz in the fertile Valle de Aconcagua, just 100 kms north of the capital city of Santiago.
As you would expect they produce a rich array of wines which have won numerous awards.
The Single Vineyard Carmenere has rich purple ruby color that hits the glass with striking impact, aromas of spice and cocoa along with dark fruit breath out and fill the air. The initial sip has an incredible array of roasted red peppers, soy sauce, cinnamon, under the broad fruit flavors of cherry, fig and blackberries.
The richness of this wine is a result of the longer growing season occurring due to the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean breezes with ripening some as much as two to three weeks later than other Chilean regions.
Once harvested the wine is racked directly to new oak barrels (43% French and 57% American) and aged for 12 months.
This is a wine that will age well. In fact it took many hours for this bottle to reach its full flavor. Like all good things patience is a compliment to your full enjoyment.
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