Morande Carmenere

Morande Reserva Carmenere

Carmenere is a member of the Cabernet family of grapes.  The name Carmenere orignates from the French world for crimson (carmin) which refers to the grape's color on the vine.  The Morande Reserva Carmenere is produced in Pelequen, Chile within Maipo Valley just south of Santiago.  This wine is sealed with a nature cork and has an alcohol level of 13.5%.  

The Morande Reserva Carmenere is an opaque deep purple-red color.  On the nose are notes of smoke, charred wood, wet earth, grilled green bell pepper, blackberry, blueberry, violets, black pepper, and barbecue.  This Carmenere is an unique full-bodied wine with blackberry, black cherry, cassis, smoke, musty-earth, charred pepper, burnt wood, dark plum, and black pepper. This wine finished with ample tanins and low acidity.  Overall, a BIG bold expression of a rich Carmenere.  

Chilean Wine Fact 1.20.12

Wine Fact #1 

Since it is a new year I decided to change things up just a bit.  Oh don't worry, I will still be reviewing wines and posting all the wonderful aromas and flavors they have to offer, but now I will be throwing some wine information at you! 

Chile

 
In 2011, the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture approved a new set of geographical terms, based on east/west geography rather than north/south geography.  Now producers may use the designations Costa for coast, Entre Cordilleras for between mountains, or Andes to reflect the proximity of their vineyards to the coast or the mountains.  These terms will be seen on the labels of wine bottles, as well as a minimum 85% of grapes must be grown in the listed appellation if listed on the label of the bottle.

Chono Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

I began to notice that my blog was lacking a red wine from South America besides the well known Argentinian Malbec, and the 2009 Chono Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon fit right in! Chono is the name of a native tribe that lived in Southern Chile. This wine is produced in the Maipo Valley located in Central Valley, Chile, and was aged for 10 months in French and American oak barrels. This Cabernet Sauvignon had an alcohol level of 13.5% and was sealed with an natural cork.

This wine was a rich purple color. On the nose were notes of ripe blackberry, dark cherry, plum, smoke, fresh earth, anise, black licorice, fresh oak, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, and thyme. The palate was similar to the nose with hints of rich, ripe, dark fruits, fresh earth, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, anise, black licorice ropes, fresh oak, spice, wood, and green bell pepper. Overall, a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Central Chile.