I have found with the unbelievably scorching temperatures lately that I have been in the mood only for cold drinks, so I have really been exploring coolers and white wines, not to mention more than a few Cubatas (although I have been substituting the lime juice for lime vodka since I'm crazy like that). The other day, however, I was really in the mood for that luxurious, soft feeling that only a nice red wine gives me. I've been wanting to taste a Carmenère for a while now, and since I am apparently incapable of leaving work empty handed, I had a bottle just waiting for me to taste.
While originally a French varietal, your bottle of Carmenère is much more likely to come from Chile. Often mistaken for Merlot, this grape thrives in the Chilean climate where the hot season allows for a full ripening. It seems that for a long while what was thought to be Merlot in Chile was actually Carmenère... most likely since it wasn't a popular varietal that would sell.
I look forward to trying more examples of this fascinating fruit, but here is the one I tried:
PKNT Carmenère provided a great first impression. Almost black in the glass, it boasted spicy notes of black pepper and a nice coffee essence with round, smooth cherry character. We drank this with steak, however next time I would serve this with something spicy as the relative full body would really compliment some jalapeno heat. I'm thinking a mixed grill with jalapeno chimi churri or spicy avacado salsa. http://www.tasteofcuba.com/cubata.html
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