Wine Club: November 2010: Chilean Wines

The Spread:

(Not pictured: freshly baked empanadas!)

WINES OF THE EVENING:

1. Cousino-Macul Sauvignon Gris: 3.166667 stars, 13.5 % alcohol, $9.99

Sauvignon Gris: We learned that sauvignon gris is a clonal mutation of the Sauvignon blanc grape. Sauvignon Gris has a pinkish hue to its skin (though the wine we had was white). The grape is primarily found in Bordeaux and Chile, where it was imported with Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon vert cuttings. The grape produces less aromatic wines and is often use for blending. Sauvignon Gris produces fruit with higher sugar levels than its cousin, which contribute to greater aromatics and a more rich and round feel to the wines. At one point these wines were highly prized yet due to the ridiculously low yields that the grape produces it almost became extinct.

Observations:

Strong, dense wine
Tasted citrus, fruits
Stands up to food
Some thought it tasted like it had been aged in oak (the bottle didn't have any information on this point)

2. Cono Sur Pinot Noir Pinot Noir: 3.1666667 stars. 14%, $12.

Observations:

Aroma of blackberries and bell peppers.
Not dry.
Taste cherries.
Tastes more like a malbec – earthy flavors on the finish.

**We all LOVED this wine when paired with Dubliner Irish Cheddar. The cheese softened the acids and mellowed the earthy factor.

3. Antu Ninquen 70% Cab, 30% Carmanere: 4.33333 stars, 14.2%; $14.99.

Carmerere: Carmenere was widely planted in Bordeaux in the early 1700s, but disappeared from French vineyards in the late 1800s due to its declining popularity (growers began pulling it because of problems with ripening) and phylloxera. When replanting began, the French turned to more promising varietals and eventually forgot Carmenere.

Meanwhile, just before phylloxera hit France, growers in Chile were busy planting vines they imported from Bordeaux--including plenty of Carmenere. Over the years, Carmenere became mixed in with Chile's Merlot vines, and growers later mistook it for a Merlot clone. French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot set the record straight during a visit to Chile in 1994, when he identified the country's mysterious "Merlot clone" as Bordeaux's long-lost grape. DNA profiling confirmed his theory, and in 1998 the Chilean Department of Agriculture officially recognized Carmenere as a distinct variety.

Since then, marketers have been promoting Carmenere as Chile's flagship varietal, akin to Malbec in Argentina. Its story is certainly a compelling one, and at their best, Carmenere wines show intriguing characteristics of blackberry, coffee and spice. But the variety does have its drawbacks. The grapes are notoriously slow to ripen--Carmenere is picked even later than Cabernet Sauvignon, which exposes it to Chile's April rains. If the grapes are not ripe enough, the wines can have a green, vegetal smell (some would call it downright funky). The variety also suffers from set problems, poor rootstock and a lack of acidity.

Observations: