| Way back when, the red Carmenere grape was a | | | | well balanced and brought out the pizza's spiciness. |
| major player in the vineyards of Bordeaux, | | | | I tasted the oak. |
| France. Between disease and the Phylloxera louse, | | | | The second meal involved beef stew with |
| it virtually disappeared from France but did | | | | potatoes. The Carmenere was very full-bodied |
| become Chili's signature grape. The word has it | | | | but short. This wine was chewy and tasted of |
| that Carmenere is now making a minor comeback | | | | dark plums. The tannins were round. This is a big |
| in Bordeaux. This grape is softer with gentler | | | | red and I won't be tasting it with an omelet. This |
| tannins than the better-known and more | | | | wine did not do well with spicy salsa. I guess lime |
| expensive Cabernet Sauvignon. The Carmenere | | | | and plums aren't compatible. |
| wine we review is produced in the Maipo Valley, | | | | The final meal consisted of grilled hamburgers with |
| the oldest and best-known Chilean wine region, | | | | green beans in a tomato sauce. The wine was |
| just south of Santiago, the nation's capital. | | | | fruity and full-bodied. The meat was too salty and |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we | | | | the wine was refreshing, a good way to deal with |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | this problem. Then I added some hot jalapeno |
| price. | | | | pepper sauce. The wine wasn't very affected by |
| Wine Reviewed | | | | the sauce, except that it became oakier. |
| Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserve 2006 13.5% | | | | Now for the cheeses. With a Marbled Cheddar the |
| alcohol about $10 | | | | plums were still there as were the round tannins. |
| Let's start with the marketing materials. Tasting | | | | Then I paired it with a Havarti. Finally this cheese |
| Note: Medium ruby/violet color; black cherry and | | | | overpowered the plums but the oak was still |
| plum aromas with spicy notes; dry, medium-full | | | | there. The combination wasn't bad, if you like wine |
| bodied with fruit flavors and light tannins on the | | | | and cheese. |
| finish. Serving Suggestions: Stuffed peppers, spicy | | | | Final verdict. In spite of the fact that the pairings |
| sausage or firm cheese. And now for my review. | | | | were fairly good, I probably won't be buying this |
| I started by sipping this wine alone. This | | | | wine again. But if you want a big red at little red |
| mouth-filling wine tasted of black plums - this is a | | | | prices this might be a wine for you. I'll keep |
| big red. The first meal was a pizza with pepperoni, | | | | looking. |
| mushrooms, and Italian sausage. The wine was | | | | |