Marchigue Carmenere Santa Ana Vineyard Reserva 2012

Carmenere is one of the original six Bordeaux grapes. Today, the Carmenere grape is primarily grown in Chile and is often referred to as the "signature grape of Chile". This Merlot-like grape is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. Carmenere is best drunk when it is young.

It is not common to see Carmenere in the stores where I shop and I was intrigued to find this single vineyard, reserve wine for $7.99 at Trader Joe's. The bottle promises aromas of lush forest. I was skeptical, but from the glass I indeed detected a nose that I would describe as damp cedar followed by a taste of oak, mint and red berry. This is a medium bodied wine with softer tannins and the terroir has clearly impacted this wine.

This medium bodied wine will pair well with a wide variety of beef, pork and pasta dishes.

SC Wine Joe rating = 89

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