The vineyards of Chile are a reliable source of excellent value wines. The Colchagua Valley lies south of Santiago and is noted for quality wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties. Carmenère is Chile’s distinctive Bordeaux grape variety, having arrived in Chile before the plague of phylloxera devastated the Bordeaux vineyards in the late 19th century. Deep in color, the 2013 Montgras Carmenère Reserva shows scents of ripe blackberries, blackcurrants and cherries with hints of roasted coffee, fresh herbs and baking spices. Full flavored and rich on the palate, it offers sumptuous layers of black fruits underlain by coffee, herb and cinnamon-spice tones. The wine shows balance and richness, avoiding the sometimes excessive green pepper characteristics of some Carmenère bottlings. The Montgras Reserva offers amazingly good quality for its friendly price.
Montgras, Colchagua (Valle Central, Chile) Carmenère 2013
By Wayne Belding