Reverse Wine Snob®

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

  • Home
  • About
    • What is a Reverse Wine Snob?
    • The Rating System
    • Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • RWS In The News
  • Ask The Expert
  • Best of Lists!
    • Best of Lists by Category
    • Top 10 Red Wines Under $20
    • Top 10 White and Rosé Wines Under $20
  • Browse
    • Browse by Variety
    • Browse by Region
    • Costco® Picks
    • Trader Joe’s® Picks
  • Buy the Book
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Samples
    • Email Us

Carmen Gran Reserva Carménère – Tour of Chile Wine #5

2009_Carmen_Gran_Reserva_Carmenere

100% Carménère from Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile.

SRP of $17 and available for as low as $15. Sample received courtesy Wines of Chile for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“This superb multi-dimensional wine is the result of our efforts to create the ultimate expression of Carménère. To do this, we focused on the two vital influences of soil and climate.

Soil: Mainly granitic sediment well-suited to the deeply penetrating roots of the Carménère vines. Shallower soil and steep slopes successfully moderate the vine’s vigour, thus improving the concentration of the fruit.

Climate: Apalta is ideal for this variety, with a growing season of 29 to 33°C and mild night temperatures which deliver flavours of red fruits, with smoky, spicy, and earthy notes. This Carménère cements Apalta’s reputation as an optimum winegrowing region.

14.0% Alcohol”

Today’s wine comes from the oldest winery in Chile, founded in 1850. It was also the winery that rediscovered the Carménère grape in 1994, which helped to put Chilean wine on the map as having something really distinctive to offer.

The 2009 Carmen Gran Reserva Carménère begins with aromas of dark fruit, plum and lots of spice plus a little vanilla and smoke. The wine tastes of smoky fruit (primarily blackberry) and dense spice featuring prominent tannins and lots of oak. The wine is medium-full bodied and finishes with a little bit of sour red fruit that resolves into smoky, cigar box notes.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.


Taste Rating: 7              Cost Rating: 6
Overall Rating: 6.5

Second Chance


1 Rating – Add Yours!

 
 
 
 
 

 

i
 

2010_Wines_of_Chile_Carmenere

Wines in the Tour of Chile Series

1) 2010 Emiliana Natura Carménère
2) 2008 Casa Silva Los Lingues Gran Reserva Carménère
3) 2008 Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Carménère
4) 2008 Montes Alpha Carménère
5) 2009 Carmen Gran Reserva Carménère
6) 2009 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carménère
7) 2009 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carménère
8) 2007 Haras de Pirque Character

All ratings use a simple 10 point scale with 10 being the best. Find out more about my rating systemhere and check out the Interactive Wine Rating Chart to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive spreadsheet.

You May Also Like

  • 2009_Santa_Carolina_Reserva_de_Familia_Carmenere
    Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #6

    100% Carménère from Rapel Valley, Chile. SRP of $19.99 but available for…

  • 2008_Santa_Rita_Medalla_Real_Gran_Reserva_Carmenere
    Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #3

    100% Carménère from Colchagua Valley, Chile. SRP of $19.99 and available for…

  • 2008_Casa_Silva_Los_Lingues_Gran_Reserva_Carmenere
    Casa Silva Los Lingues Gran Reserva Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #2

    100% Carménère from Colchagua Valley, Chile. SRP of $22 and available for…

  • 2010_Emiliana_Natura_Carmenere
    Emiliana Natura Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #1

    100% Carménère (Organic) from Colchagua Valley, Chile. SRP of $16.99 but available…

  • 2008_Montes_Alpha_Carmenere
    Montes Alpha Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #4

    90% Carménère and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley, Chile. SRP of…

  • 2009_Concha_y_Toro_Marques_de_Casa_Concha_Carmenere
    Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carménère - Tour of Chile Wine #7

    100% Carménère from Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile. SRP of $20 but…

Filed Under: Carménère, Chile

<< Montes Alpha Carménère – Tour of Chile Wine #4
Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carménère – Tour of Chile Wine #6 >>
Twitter 243,671Followers
Facebook 68,753Fans
Instagram 17,773Followers

Best Of Lists!

The Best Canned Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Canned Wines

The Best Red Blends Under $20!

The Best Red Blends Under $20

The Best Pinot Noir - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Pinot Noir Under $20

The Best Syrah Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Syrah Under $20

The Best Box Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Box Wines

The Best Zinfandel Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Zinfandel Under $20

Read All Of Our Best Of Lists Here!

Featured Articles

The Best Sparkling Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Sparkling Wines

Why Are Wine Bottles Different Shapes? Ask The Expert!

Why Are Wine Bottles Different Shapes? Ask The Expert!

Garnacha from Carinena - A Spanish Wonder

Exploring Carinena and the Vinas Viejas de Paniza Garnacha – A Spanish Wonder

What Makes Washington Wine Special? Ask The Expert!

What Makes Washington Wine Special? Ask The Expert!

Why Is Amarone So Expensive? Ask The Expert!

Why Is Amarone So Expensive? Ask The Expert!

The Best Riesling - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Riesling Under $20

Order The Book on Amazon!

.

Don’t Miss A Review – Subscribe!

Confirmation will be sent via email before your subscription can become active so be sure to click the link!

About Me

Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! Independent wine consumer helping millions of people (1.4 million unique visitors in 2017 alone) find great grape without breaking the bank. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob this article is a great place to start! Wanna chat about wine? Join our Facebook Group!

Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

Copyright © 2011–2019 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy