Terranoble Gran Reserva Carmenere - Commendable

A solid example of the variety at a great Costco price, the Terranoble Gran Reserva Carmenere.

100% Carménère from the La Higuera vineyard in the Maule Valley of Chile. The wine is aged for 12 months in a combination of stainless steel tanks and new to 2-year-old French oak barrels. It is also aged at least 6 months in bottle before release and has just 3 g/L of residual sugar.

We have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Carmenere here at Reverse Wine Snob. For whatever reason, we are quite sensitive to the green pepper (pyrazine) notes common in this variety so when they are overdone, they ruin the wine for us. Let's check out how today's wine does.

Sample submitted for review. The Terranoble Gran Reserva Carménère has an SRP of around $20 and an average wine-searcher price of $19 but we spotted it at Costco for just $12.99. It is imported by Winebow Imports.

The 2018 Terranoble Gran Reserva Carmenere opens with a pleasing aroma of dark fruit, a little spice, and that signature vegetal green pepper note so common to this variety. It's a bit stronger on the nose than we would like, but as we often find it's not as pronounced when tasting.

Taking a sip reveals a smooth, silky and tasty medium-bodied wine with well integrated spice to go along with the juicy dark fruit. It features a bit of that vegetal green pepper note underneath along with some oaky cola and chocolate notes.

It ends dry and long with lots of lingering licorice and touches of green pepper under the dark fruit. This is a solid example of Carmenere. Give it a couple of hours to breathe to be at its best.

Ready to buy? Check your local retailers.