Torreon De Paredes, Reserva Carménère 2014, Rengo, Chile. 13.5% ABV, Street Price $11/bottle.
With a garnet center and ruby edging, the nose offers blackberry, blue plum, boysenberry, lilac and autumnal leaves. On the palate: dark blue fruit, heavy clove and spice box, followed by bittersweet chocolate and forest floor. On the lengthy finish: notes of cumin, cherry, and vanilla.
Featuring big, chewy tannins and moderate acidity, this wine is a mouthful that requires some thought to make an excellent food pairing. My attempt with fettuccini carbonara was only so-s0, the dish felt too delicate compared to the wine that easily overpowered the pasta sauce. A better choice would have been a dish featuring game or beef, or a savory sauce with a heavier profile, such as alfredo or genovese sauce. But for the price point, this is a decent table wine to pair with dinner, especially in the under $12/bottle range, that manages to taste unique when you want to step outside your “normal” range of red wines.
I like Chilean wines. I think we will start getting more and more of them in the forefront in the coming years. Great Article Jim! Cheers
LikeLike
They certainly offer great QPR and bold flavors!
Some of my favorite under $15/bottle options. Cheers, hope you both are well!
LikeLike