2010 Root One Carmenere

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2010 Root One Carmenere
#nb-09-12



The last time I wrote about the Root One Carmenere we were having spaghetti, and we chose the 2009 Root One Carmenere instead of Chianti. Now a year later, it seemed that the right thing to do was to have a repeat with the 2010 vintage for a good comparison. Of course spaghetti at the Bentley house is a real treat, and so was the 2010 Root One Carmenere.

Root One Carmenere is grown in the Colchagua Valley of Chile, where it enjoys warm sunny days, and cooling pacific breezes in the evening. Carmenere, "the lost grape of Bordeaux", can best be described as a taste in between the flavors of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, but make no mistake, this wine has a personality all its own. It is rich and bold with a strong backbone laced with heavy fruit flavors.

This 2010 vintage is dark red to purple in the glass with a fragrant nose suggesting the berry patch. The flavor has a pronounced blackberry dominance with a background of plum and spice, with a slight touch of pepper. The wine was aged for ten months in both French and American oak, which supplied a smooth vanilla tinged tannin to the finish. The Root One is 90% Carmenere with 5% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It is 13.8% alcohol, and tastes like a much more expensive Bordeaux.

This is one of the best all around red wines on the market for ten dollars or less! It is great with spaghetti or any other spicy dish, and is a good companion to grilled steak.

Norm's score is 88.



Score: 88
Price: $9 - $11


Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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