This wine had one of those labels I instinctively pass over at the store. Since I knew what I was looking for Carmenere winethis time, the only thing that mattered was the varietal. It’s abeled as a reserve 2003 from the Maipo Valley, Chile. Slightly darker than the other Carmenere, this one had aromas of leather and tobacco with a little plum. This wine tasted fatter with more ripe fruit flavors of plum and raison. Noticeably more tannic with a longer finish of spice and some heat. Might be better with another year of aging. Once again not bad for the price.

I cannot deny that the price of these wines have influence on the ratings. With appropriate food pairings, I think the average wine drinker would enjoy these as dinner wines. I’ll pick up a couple to have on standby for a good stewed meat dish.