Taste Daily: What to Drink Tonight
Chile is the only country in the world to produce wine from the carménère grape. Originally a French grape from the Bordeaux region, it has long since lost out to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in plantings there. But in Chile, where cuttings from Europe were planted widely the 1800’s carménère thrived because it was mistaken for merlot. More than a century passed before the error was discovered, and this smaller berried grape with higher quality potential was hailed as the lost grape of Bordeaux.
Flavor-wise, carménère bears strong resemblance to its relations in the Bordeaux family, with the black plummy core of fruit so pleasing in merlot, cabernet sauvignon’s depth and chocolatey aromas, and the herbal edge of cabernet franc, yet it also has a Mediterranean character all its own. Carménère is a delight with savory foods, from cheese pizza to pot roast. One of the best values — just $10.99 — and most widely available in Pennsylvania, is premium Casillero del Diablo from Concha y Toro.