A nice example of the signature Chilean variety, we review the Primus Carménère from the Colchagua Valley.
Organically grown Carménère from the Apalta subregion in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. The wine was aged 12 months in 18% new French oak barrels. It is also vegan friendly.
Sample submitted for review. The Primus Carménère has an SRP of $21 and is available for as low as $17. It is imported by Gonzalez Byass.
From the bottle:
This wine comes from vines with a southern exposure planted along the Tinguiririca River’s old terraces. Sustainable agriculture combined with Apalta’s unique soils result in an elegant Carménère with hints of black pepper, smooth tannins and a long finish.
Produced and bottled by Alto de Casablanca S.A.
14.5% Alcohol
Carménère (a traditional Bordeaux grape) has become the signature variety for Chile but it can be a bit challenging for those of us who are sensitive to the green pyrazine notes so common to these wines. Let’s check out how this one does.
The 2020 Primus Carménère opens with aromas of plum, black cherry, potpourri, cedar and more. It definitely has some green notes as well, which are so common with this variety, but they tend more towards the herbal and wintergreen side of things, which is rather attractive versus off-putting.
Tasting the wine reveals it to be smooth with similar flavors to the nose plus nice structure and acidity. Quite pleasing to drink, this is a very nice and approachable example of
This Article was originally published on The Reverse Wine Snob
