Have you ever traced your roots? I have. I found it fascinating learning about why and how my family immigrated to the United States. Mostly, they came here for a better life, and a chance to thrive. Well, even grapes have a story. And if the vines of this wine could talk, here is the story they would tell.
Carménère hails from the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France. Related to the Cabernet family, it is one of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, France. Sadly, today, its plantings in France have diminished to just a handful of vineyards. Thankfully, Carménère was brought to Chile from France around the 1850′s just before the Phylloxera disease invaded and decimated the root stocks of European vineyards. The timing of Carménère’s immigration to Chile essentially saved this variety from extinction.
Root: 1 Wine is a proud custodian of these vines.
Root: 1 Carmenare
The Wine: Opening with earthy aromas and winter spices; with flavors of dark fruit, warm and luscious blackberry, not jammy, but soul warming. This wine, with a touch of Syrah, is nicely balanced, drinking very well on its own but also paired nicely with my Sunday dinner of Beef Tenderloin roast. I left a bit of wine in the bottle to taste on Monday evening. I think an indication of a well made wine is not only how it drinks on day one, but how well it drinks on day two. Results: drinks better on day two! 85% Carménère | 15% Syrah | Alcohol 13.5% | American & French Oak |Natural Cork closure | Retails $12
Rewined Carmenare Candle
I sampled this wine a few days before sitting down to write this article and I’m glad the good folks at WineBow saw to it to also send along a handmade Carménère candle. I’ve had the candle lit the last couple of hours and it’s filled the room with a delightful essence of Carménère. Handmade from recycled wine bottles and hand poured with soy wax, it’s a wine lovers dream hostess gift (along with a bottle of wine…of course!). Handmade by Rewined in Charleston, South Carolina and retails for $28
Many thanks to the good folks at Root:1 , Winebow and Rewined for the outstanding wine and candle.
