CARMENERE

      THOSE OF US WHO LOVE SAVORY THINGS AND YEARN FOR WINES OUTSIDE OF THE “FRUIT BOMB” SPECTRUM WILL LOVE WHAT CARMENERE HAS TO OFFER.  MOST CARMENERE WINES HAVE STRIKING AROMAS OF RASPBERRY SAUCE, SOUR CHERRY, GREEN PEPPERCORN, AND A GRANIT-LOKE MINERALITY.

 

      ON THE MORE AFFORDABLE END, YOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND CARMÉNÈRE WINES WITH HONEST FRUITY RED BERRY AROMAS AND TART FLAVORS OF RASPBERRY WITH A SUBTLE BITTER TASTE SIMILAR TO KALE. IN FACT, CARMÉNÈRE HAS MANY SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF BODY AND TEXTURE TO MERLOT. ON THE HIGHER END, THE HERBACEOUS BITTER NOTES DEPART THE SCENE IN FAVOR OF SWEET BERRIES, REFINED LIGHT TANNIN AND A BITTERSWEET NOTE, LIKE COCOA POWDER.

 

      CARMÉNÈRE IS A MEDIUM-BODIED RED WINE THAT ORIGINATED IN BORDEAUX, FRANCE AND NOW GROWS ALMOST ONLY IN CHILE. THE WINE IS TREASURED FOR ITS SUPPLE RED-AND-BLACK BERRY FLAVORS (IN A SIMILAR STYLE TO MERLOT) AND HERBACEOUS NOTES OF GREEN PEPPERCORN. ORIGINALLY, CARMÉNÈRE WAS THOUGHT TO BE MERLOT WHEN IT WAS FIRST TRANSPLANTED INTO CHILE. THIS CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY IS PERHAPS WHAT SAVED CARMÉNÈRE FROM EXTINCTION WHEN PHYLLOXERA DEVASTATED THE VINEYARDS OF BORDEAUX IN THE LATE 1800’S.

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RED MEAT

BEEF, PORK, BRISKET, FILET MIGNON, LAMB

POULTRY

CHICKEN, TURKEY

SEAFOOD

TUNA

CHEESE

GOAT CHEESE, MOZZARELLA, PEPPER JACK, FARMER'S CHEESE, COTIJA CHEESE, FETA

HERBS/SPICES

GREEN PEPPERCORN, BLACK PEPPER, RED CHILI FLAKES, CHIPOTLE, GARLIC, CUMIN, CORRIANDER, THYME, OREGANO, CHIVES, LEMON

VEGETABLES

OLIVES, STUFFED PEPPERS, ROASTED PEPPERS, CAPERS, SAUTÉED GARLIC KALE, BLACK-EYED PEAS, BLACK BEANS, WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP, PINTO BEAN CHILE, LENTILS, FRESH CHILES

 

NEED SOME IDEAS?

 

TRY CARMENERE WITH MEICAN FOOD WITH A LIGHT HEAT AND THAI FOOD.

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     LAMB.  ESPECIALLY WITH HERBS.  SALSA VERDE FOR EXAMPLE OR HERB-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB.      ANY LAMB CURRY WITH HERBS WOULD ALSO WORK WELL OR TRY MIDDLE-EASTERN STYLE                    MEATBALLS OR MINCED LAMB KEBABS WITH MINT AND CORIANDER 

 

     BACON.  THERE’S A SMOKY EDGE TO CARMENÈRE THAT WORKS WELL WITH DISHES THAT INCLUDE        SMOKED BACON (THINK SPINACH, BACON AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD) OR WITH A HEARTY SMOKED        BACON CHOP OR RIB

 

     EMPANADAS.  ESPECIALLY WITH GREEN OLIVES

 

     DARK LEAFY GREENS.  SUCH AS KALE, CHARD, SAVOY CABBAGE OR SPRING GREENS

 

     ROASTED OR GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES.  SUCH AS PEPPERS (BELL PEPPERS),                      COURGETTES (ZUCCHINI) AND AUBERGINES (EGGPLANT). CHICKEN OR PORK COOKED WITH                    PEPPERS

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     ROPA VIEJA.  AN AMAZING CUBAN PULLED BEEF RECIPE

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     SEARED TUNA.  IN FACT SEARED SEAFOOD GENERALLY WORKS.

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