Calina Reserve Carménere 2008

The story - Originally a Bordeaux varietal, carménere now is found primarily in Chile. It was used in France as a blending grape but has found itself to do quite well in Chile as a single varietal, often producing deep and complex red wine. The grape has its drawbacks and issues, which is probably why it feel out of favor in Medoc, but the industry in Chile has funded programs to improve the production of carménere, and some plantings have now even begun in the United States. The grape is late ripening and therefore can be vinified too young and show vegetative properties, but when done well it can have fruity, gamy, and earthy flavors that rival a good cabernet sauvignon. I have been exploring South American wines both for their own characteristics and as a chance to really find some good values and came across Viña Calina, a producer of Bordeaux varietals located in the Maule Valley. This valley was one of the hardest hit areas by the recent earthquake, and it is expected that many of the smallest producers in this area may not survive the economic devastation. Viña Calina produces chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and carménere and has been recognized in major media outlets as a very good value wine for the quality they tend to produce.

The wine: The 2008 Calina Carménere Reserva cost $8.95, and was a nice dark red and purple in the glass. It had a slightly muted nose of cherry fruit, and some chalky, dusty earth. It tasted of stewed plums, a mossy earth, some oak, and nice spicy finish. The tannins were present, but not heavy, it had a medium body, and a tasty medium length finish.

The score: This wine gets a 3 (out of 5). It was an easy bottle to drink over conversation with a couple of friends and not take too seriously, but nothing felt out of balance or unpleasant. It was not a particularly complex wine, but for the price it was quite good and easily gets a strong recommendation from me. The 2007 vintage got a 89 from Wine & Spirits, and several vintages have been named to Wine Enthusiasts 'Best Buy' list.

The wine seems widely available and would certainly make a good mid-week drink if you come across it.