Pair Carménère from Viña Carmen with Turkey Dressing Roulade

Carmenere Day

Happy Carménère Day! Did you ever notice that autumn, and in particular, November is full of these  “wine days”? Some of them have no particular rhyme or reason except it’s the season for red wine, but some have a history with a date, like Carménère which was basically rediscovered on this date after being considered extinct. Turns out, while it may have been missing in its home of France, it was everywhere in Chile masquerading as merlot! You’d think someone would have noticed before, but only 30 years ago they figured out. before that, they just chalked up the differences to “terroir” to explain why Merlot in Chile was so distinct compared to Merlot from anywhere else.

We now know that Carmenere

is alive and well in Chile, thanks to French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot who figured out that Chile’s Maipo Valley was hiding Carmenere for 150 years as merlot. Celebrate the 30 year history of its rediscovery by tasting one from Viña Carmen where the ampelographer discovered true nature of “Chilean Merlot.”

From the time of its rediscovery, Viña Carmen sought to solidify its status as one of Chile’s great grapes, to promote its potential, and to celebrate the role Chilean Carménère has had on the wine world. In Viña Carmen’s “Delanz”  Carménère blend offers a wine with a fun back story for holiday gatherings, and it’s a wine that works well with dishes from empanadas to squash to steak to turkey. Consider Carménère!

Last year we wrote about the 2021 vintage of Carmen “Delanz” Carménère D.O. Apalta, Coachalgua which we paired with traditional South American cuisine:

  • squash sopaipillas
  • beef empanadas de ropa vieja
  • green salad with tomatoes, basil, buratta
  • flank steak
  • asparagus

.This year we have the 2022 “Delanz” Carménère which we are pairing with traditional American Thanksgiving dishes. For more  pairings with Carménère, scroll on!

Carmenere Delanz

Holiday Menu for Carménère

  • Organic roasted winter squash soup
  • Fresh organic green beans sautéed in butter
  • Organic Yukon gold potatoes mashed with gravy
  • Turkey breast roulade with Sue’s homemade herb dressing
    adapted from here

2022 Vina Carmen “Delanz” Carmenere D.O. Apalta, Coachalgua

2022 Vina Carmen “Delanz” Carmenere D.O. Apalta, Coachalgua

ABV: 14.0%
SRP:
Grapes: 85% Carmenere 6% Cab Franc 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Syrah
Sample for my review

Appearance:  Dark and dense, ruby, fushia rim, lots of legs with slight fushia color

Aroma: Jalapeno pepper, cherry, green bean, green pepper, black pepper, damp earth, sechewan pepper, butter toffee, toffee pretzels, toast

Palate: Cranberry, crabapple, light and bright, jalapeno, green beans, bright acidity, lively and fun, the oak is quite present however this is a brand new release and the oak should integrate nicely. this is a nicely crafted wine.

Pairing: Nice with the soup bringing out sweetness in the soup and herbal notes in the wine. Very nice with the rest of the meal. The wine highlights the herbs in the roulade and both of them work so perfectly together. This is a spectacular Thanksgiving day wine, and it went perfectly with the wine.

Curious about Carménère? Check out our Carménère stories over the years:

 

 

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