VENTISQUERO”GREY” 2012 CARMENERE

This is one of a handful of great Carmenere wines from Chile that will turn heads with Cab drinkers.The Carmenere grape was famously mistaken for Merlot in Chile and planted widely across the country for decades.This mistake persisted until the 1990s, but Carmenere is tricky and slow to ripen, nothing like Merlot in the vineyard. Ventisquero told us they waited a full month after picking Cabernet to pick their Carmenere.Their patience with this temperamental grape shows with a bold and fiery wine.Blackcurrant and blackberry fruit plays off fresh cracked peppercorn, sweet tobacco and black chocolate.

Two years ago we discovered the Viña Ventisquero line from Chile.At the time we wrote, “WOW, what a lineup– pure, multi-layered wines at unbeatable values,” adding several wines across many price points.At a recent trade show, we tasted the full line again and knew it was time to buy up, but this time we were most impressed with “the best of the best” selections from the “Grey” Gran Riserva tier and a few prestige bottlings.Ventisquero owns over 4,000 acres across top growing areas in Chile, from Casablanca, Maipo, Apalta, and more.The “Grey” wines represent the best blocks in the best vineyard from Ventisquero’s vast holdings.Winemaker Felipe Tosso is a star in Chile, but for these higher tier wines benefit from the added assistance of consultant John Duval, famed as the man entrusted to make Penfolds Grange for over 20 years.This collection is impressive and drinks well above their price tags that seem downright modest in the American market.