I must confess that I bought a truckload of this wine at Bevmo last week because they had it on sale. Every once in a while Bevmo has a 5 cent sale where you buy one bottle and get the second for 5 cents. That’s what I did. Normally this wine is $16.99 but since I got the second for 5 cents that makes the cost per bottle $8.52. Not bad. As of this writing the “sale” price at Bevmo is $9.99 so I guess I didn’t need to stock up, however, the inventory at the La Jolla store is now zero. Their Wilfred Wong guy gave it a rating of 92 so I figured it can’t be too bad, though I have not loved some of the wines he’s given 90+ ratings to.
I had no idea at the time, but once I looked into it, I learned this is a pretty highly regarded wine. The New York Times did a glowing write up on the 2005 release and it’s received other awards along the way. After we drank it, I understood why. It’s good to go pretty much right after the first pour. We appreciate that in an inexpensive wine.
I didn’t know too much about Carmenere wine so here’s a quick background. The Carmenere grapes are one of the 6 grape varietals used in Bordeaux wines. These grapes were originally planted in France. In the 1860s, Bordeaux vines became infected with mould and vine pests (phylloxera) and were destroyed. When it came time to replant, many Bordeaux growers chose not to replant the Carmenere grapes as they are more susceptible to these issues and difficult to grow in damp weather. However, this grape now is grown primarily in Chile which has a more suitable climate. It’s used as a component in other wines, such as Bordeaux, or made into a single varietal, Carmenere.Carmenere originates from the french word “crimson” which is appropriate, since this wine is a very deep red/purple color. This wine is 90% Carmenere and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Colchagua Valley is located in Chile’s Central Region, which is the country’s leading wine making zone. The Montgras Winery was established in 1993 and they have several other highly rated varietals such as their Cabernet/Syrah blend and Chardonnay. I’ll try both eventually.
Winemakers notes:
“Deep purple red. Fresh, bright and ripe black fruits, combined with subtle notes of black pepper and spice. Elegant toast and cedar give this wine the perfect complement for an elegant and complex nose. Ripe and creamy tannins combined with a nice acidity give this wine structure, freshness and fatness. The elegant toasty oak give this wine the perfect frame for a charming and lingering finish.”
The New York Times suggest pairing an earlier vintage with spicy entrees, steak and rich cheeses. I would say this also applies to the 2008.
Montgras website is here.
Rating: 
I’ll be serving this to friends this week! Except I must admit it will be with pizza of the delivered varietal.
For an explanation of Wine Wednesday ratings click here.
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Twitter: birdrockfab
July 29, 2009 at 7:31 am
My husband and I love the Mont Gras Cabernet and always take advantage of during the BevMo 5 cent sale. We will look forward to trying the Carmenere next!
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