Today I am tasting the 2007 Single Vineyard Carmenere from Vina Anakena in the Rapel Valley of Chile. I’ve previously tasted the regular 2007 Anakena Carmenere. I appreciate Anakena’s commitment to the environment and the culture of Chile. They even feature the Condor Petroglyph on the label. Their Single Vineyard series emphasizes the terroir and this is a 100% Carmenere varietal which has been aged in oak for 6 months. I found this bottle for under $10.
Color
In the glass it is a dark purple, but a bit thin around the edges.
Aroma
A little mint on the nose at first followed by wet soil. There is some dark fruit present including black currant and prunes. The earthy, rotten wood component is very strong though. This is definitely not a fake nose.
Flavor
Great dark fruit on the attack. There are delicious black currant and mulberry components. The mid-palate shows black cherry and blackberry. On the finish there is some spice. Black pepper combined with a little heat from the alcohol. The finish is very long and pleasant. Overall this is a wine with tons of fruit. But unlike a lot of lesser wines, it isn’t high in sugar and the oak is not even noticeable. It will pair well with smoked meats, beef, and strong cheese. I believe it will be good with some dark chocolate as well.
Rating
For the price, this is a very good wine. Although the nose might put off some, I recommend you try it just for the flavor in the mouth. I rate it 92 points.
Have you tried any of the Single Vineyard line of wines from Anakena?
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