Wine of the Week
by Brenda Maitland
With soil and microclimate similarities to California's Napa and
Carneros regions, Chile's Casablanca Valley produces this Bordeaux blend featuring
one of the Medoc's lost grapes -- Carmenere. For more than a century, Chilean
winemakers mistakenly assumed it was Merlot. The 60 percent Carmenere, 30 percent
Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Merlot grape combo creates a dark, velvety-textured
wine offering dark, ripe berry fruit, a hint of mint and oak aromas and huge,
mouth-filling flavors of concentrated blackberry and cherry. Pairs well with duck,
lamb, beef tenderloin, pasta dishes, pizza and wild game such as rabbit, venison
and squab. Available at Dorignac's, Robert's Fresh Market, Breaux Mart on Jefferson
Highway, Antonio's Wine Cellar on the West Bank, Habano's of Slidell and Wine
Down in Mandeville.
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