Producer: PKNT (i.e. "picante")
Name: Gold Reserve
Varietal: Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Price: ~ $10

Despite writing about the (oops) Carmenère Merlot earlier, this PKNT Gold Reserve Carmenère was actually my first time tasting a Carmenère. The bouquet smelled of dark rich berries, black currant with a slight vanilla and honey undertone. On the palate it was a full bodied red with predominantly warm oak and black cherries. A slight surprise considering the hot pepper on the label. Well balanced but fairly simple and straight forward—AKA: a nice value.

J

Producer: (oops)
Varietal: Carmenère, Merlot
Vintage: 2007
Region: Chile
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: ~ $19

I've been waiting to taste some wine all fucking night. Nothing tonight seemed to go right. Wind is howling wildly, DVR had to be reset and it took me longer than I was expecting to caulk the new window frames.

*sigh* oh sweet sweet wine...

I have to admit, I purchased this wine based purely on the label and its design. It wasn't a hokey label whose image changed depending on the angle you're looking at it from. Nor did it have a clever cartoon animal that was deliberately made to look cute and loveable. It was simply laid out well in a "newspaper column" type arrangement with an interesting typeface. And since I am a graphic artist it caught my attention.

It has an aroma of forward black berries and—as the first time smelling this scent—leather. Leather! Go figure. I mean, I didn't know what I was smelling until I read the label and sure enough, leather. The type of leather that you'd make a very old brown book bag out of. You'd think it would be terrible like old leather shoes or mouldy old winter leather gloves but it was quite nice.

The 70% carmenère and 30% merlot had excellent balance with bold oak complimented with blackberries and a hint of spice. The full body touches your palate on all areas and finishes medium to long and not overly dry (but dry enough).

Chiggity check yourself before you wreck yourself...

J