Earlier this week I wished out loud in a tasting note to know what aged Carmenere tastes like. Wild coincidence yesterday when people who didn't know I'd done any such thing gave me this wine. We opened it last night:
2010 Carmen Carménère Gran Reserva Apalta Colchagua Valley
Friends had the excellent foresight to buy and hold a case of this. Great secondary development and still rocking with nose of green bell pepper, cassis, dried red chiles, and dust, more cassis and dried red chiles surround dark chocolate on the palate. Finish turns leathery in the best way. Carmenere isn't thought of as an ageable grape; this bottle begs reconsideration.