Bordeaux has long been recognized as one of the worlds premier wine growing regions. Six noble grapes established its reputation as a haven for great red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. Sadly, the phylloxera aphid attack in the 1860's wiped out the great grapes, and while the others were replanted with the help of Texas root stock, only the Carmenere could not be resurrected, so it is rarely found in Bordeaux today. Luckily, Carmenere had been sucessfully transplanted to Chile, where it thrived so well that it was mistaken for Merlot. Then, in 1994, viticulturist Jean-Michel Boursiquit discovered the grape deception. Oops! Carmenere contines to make great wines today, sometimes bottled solo, but more often used as a blending grape, such as in this affordable little quaff we are considering today, the Oops Sauvignon Blanc.
The robe of the Oops Sauvignon Blanc is pale gold with touches of peach. The nose suggests many citrus fruits, tangerines and nectarines, and a whisp of minerals. The taste suggests some of a typical sauvignon blanc's grassiness, but more complex and rounded, with parsley and clove thrown in, and resolves in a peachy finish. This blanc would be equallly at home with picnic foods such as ham as well as the more usual seafood, particularly fresh fish. Website is http://www.oopswines.com/, where you can read the entire history of Carmenere on its wordy label. Discover your own happy wine mistake soon, and remember:
LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR MEDIOCRE FOOD!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment