Wines To Find Ep 4: Make the Most of Your Wine Store Visit

Wines tasted: 2017 Chono Single Vineyard Carmenere and a 2017 Dos Almas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, both from Chile.

During the episode introduction, Sandy tells of her recent trip to Florida, during which she visited a Venice area wine store.

Wine # 1 Chono Single Vineyard Carmenere 2017, $15.29.

Tasting notes: a hearty, dark red wine made from the Carmenère grape variety. It’s aged in oak for a short period to give it just a little spice on the palate. An excellent choice for meat and barbecue.

Interesting facts given about the wine, winemaker and the Carmenere grape:

• Carmenere is is considered Chile’s signature varietal 
• Chile is #7 Wine producing country in the world
• The Wine Buyer rated the 2012 Vintage at 91 points
• More about the Carmenere Grape – Hundreds of years ago, the red Carmenère grape was widely used in the blended wines of the best châteaux in Bordeaux. No more, however: it was difficult to grow and often gave low yields, so the French mostly abandoned it. It has recently found a home in Chile, where it has successfully been made into full-bodied, deep red varietals.
• Chono’s winemakers are Alvaro Espinoza and Juan Carlos Faundez, Alvaro is credited as one of the first winemakers to identify Carmenere.
• The Chono carmenere tasted is an organic wine.

While discussing and tasting wine # 1, Sandy and Michelle thanked listeners for their support of the launch of the show and discussed February’s episode topics, which are:

• 2/13/2020 –Episode 5 –  The Valentine’s Episode – Sandy & Michelle’s Husbands will join them
• 2/20/2020 – Episode 6 – The Charleston Winter Wine Festival – Sandy and Michelle will be visiting Charleston to attend the festival, during this episode they will share their experiences.
• 2/27/2020 – Episode 7 – First Guest – During this, on-remote episode, Sandy and Michelle will be joined by their first (non-husband) guest.

 Michelle and Sandy’s tips for Making The Most Of Your Wine Store Visits:

1. Bring out Your Inner Chatty Cathy: Talk to the owner/sales associates, let them know your tastes, ask for recommendations
2. Search their discounted items, but come armed with information a la Girl Boss
3. Take advantage of any tastings they are doing – schedule visits around those

Sandy discussed her visit to the Venice store in more detail and Michelle shared two instances in which connecting with wine store sales associates assisted her in picking great wine.

Wine #2 – 2017 Dos Almas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, $13.49

Tasting Notes: Intense and expressive with fresh red and black fruits, particularly showing strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and cassis combined with aromas of black pepper, caramel, tobacco and chocolate. Balanced with good structure, perceptible acidity and ripe tannins. Long and persistent fruity finish.

2018 and 2019 vintages rated 91 points by James Suckling

THE RATINGS:

Chono, 2017 Single Vineyard Carmenere– Sandy & Michelle both gave this wine 4 corks.

Dos Almas, 2017 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Sandy gave this 3 corks, Michelle gave 4.

Bonus Material: During the episode, Michelle talked about the BEST CHARDONNAY she’s every tasted. It was the 2015 Antica Chardonnay.

If you love our theme song, credits go to:

Music from https://filmmusic.io

“Night In Venice” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)