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Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews

Famiglia Meschini Carmenere

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Cost: Average price $14

Where buy now: Zipp’s Liquors, South Lyndale Liquors, Swirl My Wine, France 44, Apple Valley Liquor, Century Wines and Spirits, Tonka Bottle, The Wine Shop, Liquor Barrel Golden Valley, Richfield Liquor Store No. 1

Grapes: 90% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile

Vintage: 2010

Famiglia Meschini Carmenere adorned with dribbled wine stain

I waxed poetic about Famiglia Meschini’s Pinot Noir last week. Now, let’s get a little dirtier, wait, I mean “earthier” and drink some Carmenere. I first tried this wine at the now defunct Babalu Restaurant [now Bar La Grassa]. I really liked it. Since then, I haven’t been wowed by Carmenere. It always seemed to be too high in alcohol with harshly gritty spice. Would I ever find a good Carmenere for under $20 that didn’t taste of cheap vodka and mudpie?

The FM Carmenere hails from Colchagua Valley, about 500 ft above sea level, in the Central Valley. This valley is where most of the award winning Chilean wines are coming from. Vines grow in a mix of soil, sand and granite. The typical hot daylight temperatures are yielding full bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Carmenere.

I fell in love with this wine upon first sip. What makes this Carmenere stand out is the 10% Cabernet, which for my palate, balances the wine. It’s medium bodied with dark, smokey fruit flavors, followed by chocolate undertones and fresh cracked pepper- all of which scream “FALL WINE”! The tasting notes state the wine is aged in American oak that is 50% new and 50% used. The newer oak helps give wine that smoky, toasty flavor. If this is something you enjoy, start looking for labels that say “aged in new oak”. Clever.

I’m deeming this my Autumnal wine. (One cannot say that word enough, IMHO!) As the days continue to shorten and the cooler breezes start to invade, this wine will become your best friend. Grill up flank steak and make tacos- this Carmenere would pair beautifully.  Then, keep that fire stoked- s’mores with dark chocolate would be sooo stupid good with this wine. Or, simply pour a big ol’ glass, snuggle up in a blanket with your dog/cat/child/”Rabbit” (ahem), and sip as you watch the leaves gently fall to the ground. You know how I’ll be spending my Autumnal (yes!) weekends.

If you’re interested in sampling this wine (and other Savvy faves), you’re in luck! I’ll be at Zipp’s Liquors on Sat., Sept. 15 from 4-7pm. C’mon down to say hello (and/or “Autumnal”), and meet their wine buyer, Jeff. This is a great, easy-going environment to sip, sample and hang. Should you want to buy a bottle or two (or nine), you’re in luck: Zipp’s will have special sale prices during the tasting!

White Wine of the Week | White Wine Reviews

Chateau Haut Rian Bordeaux Blanc

Cost: Average price $14

Where buy now: North Loop Wines & Spirits for $12.99

Grapes: 60% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: France

Vintage: 2011

Chateau Haut Rian

You know that point in the evening when you have a great buzz going and you start attacking your liquor cabinet or wine rack for your next fix?

How many times have you been super excited about some top shelf liquor or expensive wine that you love and you insist, your guests must love, too.

Of course, that comes after hours of drinking. It makes complete sense since your inhibitions are down and you “love everybody” to gush on about your favorite libation for all to try.

Then, you awake around Noon to find that bottle is not only empty but so is your soul until you can get that throbbing headache to go away. How could you have done it? Opened that bottle you were saving for some other occasion and now it’s gone. Worse yet, you don’t even remember tasting it. It was just another drop, some more of that drug to keep your buzz high.

Well, I’m happy to report that I didn’t let that happen at a soiree I hosted over Labor Day weekend. Oh – I got to that point of the night where I’m perusing anything and everything to keep us drunk and get us drunker but i didn’t pull out the super-duper expensive stuff.

Instead, I opted for this modest Bordeaux Blanc. I knew if I pulled a white wine out late in the evening, I wouldn’t be as tempted to drink it all. Don’t ask what that logic is or was, I just know it’s good to know yourself, your limits, your boundaries. . .this is one of mine.

I was introduced to this wine at North Loop Wines & Spirits by Brandon. The French wine guru if I ever did meet one. This guy is dangerous. He told me good and bad news at my last visit. Good news, he’s moving to France for a year and half to study for his Masters. Bad news, I’m going to miss his wealth of knowledge. Good news, because it will be better for my pocketbook. Ah – so bittersweet.

I could listen to him talk all day. I was writing copious notes as the French language rolled off his tongue. I was trying to keep up and repeat the French words but sadly, I didn’t sound like a fair French maiden. I sounded like I had a glandular problem choking on my own saliva. That back throated, nasally inflection turns out to sound like shit when you’re stuttering your way through the words.

I digress, I definitely exceeded my budget on this visit. But, he told me about this wine which was a nice Bordeaux Blanc right in my wheel-house at $12.99.This wine is a delightful white that is 60% Sémillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. It’s golden green hue emotes scents of light citrus, floral notes, a touch of grass and minerals. The taste is fresh and balanced. You taste citrus, melon and mineral concentrations. The Sémillon produces a great balance of flavor and heavier texture to the crisp acidity and grassiness of the Sauvignon Blanc. It’s delicious and mild.

This wine will stand up on it’s own. Perfect for a lazy Sunday or in the evening as you watch the sunset. You can parlay that after work glass into dinner. This pairs well with rotisserie chicken, fish, oysters, salad, goat cheese, grilled vegetables, a bagel and cream cheese (for you breakfast for dinner kinda folk). It’s just so versatile. Pop it and drink it.

I’m glad I brought this out around 1 am, enough for that last sip before passing out. I was so happy to see a ⅔ full bottle in the fridge when I awoke the next day, not that I wanted one lick of wine but I was content knowing when I was ready, that bottle would be there.

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews

Famiglia Meschini Pinot Noir

Cost: Average price $14

Where buy now: Zipp’s Liquors, South Lyndale Liquors, Swirl My Wine, France 44, Apple Valley Liquor, Century Wines and Spirits, Tonka Bottle, The Wine Shop, Liquor Barrel Golden Valley, Richfield Liquor Store #1

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Region: Casablanca Valley, Chile

Vintage: 2010

Famiglia Meschini Pinot Noir

You know, “they” say most folks gain weight during the Summer months. “Pshaw”, I thought, “impossible”. Nope. As evident by my 8 or 9 pound Summer weight gain, it’s all too real. I know, I know, drinking hooch most every night doesn’t help the ol’ tummy. Not to mention, I should look at buying stock in the natural liver cleanser, milk thistle. At least I’m destroying my liver and cortisol-laden abs in the name of entertainment and education.

Oh, but this Summer was not all doom and gloom.

Earlier this Summer, I was fortunate to be able to taste a smattering of the new-to-market wines from Famiglia Meschini. True to The Savvy Lush form, I don’t remember sampling them all per se. Thankfully, I did keep my notes, and found a common theme: “can’t wait for them to hit stores”. I’ve written reviews of Famiglia Meschini’s Torrontes http://bit.ly/KQ9Kss/FM Wines Torrontes The Savvy Lush Review and Cabernet Sauvignon.http://bit.ly/U0tfNd/FM Wines Cabernet Reserva The Savvy Lush Review I’ve raved about their Unoaked Chardonnay and Malbec-Syrah.(So has Bill Ward but how many links can I put in this review? Do check out his blog, Decant This) FM Wines have headed West from their native Argentina for Chile to find land and vineyards to produce a couple new wines adding to their repertoire; a Pinot Noir and Carmenere. Bienvenido Chile, ‘cause this stuff has got it going on.

Let’s dive into the Pinot Noir. It hails from Chile’s Casablanca Valley near the Pacific Ocean coast. What does coastal weather have to do with good wine production? A couple things. First, Pinot Noir grapes benefit from cooler, milder climate-hence you see several Pinots from Oregon & Washington. Second, they have thin skin and thus are more susceptible to their surroundings. Coastal weather provides a more balanced climate, the weather these grapes crave for success. Extreme temperatures + harsh sunlight = yucky Pinot Noir. You are going to start seeing more budget Pinot Noir from Chile. I’ve sampled a few and they don’t truly taste like Pinot Noir to me, but are more concentrated, heavier. For my palette, I like Pinot Noir from Oregon. That said, I dare you to find a decent, budget-conscious Oregon Pinot.

The FM Pinot Noir is the smoothest Pinot I’ve had from Chile. It’s an agreeable wine that is fruit forward in the way of stewed cherries and raspberries. A tad dry on the palette, this will taste great alone or with a salad and prosciutto, perhaps a carnitas tostada, or pork chops. In fact, I think this could make for a great Thanksgiving wine with your turkey dinner. The stewed red fruit will compliment the roast turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. How’s that? One less source of stress for this year’s meal- your wine is now chosen.

I’m so excited about the news wines Famiglia Meschini are rolling! Excited is putting it mildly- downright giddy is more like it. If you are at all interested in sampling one of these wines, you’re in luck! I’ll be at Zipp’s Liquors on Sat., Sept. 15 from 4-7pm. C’mon down to say hello, and meet their wine buyer, Jeff (of Wine Geek TV fame http://www.winegeektv.com/Wine Geek TV ). This is a great environment to sip, sample and hang. If you want to buy a bottle or two, feel free as we’ll have special sale prices during the 3 hours.