Home   >   Latest wine reviews   >   Reininger Winery 2009 Seven Hills Vineyard Carménère, Walla Walla Valley, $48

Reininger Winery 2009 Seven Hills Vineyard Carménère, Walla Walla Valley, $48

By on April 1, 2013

Washington wineThis rare red Bordeaux variety is probably best known in Chile, where it has been grown for more than a century. In fact, Chilean growers thought it was Merlot until just 15 years ago. Now it has seen a revival in Washington, one of the few places in the world where European wine grapes are planted with their own root system rather than being grafted onto North American varieties. Why is this important? Carménère best expresses itself on its own roots. The grapes for this wine come from the southern Walla Walla Valley in Oregon, and it opens with aromas of red currant, cherry tomato, Dr Pepper and black pepper. On the palate, it reveals austere dark fruit that melds with oak, spice and peppercorns. Its tannins brighten up all the fruit.

Rating: Recommended

Production: 322 cases

Alcohol: 14.1%

Website

About Great Northwest Wine

Articles authored by Great Northwest Wine are co-authored by Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *