A fantastic introduction to Chilean wines! While Carmenere is historically a Bordeaux varietal, the grape was decimated in France by the phylloxera epidemic of the 1800's. Thought to be completely extinct, it was discovered in the 1990's to be alive and well in Chile, where it had been mistakenly identified as a clone of Merlot! Carmenere has since gained recognition as a noble Chilean varietal in its own right, and Root 1 has provided us with a delicious example at a great price! Brambly black fruit is joined by a distinctly Chilean note of freshly sliced jalapeno pepper on the nose. The wine is medium to full bodied with notes of plum and blackberry with a subtle smokiness. Ageing for 10 months in French and American oak helps smooth out the tannins, and this barrel influence does not come off as heavy handed at all, with plenty of bright fruit on the back end, as well as more jalapeno and black pepper. A simple yet perfectly constructed red!