Deep purple color; raspberry, black plum, cherry, redcurrant, blackberry, eucalyptus, bell pepper, leather, toasted oak, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; fine, mild tannins and acidity (3.66 pH; 5.0 g/L TA); smooths out and integrates quickly with time in air, but rustic on immediate pop-pour-and-sip. Well integrated and approachable if you are patient. Medium-plus body. Impressively long finish. Easy drinker that pleases rather than challenges. Bit of ripe fruit sweetness as it develops.
Wine is 100% carménère. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with malolactic conversion in French oak barrels. Aged in French oak barrels and Austrian foudres for 12 month, mix of 16% new, remainder second or older use. 14% ABV
The Familia Torres founded the winery in 1979, becoming the first foreign wine producer in Chile. The family has produced wine in Spain for more than 150 years. They were Chilean pioneers in the use of stainless steel tanks for fermentation. All Familia Torres vineyards are certified organic. They also are leaders in Fair Trade and treatment of workers, a signature of Chilean wineries. The family continues to operate in both Spain and Chile. In 2010, Miguel Torres Maczassek became president of the family operation in Chile.
Over the decades, Miguel Torres expanded its land holdings to some 865 acres across eight different estates, each with different climate characteristics. The diversity allows them to grow a range of grape varieties. The grapes for this effort come from their vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley. The deep soils are of alluvial origin with a clay loam texture, which means it has strong tendency to retain water. Days are very warm and nights cold due to influence of the Cachapoal River.
Carménère is a Bordeaux grape that largely was forgotten in France. In Chile is was misunderstood as Chilean merlot. Various tests proved it was carménère and it has proved to be the signature red grape of Chile. While it has many of the characteristics of merlot—softness, amiable tannins and acidity, rich and delicious red fruit without the annoying assertiveness some more strident reds bring to the glass—carménère is more complex, has higher levels of pyrazines (bell pepper, green peppercorn), and somewhat more tannins.
Miguel Torres Carménère Peumo Cordillera Reserva Especial 2020 is subtle, easy drinking expression of Chile’s signature red, once mistaken for merlot and now respected in its own right. If you want a no-drama dram of red vino, this is nice place to go. Plenty of red fruits, especially nice if you give it time in glass or decant. $22-25
Pairing—grilled and roasted meats; grilled burgers, barbecue pork ribs, roast quail, lamb with mint sauce; oven-roasted or grilled lamb ribs or lamb chops; lean beef—sirloin steak, filet mignon. Spicy dishes—lamb curry, tandoori chicken, Spanish chorizo, sausage. Pasta with tomato sauces, pizza. Grilled portobello mushrooms, eggplant, lentil dishes; tacos with fresh cilantro, chiles rellenos, smoky vegetables. Cheese—manchego, pecorino, parmigiano-reggiano, boursin, aged cheddar; moderate-intensity blue cheese—la peral, gorgonzola dolce.