Wine, and me.

Wine, and me., originally uploaded by *April*.

Escudo Rojo is a winery spawned by the company Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1997, that owns the famous Bordeaux winery Chateau Mouton Rothschild. This esteemed parentage is evidenced in the smoothness of this wine, which marries the traditional Chilean tastes with the more refined aura, and reduced tannic taste of a French wine.

The blended wine (a chilean Carménère (said to be a clone of Cabernet)- a variety originally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France and used to produce deep, full-bodied wines and the occasional blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah) has very spicy cinnamon and pepper undertones. We've bought this wine a few times now, and have a few bottles ageing in the cellar, but would wholeheartedly endorse it as a wine to drink "now." While some wines need to be paired with food in order to bring forth their bouquet, this one is easily served on its own as well.

Carménère favors a long growing season in moderate to warm climates. During harvest time and the winter period the vine fares poorly if it is introduced to high levels of rain or irrigation. This is particularly true in poor-soil plantings where the vine would need more water. Over-watering during this period accentuates the herbaceous and green pepper characteristics of the grape. The grape naturally develops high levels of sugar before the tannins achieve ripeness. If grown in too hot a climate the resulting wine will have a high alcohol level and low balance. Carménère buds and flowers three to seven days later than Merlot and the yield is lower than that of the latter grape. The Carménère leaves turn to crimson before dropping.

Carménère is produced in wineries either as a single-variety wine (sometimes called a varietal wine), or as a blend usually with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc and/or Merlot.