Category Archives: Carignan

2009 Clos Centeilles Minervois Carignanissime de Centeilles

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2009 Carignanissime de Centeilles

This is a 100% Carignan wine from Languedoc-Roussillon. At first I noticed was the deep, dark ruby color. It shows why this grape is often times blended with more desirable varietals for color purposes. The nose filled the glass and was very enjoyable: ripe cherries, plums, blackberries, fresh soil, and a hint of spice I’d more traditionally associate with Rhone. On the palate it wasn’t as in depth as the nose but the same flavors through with little tannins getting in the way. This is not a fruit bomb but there is a pleasant amount of fruit flavor. Judging by the color I would have expected a deep and earthy wine but it was surprisingly refreshing and light. It really went well with our dinner: bacon cheeseburgers with colby jack cheese. I was pleasantly surprised with this wine, I plan on picking up a few more bottles…it was very affordable at $20 ish. They aren’t easy to find but I’m looking forward to trying more wines featuring Carignan as the main varietal.

2006 Montsant Laurona

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Don’t worry, there’s a good reason these two pictures are included.  I don’t really remember what it is right now, but just enjoy the pictures and leave me alone.  This wine is Spanish, and I’m pretty sure Enrique Iglesias is too, but that’s where my research ends.  From my brief search on the wine it looks like it comes from the Cataluña region in Spain, and that’s A-OK with me.  Barcelona is a great city, and if anyone wants to send me there to do some research, I’m a great ambassador.  Even if it doesn’t actually come from that region, please don’t ruin it for me.  I enjoyed this wine a great deal more than the Colonel, and I think he wasn’t feeling well when he had it becuase he didn’t even review it, but I was fine with that since it meant I got to drink most of it myself.  I think it was around $30, which I still cringe at for a bottle of wine but it actually does make a difference.  Don’t worry, I’m not a snob, I’m just facing the hard truth that I can’t be cheap all the time.  So here’s my review of the wine, one day I’ll get it back in the house and maybe the Colonel will review it then.  If not, I’ll get the bottle to myself.  That’s what we call a win-win.

MobyGrape:  91. Can’t really identify the flavors but I don’t care. Very smooth and easy to drink, with a meal or alone, although I don’t know if I’d put it with a steak. I do know that I’d have this Enrique Iglesias hot buttered soul stomper any night of the week and enjoy it.

2007 Le Cascavel Cotes du Ventoux

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So this is my first stab at the “official” wine review post….I doubt this is going to be comfortable for anyone so you might want to make sure you have a drink when you read this.  I didn’t even take this picture of the bottle, that’s how much of a hack I am.  Actually the first picture I pasted was a completely different wine, and the one in here is a different year.  I could promise these will get better, but I’d most definitely be lying.  I’ll probably just leave them to the Colonel from now on.  Anyways, back to the wine.  Clearly, it’s a French wine, which means it thinks it’s better than you.  I’m also told it’s aged in concrete instead of wooden barrels.  If you want to know more about that process Google it and then let me know.  I think that’s pretty neat, apparently these grapes rubbed someone with  mob connections the wrong way and wound up getting aged with the fishes.  Aside from needing to contribute something useful to this blog, This review holds a special place in my heart because it was the first “official” one we ever did.  I wish I could say I’ve grown since then.

colonelgrape:  78. A nice initial taste but a plain/flat finish. Mild aftertaste hints of raisins. Would be good with a light-medium non-red meat meal.

MobyGrape:  84. Doesn’t grab your grundle enough to drink with a nice steak, but it will tickle you enough to have with an average meal or have on its own.  Hints of concrete and fruit.