Pacha Carmenere Reserva 2018, Viña Marty, Chile

Like Merlot with mocha coffee; Pascal Marty used to make wine at Mouton Rothschild

Pascal Marty used to make wine for Baron Philippe de Rothschild in Bordeaux before working at the company’s legendary Opus One in Napa and its Chilean super-Premium venture Almaviva.

In 2008 he started his own venture in Curicó, 200 miles south of Santiago, where the country’s best Carmenere comes from. This wine really shows the essence of Carmemere, a grape that used to be confused with Merlot. It has a similar taste profile - soft and plummy.. But it also has a distinguishing mocha note. It ripens later than Merlot and, picked at the same time, it can be a bit bitter and green.

*Luckily* Pascal knows what he’s doing. Rich, fruity and smooth, this can be drunk on its own or enjoyed with a rib-sticking winter stew.