Originally Posted by
slawecki
i do not find any all encompassing flavor for malbecs. i have also missed the funky, musty, mildewy tastes. have had a few that i thought were not too very good.
now, chilean wines are a different story. the country is inundated in Carmenère. given half an opportunity, one can add water, and make tons of grapes for a miserable, weedy, green wine. back in the 70's and 80's, before canmenere was discovered, most of my acquaintances disliked chilean wines for the same bad taste. we thought it the soil. it still is in a lot of wines, and not mentioned.
i think camenere is also grown in ne italy, sold under some cabernet name, and has the same lousy taste.
I would not go quite as far as dismiss Carmenère as a bad grape. You are right, there are too many Chilean Carmenerès that are not up to snuff, but they are a result of bad winemaking, not of a bad varietal.
I've had many a good 100% Carmenère (Notas de Guarda, Arboleda, Mayu) and will happily try others.
Cheers,
T.