From: Bordeaux, France (Cadillac)
Varietal: 100% Merlot, 18 months in 100% new French oak.
"This large château is about half an hour’s drive from the center of Bordeaux in the appellation of Côtes de Bordeaux, and makes a wonderful pure merlot, Prima, from its oldest vines. I have tasted the wine blind against a number of top merlot-based wines from the legendary Pomerol region, and Prima shows incredibly well, often beating many of them. Carignan is the property of wine merchant Andy Lench, who owns the company Bordeaux Wine Locators. His goal is to show that Prima can compete with wines four or five times the price, and I think he has already proved his point. Having said all the above, the normal Carignan, which also incorporates cabernet, is superb and can even outstrip the Prima in some vintages. These are excellent value Bordeaux." - James Suckling, Bordeaux Confidential 2015
Chateau Carignan is better with at least 1 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for less than 1 hour, helping the wine soften to help develop the aromatic character.
Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Carignan offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 1-5 years of age after the vintage.
Chateau Carignan is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Tasting Notes: wine is round and forward, opens into dark chocolate covered black cherries and a kiss of herbs on the finish.
Chateau Carignan is best when paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau Carignan is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.
(from supplier)
“…excellent value Bordeaux." - James Suckling
