Carmen(ère) in Italian from Verona

I love Carmenère it is a terrific grape variety worthy of being better known. Virtually all of the world’s Carmenère is to be found in Chile nowadays, where it was incorrectly thought to be Merlot for decades, but a little still exists in north east Italy – where perversely it was thought to be Cabernet Franc. I have tried a few from Italy, but you will not find a more attractive example than this:

Inama Carmenère Più 2006

Veneto Rosso IGT

Inama Azienda Agricola, San Bonifacio, Verona

This is a beautiful looking wine, the colour of crushed blackberry with enticingly delicate smoky and savoury aromas of soy, balsamic and cocoa.

The palate is smooth, round and velvety and full of creamy ripe fruit, it is relatively light – medium-bodied, but packed with flavour. The perfectly integrated oak and supple tannins make for great balance. The vivid fruit has a purity that makes the wine feel fresh and lively in the mouth, making it very drinkable with no hint of the green notes that can be off-putting in Carmenère. This is a delicious wine whose touch of acidity makes it a great match with food.

I drank it with chicken, salad, charcuterie and softish cheese and it worked perfectly with them all.

Più means ‘more’ in Italian – the wine is a blend of 75% Carmenère, 20% Merlot and 5% Raboso Veronese you see, not just Carmenère.

Inama has long been one of my favourite producers of Italian whites, on this showing I will now taste my way through his red wines as well.

£13.95 a bottle from Uncorked