Château Hansen Cabernet-Gernischt 2012, China
I do like to bring you something a little bit different as my Wine of the Week, so how about an organic wine from Inner Mongolia in China? That's certainly not an everyday find in the UK, but in fact China is becoming a very important player on the world wine stage with rapid expansion of their vineyards to serve both local and export markets.
Sited up in the dessert near the Mongolian border, Hansen is a substantial business producing more than two million bottles of wine per year for both local and international consumption. Their range includes this unoaked wine made from the Cabernet-Gernischt grape - in fact a grape varitey that has been identified as genetically identical to the Carmenere of Chile. Indeed this has Carmenere character on the nose with both a flood of ripe, buoyant black fruit that is all cassis and blackberry, and a little green, herby edge that is most attractive. On the palate it is easy to drink with its smooth, soft tannins and juicy acidity, and that plush sweetness of fruit. Different? Certainly. Good? Absolutely! Watch the video for more information, maps and food-matching ideas. 87/100, £10.50 from Vintage Roots.
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