Karmere 2012 Kade du Rhone (California)

This is one of my favorite wines of the year. I tasted it at the Amador County winery in November and brought back two bottles with the intention of ordering more. Karmere’s Kade du Rhone is a GSM—Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre. The ruby color is beautiful, and the nose evokes the berries in the Grenache and Syrah. The Mourvedre comes through with a hint of earth and chocolate. It has just enough sweetness.

Flavors include the berries, plum and raisins going to tart cherry and finishing with black pepper and a breath of oak. It has a nice, full body, is slightly tannic and is dry on the center of the tongue.

I think of beef steak on the grill when I taste this wine. It would also go with Italian sausage, salami and not-too-sweet dark chocolate.