Asda Exceptional Carménère

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6 August 2026

This has been a favourite of mine before, and this latest 2023 vintage comes in at a higher 14.5% ABV. I particularly enjoyed it at the recent Asda Exceptional Tasting, where I thought it was one of the best reds, so I wanted to try it again and look at it in a little more detail.

It comes from Valle del Rapel in Chile, is made from 100% Carménère (the previous vintage used 10% Shiraz) and is produced by Viña Luis Felipe Edwards.

In the glass, it is a light purple-ruby colour. Black plum and blackberry come through on the aroma, followed by green peppercorn and a smoky character. The taste is full of ripe dark fruit, with a herbal flavour adding interest. It is dry, medium-bodied, with low to medium tannins and medium acidity. The finish is smooth, gently herby, with a lingering smokiness.

It stood up to a rich Italian tomato-based dish better than an Italian wine I was drinking at the time. It also championed being served during the UK’s, Summer 2026, very hot weather, unlike many other reds that seemed to be too volatile, even when slightly chilled.

A less popular grape, from a slightly less fashionable country, sold through a non-premium supermarket, that combination can mean a real bargain. I bought it with 25% off an offer price of £7.50, bringing it down to just £5.63. However, there is some yo-yo pricing with this one. It is currently, at the time of writing, £9 at Asda, and while it is easily worth that, I would still wait until it comes back on offer.

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TipS – Infographics

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