WINES OF THE WEEK
OVEJA NEGRA
(BLACK SHEEP)
RED BLENDS CHILE
By: Ed “The Wine Guy”
Over the
past few years, the category of red blend wines has grown tremendously. Menage
a Trois and 14 Hands are two of the favorite red blends at Harney's. Another
vineyard, Oveja Negra, Chile, is quickly becoming another favorite. Usually,
the term "Black Sheep" is negative, as in someone being the black
sheep of a family, but, in this case, it is positive, signifying that these
wines stand out from the flock. Oveja Negra red blends are not your everyday
wines. The winery is known for its innovation, experimentation, and daring.
Who, but a creative and bold vintner, would blend a Malbec wine and a Petit
Verdot wine, both of them already robust wines on their own? The result is a
full-bodied, very complex wine, deep in color, aroma, and flavor - and very
affordable. Although I enjoy all these blends: Cabernet Franc and Carmenere,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot, my personal favorite is
the Cabernet Franc and Carmenere. A satisfying wine need not be expensive!