Carmenère

Carmenere is an old Bordeaux variety, thought by many to be extinct until tests revealed in the mid 1990’s that many growers in Chile were preserving it, inadvertently, thinking the grapes in their vineyards were Merlot! The grape has made a new home outside of France, where it is now hardly grown. It thrives in Chile’s climate where it makes some of the country’s most distinctive wines. It is also grown in Italy and California.

While still often blended with over varieties, there are plenty of delicious single varietal wines. These tend to be full-bodied and similar to Merlot, but with a greater intensity of dark fruit and a peppery, spicy character.

Carménère wine has a deep red colour and aromas found in red fruits, spices and berries. The tannins are gentler and softer than those in Cabernet Sauvignon and it is a medium body wine. Although mostly used as a blending grape, wineries do bottle a pure varietal Carménère which, when produced from grapes at optimal ripeness, imparts a Its taste might also be reminiscent of dark chocolate, tobacco, and leather. The wine is best drunk young.