The Carménère grape is a wine grape variety originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it was used to produce deep red wines and occasionally used for blending purposes in the same manner as Petit Verdot. Some bargain-basement carménères can be overly bitter thanks to an early harvest. Once DNA tests confirmed it as Bordeaux's long-lost carménère, the grape became known worldwide as Chile's red grape. Originating in Bordeaux, France, carménère (kahr-meh-NEHR) is a very popular red wine grape in Chile. Depending upon the dishes, Carmenere can be an adventurous and satisfying alternative to Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Chianti Classico, Tempranillo and Malbec. Try serving with creamy cheeses like goat cheese and mozzarella. Carménère Taste. Deals: We're on the look-out for great wine deals and when we see them, we'll send you an email When harvested early, Carménère can lend toward the herbaceous side of the flavor spectrum. Following that were secondary notes of coffee and allspice along with a little bit of oak. It is found principally in the Colchagua, Rapel, and Maipo valleys. Spiced dishes like beef curry and chicken mole also make good pairs with carménère. Carmenere Wine Grapes, Flavor, Character, History, Wine Food Pairings Carmenere is one of the older European grape varietals used to produce Bordeaux wine. Taste: Ripe, plummy flavours with a dash of delicious chocolate. It’s full, deep and still fresh after several years in bottle. Spicy earth notes are present along with dark chocolate, tobacco and leather. The two wines sometimes end up blended together in red wine blends. Get easy-to-follow, delicious recipes delivered right to your inbox. This grape has an interesting heritage in Chile, with it originally being mistaken for merlot. $.05 wine sale (you know, buy a bottle, get a second for $.05). The wine demonstrates the elegant quality that can be enjoyed upon release or will age gracefully for 10 years. Carménère wine was once produced widely in the Médoc region of France, but a Phylloxera plague swept across Bordeaux in the mid-19th century, wiping it from France. Grilled and stewed meats like brisket, dark meat turkey, and carne asada. Wine Tips: A daily postcard with a few simple words of wine wisdom. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The Aroma and Taste of Carménère From Chile Pronounced kär-mə-ˈner this dry red wine possesses aromas and flavors of dark raspberry, red and black plum, and floral notes of purple violet. Many fine examples are found in Chile such as Montes Alpha Carménère from Colchagua Valley, Chile. We transitioned next to a side-by-side tasting of the 2016 and 2017 CA1 TerraNoble Carménère Andes vintages. Montes Alpha Carmenère had a soft mouthfeel with just a light dryness noted. The high acid and soft tannin profile makes Carménère an ideal food pair with a variety of cuisine from cheeses to meats with lower fat content. Snooth: Get Snooth's free wine newsletter for a daily dose of what to drink right now, pairing ideas, wine country travel tips, and more. A chewy palate has energy and power, while this tastes of mint, berry fruit, savory spice and green herb. Carménère was largely abandoned in France due to its poor fruit set and unreliable yields after the threat of phylloxera in the 19th century. Wine Name: Carménère. Long mistaken for Merlot, Carmenere arrived in Chile in the 1800’s with other Bordeaux varieties. Taste. The taste profile of Carménère wine is also markedly different from both Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with a great deal of forward cherry, and gentle tannins. It produces a relatively bold, fruity wine of a deep violet colour. Grown in only a few of the world’s wine regions, ... Saucy in taste, with gravitas and length to the finish. It's occasionally grown in other regions like Italy, China, Argentina, and New Zealand. In Casillero del Diablo Carmenere is smooth and delicate with intense color, smooth, round tannins, and attractive aromas of black currant and chocolate. Most Carménère wines have striking aromas of raspberry sauce, sour cherry, green peppercorn, and a granite-like minerality. The South America Wine Guide is the quintessential wine & travel guide to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia & Peru. Cheaper carménère is often harvested too early and exhibits strong bitter characteristics. 2. Carménère is a red wine grape variety that yields wines with strong green pepper notes and is reminiscent of cabernet sauvignon. Taste and Flavor Profile . Find out more about this impact aroma compound and what other wines have it in their taste profiles. Carménère can be trickier to find than more popular red wines like merlot or pinot noir, but most high-quality wine shops will stock a few. Background: Originally from France, this Merlot-like grape was mostly used in blending wines for Bordeaux-type blends. While it sits closer to the equator than any other fine wine region in Chile, evening winds blast through this valley 365 days a year bringing summer nighttime … Elqui 2016 Carmenere-Syrah-Malbec Read More » Australian Carmenere wine regional and flavour profile Carmenere taste and aromas Cherry, raspberry, plum, and herbaceous notes with characteristics of smoke, spice and earthy notes, reminiscent of dark chocolate, tobacco, and leather. Carménère is a medium to full-bodied dry red wine with aromas of tobacco, leather, dark fruit, coffee, bell pepper, and chocolate. ... wbs_cat Wine, wbs_type Carménère, carmenere, chile, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving wine, wines … Pasta basked in tomato sauce with cut lean meats will pair nicely alongside the flavor and structure of Carmenere. Freelance writer and wine expert, author of ""Idiots Guides: Wine""; as well as several magazine and online articles. Carménère from Chile is a full-bodied, dry red wine, considered the national wine grape of Chile. Grapes harvested earlier tend to be overly herbaceous and bitter. Carménère contains higher levels of aroma compounds called pyrazines, which give wines like Carménère, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon subtle flavors of bell pepper, green peppercorn, eucalyptus, and even cocoa powder. ABOUT THE PRODUCER The transversal Elqui Valley borders the Pacific Ocean to the West, the Atacama Desert to the North, and the Andes Mountains to the East. All Rights Reserved, Learn About These Other Wine Grape Varieties. First there was a combination of red and black fruits on the palate. The red wine tends to be affordable, with some bottles priced under $15, and are often labeled as red wine blends. When optimally ripe, these wines exhibit pronounced notes of red raspberry and savory sour cherry fruit. From the Veneto in Italy, Inama Carménère Piu is another example of a premium fine wine made primarily from Carménère. When harvested early, Carménère can lend toward the herbaceous side of the flavor spectrum. For the best quality carménère, the grapes must be allowed a long summer growing season and are often one of the last grapes off the vine during the autumn harvest. Tasting different vintages from the same vineyards is always fun, but what’s that CA1 designation? It was later identified and now flourishes in Chile’s optimal warm and dry growing environment. It is often blended with merlot or cabernet sauvignon, balancing out any bitterness. Greig Santos-Buch is a Co-Founder at Winetraveler.com and a WSET 2 Merit wine writer. Pair this wine with meats, risotto, or any dish with lots of seasoning. Carménère is Chile’s quintessential grape varietal. The name for the grape was derived from the French word for crimson “carmin” referring to the bright crimson autumn leaves of the vines prior to leaf fall. Frankly, I really like the wine and have since bought more to share with friends. Carménère is medium-bodied with medium acidity and a standard amount of alcohol for red wine. Published: November 23, 2020. This article is sponsored by Wines of Chile. 1. In 1998 it was declared the official variety for the country. Deep red with flavors of plum, berries, and spice and a bitter finish, it's often blended with cabernet sauvignon or merlot. Snooth Newsletters. Outside of Chile, Carmenere is found in small quantities — North Eastern Italy in the Veneto is of particular note. This variety disappeared from its place of origin in Médoc, north of Bordeaux, France following the phylloxera outbreak in the 19th century. Mouthfeel and Tannins. Growing in Chile, carménère was originally mistaken for merlot because of its similar body and flavor profile. It was originally planted in the Medoc region in France and occasionally used in small percentages in Bordeaux blends. While there are some good wines priced well, it pays to spend closer to $20 or $30. What Foods Pair Well with Carménère? One of the most ancient European varieties, Carménère is thought to be the antecedent of other better-known varieties; some consider the grape to be "a long-established clone of Cabernet Sauvignon." Drink through 2018. When optimally ripe, these wines exhibit pronounced notes of red raspberry and savory sour cherry fruit. On the more affordable end, you can expect to find Carménère wines with honest fruity red berry aromas and tart flavors of raspberry with a subtly bitter taste similar to kale. Taste the Unexpected. In 1867, that dastardly louse known as Phylloxera wiped out most of Bordeaux’s vineyards, … Carmenere originated in France, and was predominantly used in Bordeaux blends. The best known, and highest-scoring Carmenere incarnations come from much lower altitude plots in the Colchagua and Cachapoal Valleys, however. Both wines have a softer tannin structure, making them good for blending with wines like cabernet sauvignon. Carménère is deep and bright ruby red in color. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. Serve in a red wine glass at a cool 65 F. With its lower acidity levels, Carmenere is typically not a grape that is built to age and is best consumed within a couple of years of its vintage date. For the best wine tasting experience, follow a few steps: Carménère grapes are originally from France but have since found favor in Chile's Central Valley where it is grown with gusto. Chile is now the main producer of this grape and produces it as a pure varietal as well as using it in red wine blends. It includes Carménère wines that are readily available. This sumptuous, subtle wine had a beautiful, leathery, plum-like taste that lingered on the tip of my tongue for at least 30 seconds after each sip. It is thought the ancient Romans were fond of the variety and that it first earned a good reputation for wine from wine produced in Spain. If all else fails, you can order some bottles through a shop or online. Due to Carmenere's high acid and low tannin profile, consider pairing it with lean cuts of beef, pork or turkey. Wine Events: A weekly roundup of wine events in your area. Carménère is deep and bright ruby red in color. Carménère is an extremely good barbecue wine and goes well with meaty Chilean dishes like empanadas de pino. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Select the Right Red Wine Glass for a Full Experience, The 12 Best Wines to Pair with Turkey in 2020, The 10 Best Natural Wines to Drink in 2020. Tasting Notes: Blackberries, plums, cherries, and warm spice with smooth and balanced vanilla notes. Because most wineries make only small lots of Carménère, check their websites or call for availability before you head out to taste them. Award-winning British journalist Amanda Barnes has been swirling her way around South America's wine regions since 2009, and established the Squeeze Magazine & South America Wine Guide in 2013 - the first digital Latin American wine guide to South America. Carménère was a classic component of the red wines of Bordeaux, France until it was wiped out of France completely by the phylloxera pest. Food match: Drink with a slow-cooked lamb shank or a rich, cheesy lasagne. It is possible that the variety name is an alias for what is actually the Vidure, a local Bordeaux name for a C… Its lack of tannins makes it better for immediate consumption rather than cellaring. It means that this wine comes from the Los Lingues vineyard at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the Colchagua Valley. It reappeared in Chile at the end of the 20th Century. On the palate, carménère has medium acidity and tannins with flavors of plum, raspberry, blackberry, peppercorn, green bell pepper, vanilla, and spice. Best enjoyed young, Carménère is very smooth with medium … Carménère tends to have a more herbaceous quality than merlot with a bitter finish. Red Cherry, Red Currant, Cassis, Tomato, Raspberry, Green Bell Pepper, Olive, Smoke, Spice, Tobacco, Leather, Dark Chocolate. Carménère is a very old, difficult-to-grow grape variety that’s thought to be the predecessor of several, better-known red grapes out there. Colchagua is the center of Chiles wine universe and many kinds of wines coming from these fertile valleys are very highly rated. The medium to full-bodied red wines can both exhibit ripe fruit flavors like plum and berries and pair well with meat. The inspiration behind the Best wine collection comes from our wine experts, who are passionate about sourcing exceptional quality wines from the world's finest wine … Carménère is a medium bodied savory red wine originating from France, but now predominantly produced in Chile. FRPGCHILE / Wikimedia Commons / CC by SA-4.0. The red wine can have a lingering, bitter finish, similar to cocoa powder. What Does Carménère Wine Taste Like? Around this time, Carménère was brought to Chile and originally planted amongst other varietals, including Merlot. In his spare time, you can find him hiking with a bottle of Cabernet Franc in his backpack or scuba diving trying to talk a reef shark into trying Swiss wine. Carménère is produced as a mono varietal but often is accompanied with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. He works with several brands focusing on experiential and immersive-style travel. 2017 TerraNoble CA1 Andes Carmenere. Earthy, spicy berry aromas include varietal specific minty green notes. Carmenere is now Chile's premier grape variety. I stumbled across Carmenere by buying a couple of bottles of 120 Carmenere 2009 (Santa Rita, Chile) at the BevMo! 2016 TerraNoble CA1 Andes Carmenere – $25 SRP. Some wineries sell out quickly, some sell their Carménère only to wine club … Carmenere grapes image courtesy Wines of Chile Carmenere’s dramatic back story always reminds me of a telenovela heroine that lived in the shadows until her true noble identity was revealed. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Food Pairings: The supple tannins lend itself to pairings like barbecued brisket and thick-cut bacon, but equally as good matched … The wine’s taste was complex and enjoyable with a dual approach. Made from 100% Carmenere from grapes grown in the Andes area of the Colchagua Valley. Subscribe to Winetraveler and receive notifications when new articles are published. Carménère is now considered the national grape of Chile, known as a great wine the world over for meat dishes and BBQs, but it wasn’t always so well known by the wine drinkers of the world. On the palate, carménère has medium acidity and tannins with flavors of plum, raspberry, blackberry, peppercorn, green bell pepper, vanilla, and spice. Despite its popularity in Chile, the wine has yet to become widely popular outside of the South American country. Copyright Wine Traveler, LLC © 2020. Carmenere mouthfeel Firm, medium bodied red wine with soft, round tannins and good acidity. 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