
Carmenere
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick ...
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-nineteenth century. Far from its birthplace of Bordeaux, Carménère once accompanied Malbec and Petit Verdot as a minor blending grape there. But the variety went a bit undercover, impressing wine lovers until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Regardless of what vine variety it actually was, these have proven successful and plantings continue to increase.
In the Glass
Carménère can express a bit of herbaceous character or black pepper but in warm climates or with additional hangtime before harvest, it makes wines reminiscent of blackberry, blueberry and dark plum, with rich and savory notes of chocolate, coffee, smoke and soy sauce.
Perfect Pairings
Carménère makes a great match for a hearty steak or barbecued red meat. It can also work well with white meat when prepared with a mole sauce or spice rub.
Sommelier Secret
Perhaps Carménère’s herbal character can be explained in part by familial relations—due to the strange nature of grapevine breeding, Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
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Santa Rita 120 Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
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Arboleda Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
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Terrunyo Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- RP
- W&S
- WS
- WE
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Apaltagua Envero Gran Reserva Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- WE
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Concha y Toro Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- W&S
- WS
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Luis Felipe Edwards Carmenere Gran Reserva 2003Carmenere from Chile
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Vina Chocalan Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
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De Martino Legado Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- WS
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MontGras Reserva Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
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Santa Rita Reserva Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
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Apaltagua Grial Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- WE
- RP
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Concha y Toro Carmin de Peumo Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- RP
- W&S
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Apaltagua Estate Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Chile
- WE
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Terra Noble Reserva Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Maule Valley, Chile
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Reininger Carmenere 2003Carmenere from Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington