Winemaker Notes
This deep ruby Carmenere presents intense aromas of ripe figs, cigar and a hint of roast beef with black pepper. Its round and sweet tannings with a creamy density and excellent persistence let the palate sense grilled red peppers together with black fruits such as blackberries and blueberries and also the classical taste of cigar.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Carmenere is sourced from the village of Hijuelas, which is 100 kilometers north of Santiago in the Aconcagua Valley, not that far from Seña. It has a classical ripe Carmenere nose with herbs, spices and a touch of paprika. The palate is soft and a approachable, with fine tannins and good freshness, which is the challenge with the variety. A spicy, fine-grained Carmenere. 90,000 bottles produced.
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-19th century. However, the variety went a bit undercover until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Somm Secret— Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
The Aconcagua River runs east from the charming costal town of Valparaiso and bisects the land creating the valley after which it was named. While alluvial soils predominate the Aconcagua Valey along its river throughout, its east-west flow creates drastically different conditions on each of its ends. Its western, seaside vineyards, with clay and stony soils upon gently rolling hills, produce cool-climate varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its inner region is one of Chile’s hottest and produces some of its best red wines. Panquehue in the inner Aconcagua is the site of Chile’s first Syrah vines, planted in 1993.