Buy or order Carmenere wine

Carmenere, the Chilean grape, and they're quite proud of it! But the grape actually originated in Bordeaux. Unfortunately, Carmenere was completely extinct around the 19th century due to a major phylloxera epidemic. It wasn't until the 1990s that it was discovered in Chile, causing wine connoisseurs to do a little happy dance. The Carmenere grape was back, and to this day, it's found in several places around the world, including Italy, France, and even China.

The Carmenere grape originated in 1783 in Bergerac, where it was a cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet. This was then called Carmenere in the Dordogne region. Now in Chile, we see that the Carmenere grape is very vigorous and grows incredibly fast, but produces relatively few bunches. The bunches that can be harvested are of exceptional quality, and Chile is proud of this. The bunches are small and firm, and have a beautiful blue color, typical of the Carmenere grape. Harvest often takes place five weeks later than its cousin, Merlot, giving the Carmenere grape characteristics such as soft and ripe aromas and flavors.

What does a Carmenere Wine taste like?

The flavor characteristics of a Carmenere wine are straightforward. As soon as the bottle is opened, you'll smell a ripe bouquet of black fruit, with ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and sweet plums taking center stage. You'll also recognize it as a Carmenere wine in the glass with notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and a hint of light spice. The palate is very smooth, with abundant ripe fruit nuances that are characteristically slightly stewed. On the palate, a Carmenere wine also always reveals notes of black pepper, ripe dates, a touch of caramel, and sweet spices like cinnamon. The finish is very smooth, often lacking any tannins, but instead rich and abundant fruit.

What goes well with a Carmenere wine

Carmenere is the perfect wine to pair with meat, as Chileans love their barbecues. It also pairs beautifully with chili con carne, stew, and, of course, a juicy steak. Don't forget the rack of lamb or a piece of duck. A glass of Carmenere is a delicious pairing.

How long can I keep a Carmenere wine?

Nowadays, Carmenere grapes come in many price ranges and qualities, including wines priced up to €10 that are best enjoyed within five years of the vintage. But these days, some truly prestigious wines are also made from Carmenere, such as Errazuriz Aconcaqua Costa and wines from J. Bouchon (single block), which can age in the bottle for at least 10 years. This is provided the Carmenere wine is properly stored in a cellar or climate-controlled cabinet, for example.