Christian Lanz began making wine in 1850 under the name Carmen. He named the winery after his beloved wife, Carmen. Today, it is the oldest of the bodegas still active in Chilean winemaking. Initially, the company operated in the background, but truly began to grow after being acquired by the Claro family. They were able to invest heavily and now utilize state-of-the-art facilities.
In recent years, Carmenère has become Chile's national grape. In 1994, the grape variety was rediscovered in the Carmenère vineyards. It was initially mistaken for Merlot, as it was long thought to be extinct due to phylloxera. But it soon became clear that this unique grape was indeed planted in Carmenère's Alta Maipo Valley vineyards. This grape produces wines with a unique character. The grapes undergo a week of cold maceration on their skins. Fermentation on the skins was carried out at a slightly higher temperature than for other grapes, around 29 degrees Celsius, to extract more flavor from the grapes. This fermentation lasted a full six weeks. The wine was then aged for ten months in French oak barrels. Finally, a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon was added for extra punch.
The aroma reveals a beautiful bouquet of black fruit, spice, chocolate, tobacco, creamy vanilla, and sweet plums. A rich and versatile wine, as this wine is packed with flavors. The palate is smooth and very rich, with beautiful notes of the warm terroir where this grape was grown. This results in hints of pepper, blackberry, and cherry, along with some spice and wood. This Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenere has a long, full, smooth finish and, in our opinion, is a top-notch wine from Chile.
