Carménère is a French red grape that originates from Bordeaux and was long thought to be extinct. It is a grape with dark skin, medium tannins, and medium body. On palate, one can find notes of red and black fruits. Also, Carménère has a distinct aroma of peppers thanks to the high levels of pyrazines. This grape produces elegant wines of deep color. In 1994, it was discovered that about 50% of what was thought to be Merlot in Chile was actually Carménère. No surprise, as these grape varieties have very similar vine leaves.
Where is Carmenere from?
Carménère was considered extinct after the Phylloxera plague of 1857, which nearly wiped out most of its vineyards in Europe. Carménère, however, went to the New World, to the Central Valley in Chile, where it was first mistaken for Merlot. Today, Chile is the largest producer of this grape. We can also find large quantities of Carménère in Italy and China, followed by Argentina, France, Croatia, and the USA.
Interesting story about Carmenere
The name Carménère, comes from the French word carmín which is the color that the vine leaves get in autumn. This grape found its success when it left its homeland after the Phylloxera plague almost wiped it out of Europe.
Carmenere grape characteristics
Carménère is a late-ripening grape. It easily made its way into the New World as this grape thrives in hot climates with intense summers, which allows it to reach its full potential. It does not like too much water, especially during harvest time.
Carmenere Wines
Immature grapes have bitter and herbaceous tones while fully ripe grapes give us more fruity flavors. Aged in oak barrels Carménère gives tones of earth, dark chocolate, and tobacco. The grape is usually blended with such grapes as Petit Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.