Carmenère

• Color: Red (Blue-Skinned)
• Grape Parentage: Gros Cabernet x Cabernet Franc
• Place of Origin: Bordeaux
• Origin of Grape Name: derived from carmine, a deep crimson pigment and a reference to the Carmenère vine’s brilliant shade of leaf in autumn
• Major Countries of Production:
  • Chile: 8,827 ha (2011, Wines of Chile)
  • Italy: Tre Venezie
• Synonyms: Grand Vidure, Carbouet, Grand Carmenet (France)
• Viticultural Characteristics: Carmenère buds earlier than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc, but ripens later. Thick-skinned, Susceptible to Coulure
• Preferred Soil Type: Clay
• Common Blending Partners: Bordeaux varieties, Syrah

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Chilean Carmenère

• Visual: Dark Ruby with Purple Tones, Moderate Plus Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate Plus Intensity
  • Fruit: Ripe/Lush Black Fruit (Cassis, Blackberry, Black Plum, Black Cherry), Stewed Tomato
  • Floral: Violets, Purple Flowers
  • Green/Herbal/Pyrazine: Strong Green Notes Contrasted with Ripe Fruit, Green Bell Pepper, Celery, Camphor
  • Spice: Black Pepper
  • Other: Bitter Chocolate
  • Oak: Low to Moderate Use of New French/American Oak

Structure: Dry (with Ripe Attack), Moderate Plus Body, Moderate Tannin, Moderate Acidity, Elevated Alcohol, Bitterness