do you know where Carménere wine comes from? To talk about Carménere wine is to travel to Chile and its vast and powerful wine industry.
This wine is recognized worldwide because it is developed under unsurpassed conditions that make it unique in aroma, flavor and texture.
It is easy to combine with food and aperitifs, due to its very low acidity. It represents one of the most sought-after wines in Chile because it is a different, exclusive and simple variety; it has a beautiful color and produces an explosion of flavors on the palate.
It is recognized worldwide as the king of reds and is a unique bet for the place where it is destined to be distributed and marketed.
Therefore, wherever you go and wherever you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to taste, feel and even dream with this exquisite wine that is promising and that little by little, with the effort of many, has reached success.
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what is Carménere wine?
It is a varietal red wine, since 80% of its ingredients are based on the main grape, it is fresh and young, because its production is relatively recent.
Its production comes from the Central Valley of Chile. It has a powerful intense red color with violet touches that are fascinating; it gives off an aroma that reflects the fruits of the forest, truffles and violets.
Its name comes from the French word carmine, as a reference to the color of the leaf of this fruit, which it gives off when it is being processed.
The Chilean industry highlights this wine, which is intense, rich and harmonious, the spices and combinations that, due to its high pyrazine content, give it a red pepper flavor.
It is a fresh, smooth wine with a harmony that blends very well with Arabic, Chinese, Indian and Peruvian cuisine, making it versatile to serve and enjoy on any occasion.
Origin and history of Carménere wine
The Carménere grape is a very old variation from Europe, specifically France. It is said to be the sister of the Carbernet, which is why it is the ancestor of other well-known varieties, such as merlot, malbec, etc.
There are many myths surrounding this fruit since its disappearance in European lands; it is said that this vine comes from ancient Rome under the name of biturica, but that its origin comes from Spain and Portugal.
However, it is not very common to see this fruit in France, where for a long time it was believed to be extinct.
In 1850 it arrived in Chile, where it was confused and blended for more than 140 years with Merlot and treated, processed and distributed as such.
In 1994, the Frenchmen Jean Michel Boursiquot and Claude Valet, professors at the University of Montpellier, after touring the country’s vineyards and studying them in detail, discovered the fruit in Chile.
They determined that Carménere was present in them, in this way, they were able to rediscover that it was not extinct, but had changed to a better place, in the Chilean valleys, where high temperatures and clay soils retain water which is very good for this fruit that tends to dehydrate easily.
Today, Chile is the country with more than 8 hectares planted and recognized, under sommelier supervision, with Carménere, which has given a differentiating element to this industry.
All this has been improved and evolved, since the beginning its flavor was immature and its appearance green. Currently, it is treated with great care, since overripening would cause the fruit to lose its essence, which is a special and simple flavor.
Characteristics of Carménere wine
The wines made with this grape variety are almost carmine red in color, with very expressive aromas of black cherries, raspberries, plums, blackberries and ripe red pepper.
Because they are aged in oak barrels, they contain spicy aromas that give them great variety depending on the aging time. On the palate it is intense, with minimal acidity, as its genetics do not possess it; it is powerful, firm and solid, sweet, with ripe and warm black fruit flavors.
Another of its characteristics is that it is a fruit with a hard film, which allows a slow maturation that makes it dependent on the green foliage above for its protection and development, which later becomes a beautiful photograph because the leaves turn carmine color in the last weeks before being harvested.
If harvested in warm climates the resulting wine will have a high alcohol level with a low balance.
Color of Carménere wine
This powerful Chilean wine such as carmenere has an intense red color, which can turn dark and deep.
Taste of Carménere wine
The carmenere wine stands out for its rich, smooth taste on the palate that after a few seconds you can perceive slight notes of black plums and spices, with a slight taste of toasted American oak that leaves a rich sensation in your mouth.
Aroma of Carménere wine
The carmenere has a delicious aroma of fruits, such as black plums and ripe currants, along with chocolate with notes of coffee and toast.
Alcohol content of Carménere wine
Wine, being a fermented beverage, has an alcohol content ranging between 3.5 and 15 degrees. When the wine has an alcoholic content higher than 8 degrees, it is due to the difficulty of maturation.
In the case of Carménere wine, its alcohol content is 13.5%, so this variety is not very acidic and is generally very well considered in blends.
Carménere wine pairing
As it is a wine rich in flavors, its pairing is wide. Among them, Peruvian food stands out: Carménere is an excellent companion to Seco de Cordero (traditional Peruvian dish), where the combination of green flavors, of the wine and the dish, marry well with the spicy rhythm that this fruit possesses.
The Seco, which may contain beef and apricot, leads to an explosion of flavors when mixed with the wine, which also has chocolate tones and silky tannins.
It is also a good accompaniment to some Green Tagliatelle, a traditional Peruvian pesto, which due to its creamy and thick texture, accompanied by fresh cheese and its touch of spiciness from the nuts, the greenery of the basil or spinach on top of the steak, along with the boiled potatoes on the side, give a greater prominence to the Carménere; it fills it with a cheerful, fruity character with incomparable flavors and textures.
This red wine goes well with Arabic, Chinese and Indian cuisine, as it expresses itself deliciously well with game meats, accompanied by sweet and sour sauces and berries. Dishes include roast duck breast, ratatouille and chicken Tikka Masala.
how to drink Carménere wine?
Although it may seem silly, the glass is not only used for drinking, but also serves as an element of evaluation of the red wine.
Any drink changes a lot depending on the vessel in which it is served. Therefore, each red wine has its own glass and grip. It is preferable that the walls of the glass are colorless, without carving or shapes, beyond what the wine deserves.
Any contact with the hands on them should be avoided, as it could transmit its heat and odor to the wine. The glass should always be taken by the stem, which also varies according to the wine.
Wine is best appreciated by smell, so it should be filled up to half of the glass at the most, thus giving the red wine the freedom to release its aroma when rotating movements are made to oxygenate the liquid and allow a better appreciation of its flavor and aroma.
In the case of Carménere wine, it should be served in a tulip-shaped glass, which is larger than the white wine glass in order to be able to move and oxygenate the wine.
Appetizers for Carménere wine
Among the appetizers that can be tasted with this red wine are: bread rolls with olive oil, cherry tomatoes or roasted mushrooms, slices of ham with olives are an excellent bet for their perfect combination, roasted potatoes accompanied by sesame sauce or mint leaves make this red wine neutralize the spiciness of this recipe.
how is the Carménere wine made?
Carménere is a very late variety. It is the last to be harvested in Chilean vineyards. Winemakers pick Carménere in late April and early May.
This variety needs time to ripen and achieve its perfect balance. Winemakers emphasize that Carmenere requires a lot of attention in the vineyard, but above all it needs specific climatic and geological conditions, including a good balance between sunny and rainy days, deep soils, warm days and cool nights.
If this variety is not closely monitored, it produces harsh wines, with little fruit expression and certain notes of immaturity or vegetative.
Its elaboration follows the steps of any red wine; the grape harvest, harvesting process. Destemming, separation of the grapes from the cluster.
Squeezing is done with a crushing machine to get the skin to detach from the pulp. Maceration and alcoholic fermentation, it is kept at a suitable temperature so that the maceration process is effective and acquires, through fermentation, the ideal color and texture, as well as its alcoholic content, which is determined by the natural yeast present in the fruit.
Pressing is carried out to extract as much liquid as possible, rich in aromas and tannins. Malolactic fermentation is used to lower the acidity of the grapes so that its consumption can be more pleasant. Aging, the liquid is made in oak barrels for aging and growth.
Racking, when the wine is changed several times from one container to another so that its toasting, maceration, color, flavor and aroma reach the definitive one.
Clarification, when all the impurities that the grape produces are subtracted from the wine. Finally, bottling, where the red wine will acquire the oxygen provided by the bottle once the cork has been put in place.
Characteristics of the Carménere grape
The grape itself is capable of providing a quality wine, but to achieve this, yields must be significantly reduced: the foliage must be controlled; if it is grown in places that naturally generate stress to the plant it is favorable, and it must be harvested when the ripening of sugars, flavors and phenolic compounds are at an optimum point.
Temperature of Carménere wine
Carmenere wine is a red wine served at 18° – 19°C (64° – 68°F). Although, in summer, it is advisable to serve it a little cooler.
The ambient heat quickly increases the temperature of the wine in the glass, therefore, by pouring the wine a little cooler, it will reach its ideal serving temperature in a few minutes.
Carménere wine price
The price of Carmenere wine varies according to region, year and presentation. The best are priced between $2,500 and $4,500.
Best brands of Carménere wine
Here is a list of the 8 best Carmenere wines in their different presentations:
- Tocornal Carmenere
- Montgras State Carmenere
- Montgras Rva. Carmenere
- Gato Negro Carmenere
- Los Vascos Carmenere Grande Reserve
- Sta. Carolina Rva. De Familia Carmenere
- Clos Apalta
- Montes Purple Angel
