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Carménère is a red wine grape native to Bordeaux, France, but most associated with Chile. It has a rich aroma of spice and fruit, with softer tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Historically used as a blending grape, it was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in Chile and Italy. Chile is now known for producing the world’s greatest Carménère wine. It pairs well with meats and pasta dishes.
Carménère wine is grown from the Carménère grape and although it is grown in many regions, it is most associated with Chile. The grape is native to the Bordeaux region of France and is one of many dark, stately grapes in the Cabernet family. It is generally considered one of the six basic grapes of Bordeaux, and Carménère de Bordeaux wine may refer to the grape as Grande Vidure.
Like Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère wine is deep red and has a rich aroma of spice and fruit. Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, the tannins in Carménère tend to be much softer, and it is drinkable at a relatively young age. Historically, finding true Carménère wine was quite difficult, as the grape was generally used as a blending grape. In recent years, however, more and more wineries have begun producing pure Carménère wine, full of cherry, earth, and in some cases dark amaro.
The history of Carménère wine is shrouded in time, with some considering it to be one of the oldest grape varieties in Europe, and some suggesting it was the original clone from which all the great Bordeaux grape varieties arose. It is possible that Carménère was historically the grape known as Biturica, which was also once the name of the city that is now the city of Bordeaux during the days of the Roman Empire. In the Médoc region of France, Carménère wine was once produced widely, but after a horrific phylloxera plague swept through Bordeaux in the mid-19th century, the grape vanished from France and for many years was considered completely extinct.
Thankfully, Carménère wine continued to be made elsewhere, most notably in Chile, where it was assumed to be Merlot for many years. Carménère wine continued to be produced in Italy as well, although it was thought to be Cabernet Franc. Either way, one of the major giveaways that ultimately led to the discovery that Carménère was still alive and well was the earlier maturation times. The taste profile of the Carménère wine is also markedly different from both Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with a large amount of cherry forward and delicate tannins.
The world’s greatest Carménère wine comes from Chile, and the country is justifiably proud to finally have a grape that can truly call its own. Like New Zealand and Sauvignon Blanc, Germany and Riesling, or Australia and Shiraz, Chile has become virtually synonymous with Carménère wine. It goes particularly well with meats, especially lean and rare steaks, pasta with meat sauce, sweet duck breast and rack of lamb. In recent years, parts of the United States and Canada have also begun producing Carménère wine in small quantities, particularly in the Ontario region of Canada.
As one might infer from the cases of mistaken identity that have deceived both Chile and Italy, Carménère wine bears some similarities to both varietals. In many ways, describing Carménère wine as falling between these two classic wines is a good start. Soft and delicate in the mouth, with plenty of fruit and spice, it is a wonderful table wine and truly outstanding offerings rival the best wines in the world.
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