In the year of 1854, the carmenère grape variety was brought from its native Médoc (Bordeaux, France) to the sunny slopes and cold watery rivers of the central valley of Chile. There, the plant with the green-reddish leaves and dark grapes waited for its destiny, without knowing that its relatives in France had gotten the mortal phylloxera, blight who didn’t arrive to Chile.
Like a deep violet bright Sleeping Beauty, for almost one hundred and fifty years, carmenère grew not differentiated from other vines, generously contributing with its touch of species and deep colour to the fragrance of Chilean merlot.
In 1994, the French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot first noticed its peculiar characteristics and correctly identified it. Then started a two years long battle for legal recognition, which ended in 1996, when growers were authorized to use the carmenère name on the bottles.
Since then, carmenère represents the identity of Chilean wines. Indeed, Chile provides it appropriate conditions of soil and a very regular climate with long hours of sunshine, an ample thermal fluctuation and a quite late harvest at the very end of summer season, needed to obtain such a wonderful and luxurious, velvety wine.
Carmenère will adequately cover the tasty range of fruitful feelings necessary to fully appreciate a wide range of different cuisine. You will often find in the ripe black fruit a strong body with delicate touches of spices and chocolate.
As a drinkable God in exile, carmenère took refuge in Chile where it was reborn to be identified as the national wine.

Carmenère Reserva

A glorious carmenère, with intense dark colour, rich and delicious, full of luscious aromas and flavours, a symphony of fig, tobacco, coffee and toasty notes. It has refined well-integrated tannins which linger in a long finish. Ideal for lamb, red meat or spicy cuisine. Drink it at 16°-18°C.

“Best Carmenère Reserve of Chile”. 86 punten. Panel Tasting Fundación Chile, September 2002

“Highly recommended”, 4 stars. Panel Tasting Decanter Magazine, U.K., June 2002

“Top red wines of the year”. Panel Chilean Wines Decanter Magazine, U.K., October 2002

“Gold Medal” International Wine Challenge 2001

Gold Medal at the Vinalies Internationales 2003 in Paris