The Carmenere grape was initially planted in Bordeaux, France and was used to create dark red wines. Carmenere is a cousin to the Cabernet variety and its name originates from the French word meaning crimson, which describes the vibrant colors of the variety’s leaves in the autumn. The grape is one of the oldest varieties in Eurpoe, and is thought to be a copy of Cabernet Sauvignon. This variety joins a list of six red wine grapes that originally come from the region of Bordeaux, France. Carmenere cannot be easily found today in France, and is now grown mainly in Chile. The region in Chile where Carmenere is planted boasts of almost 9,000 acres and makes Chile the largest producer of Carmenere wines. Cuttings of the variety were brought to Chile from Bordeaux in the 19th century and were often confused with Merlot. Although the variety is similar to Merlot, growers have managed to maintain the variety in Chile and continue to see the variety thriving. Carmenere is also grown in Italy, California and parts of the United States. This deep colored red wine has the aromas of red fruits, berries and light tannins. Carmenere is used mostly for blending and is perfect to drink when young.
The Peumo Vineyard is located 170 m above sea level and extended along the Cachapoal River, on terraces of hills of the Coastal Mountains. The vines come from pre-phylloxera cuttings and are trellised to vertical shoot position and cordon pruned. The soils are deep with an upper layer of clay that retains moisture, which controls the vines’ vigor and growth and allows them to remain active through late May, when the Carmenere is picked.
Deep, dark red with hints of violet. Elegant and mineral on the nose, with notes of blackberry and a touch of blackcurrant. It fills the palate with underlying mature tannins. Deep, concentrated, with a long aftertaste and distinctive hints of the Peumo terroir. This 2018 vintage is characterized by its elegance and freshness; it is a wine with a lot of Carmenere character. Pairs best with elegant but simply prepared dishes such as juicy, rare roast beef, veal, pork tenderloin with roasted beets and cranberries, duck (cont or magret). Also delightful with squash-stuffed pasta with morel mushrooms or aged goat cheese with figs.
Review:
The 2018 Carménère Carmín de Peumo is made with grapes from 35-year-old vines and painstakingly overseen by Marcio Ramírez, who adds dabs of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon before aging the wine for 15 months in French oak to achieve a new level of complexity. Deep purple in color. The nose offers black tea and cedar aromas combined with blueberry, black currant and white pepper. With juicy, fine-grained tannins, in the mouth it is fleshy and full-flavored, conveying a surprisingly light feel. Sets a high benchmark for Chilean Carménère/.
-Vinous 94 Points
Siegel Crucero Collection Carmenere is made from 100 percent Carmenere.
Pre-fermenting maceration at 15ºC for five days. Fermentation between 28º to 30ºC to get more color and structure for our Siegel Crucero Carmenere . Four light pump-over are done daily. Post fermenting maceration for about two weeks. Then the juice was separated from the skins, which were pressed to extract more juice. 100% malolactic fermentation.
Aged 25% in American oak barrels for 3 months.
Fine deep color, with average plus density. A brooding quite intense nose: earthy, prunes and pronounced touch of violets. Entry quite firm and clear cut, with fine acidity and good fruit that adds supleness. Excellent balance. Very good with lots of character.
Pairs well with chicken, pasta, red meats, cheeses
Siegel Gran Reserva Carmenere is made from 100% Carmenere.
The grapes for the Gran Reserva wines are the product of a careful selection of Siegel's best vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, harvested by hand, and revealing a strong expression of the land.
An intense violet red, on the nose the wine is intense and displays notes of spices, black fruit and dark chocolate. ln the mouth it has smooth tannins and a long finish.
It pairs well with creamy pasta dishes, soft cheeses and pork based recipes.
Siegel Gran Reserva Carmenere is made from 100% Carmenere.
The grapes for the Gran Reserva wines are the product of a careful selection of Siegel's best vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, harvested by hand, and revealing a strong expression of the land.
An intense violet red, on the nose the wine is intense and displays notes of spices, black fruit and dark chocolate. ln the mouth it has smooth tannins and a long finish.
It pairs well with creamy pasta dishes, soft cheeses and pork based recipes.
Siegel Hand-picked Selection Carmenere is made from 100 percent Carmenere.
The handpicked Reserva wines are born out of a strong desire to offer the very best expressions of terroir from El Crucero vineyard, located at 360 meters above sea level. These carefully handpicked grapes deliver superb varietal characteristics and exceptionally well-balanced fruit concentration. The manual harvest behind the handpicked Reserva Wines, a stage prior to a second triage, highlights Siegel's commitment to delivering uniquely hancrafted wines from Curico Valley.
The wine shows an intense violet - red color, aromas of black fruits, pepper and mild notes of violets. The tannins are soft, and notes of black fruits linger through the palate with long persistence.
Pair with pastas, spices foods.
Siegel Hand-picked Selection Carmenere is made from 100 percent Carmenere.
The handpicked Reserva wines are born out of a strong desire to offer the very best expressions of terroir from El Crucero vineyard, located at 360 meters above sea level. These carefully handpicked grapes deliver superb varietal characteristics and exceptionally well-balanced fruit concentration. The manual harvest behind the handpicked Reserva Wines, a stage prior to a second triage, highlights Siegel's commitment to delivering uniquely hancrafted wines from Curico Valley.
The wine shows an intense violet - red color, aromas of black fruits, pepper and mild notes of violets. The tannins are soft, and notes of black fruits linger through the palate with long persistence.
Pair with pastas, spices foods.
In 1992 the Hill-Smith family counted themselves amongst those fortunate enough to own a vineyard upon the famous Coonawarra terra rossa soil over limestone. Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies’ reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance and structure.
Situated in the heart of Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip, The Menzies Estate vineyard lies on a flat plain, approximately 70km from the coast. Given the terrain and influence of the cooling Bonney upwelling, Coonawarra is an ideal location to grow premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Our soil is red sandy loam over limestone, which is classic Cabernet Sauvignon country. The grapes for The Menzies 2017 are from vines planted in 1994 and 1996. Bunches are usually small with small berries, giving concentration via an ideal skin to juice ratio favouring the making of fullbodied reds.
Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention, and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies' reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance, and structure.
Aromas of fresh rosemary, mulberry, violets and exotic spices. Take a sip and you will feel the poise and tension for which great Cabernet is renowned. A wine of great complexity with flavors of blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, and mulberries, wrapped in divine tannins and a lovely sweet, dark fruit finish. With decanting in its youth, it is enjoyable as an elegant full-bodied red wine.
Review:
The 2017 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon is looking good next to the 2016 tasted beside it. It is fresh and vibrant, with layers of complexing dark earth characters, with cigar box, black olive brine, cassis, bramble, milk chocolate and cracked black pepper. This is very good, and it has what I am coming to recognize as a "Yalumba red character": dried herbs, particularly oregano. The juicy splay of fruit through the finish is a highlight.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points
Luis XIV Lo de Pepitin is made from 80% Monastrell,14% Giro, 3% Arcos and 3% Bobal.
"Wine from a historic plot, named after Mr. Pepitin, the farmer who looked after these vines throughout his life."
Old vines (1980) planted in a bush style and dry land. 610 metres above sea level in the town of Biar. Sandy clay loam soil, with a high presence of limestone. Historic plot, reproduced by massal selection and with a wide variety of old clones of traditional Alicante varieties.
Production: Indigenous yeasts in our 19th century winery.
Fermentation: 50% in stainless steel, and 50% fermentation in vats.
70% Grapes crushed by foot and destemmed manually.
30% whole bunches.
Low extraction.
Aging : 50% of the wine was aged for 8 months in 500-liter French oak barrels ; and the other 50% were aged for 8 months in century-old 500-litre Amphora from Villarrobledo, considered the finest in Spain and which allows the wine to be stored inside without any coating: just pure clay.