Carménère (France)
China, Chile, and Italy have the largest planting of Carménère.
Carménère originated in Bordeaux in France.
Typical Flavors
 Blackberry |
 Black Currant |
 Black Cherry |
 Plum |
 Herbs |
 Pepper |
 Spices |
 Granite |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Vanilla |
 Chocolate |
 Leather |
Dark Berries and Green Pepper are typical Carménère flavors.
Hints of Spices and Minerals (Granite).
Oak added Flavors: Vanilla. Chocolate. Smoke. Leather.
Profile
Carménère has a good body and tannins are softer than Cabernet Sauvignon:
| BODY | Medium - Plus | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - Plus | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Tapas |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Chicken |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Beef |
Carménère pairs well with spicy meat. Mediterranean. Mexican. Middle Eastern. Chilean.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Smoked Meat.
Chicken. Pork. Lamb. Veal.
Grilled. Roasted Meats.
BBQ. Beef.
Rosemary. Coriander.
Spicy Herbs. Curry. Cumin.
Cheese:
Strong Cheeses.
If You Like Carménère
You Might Also Like:
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
About
In the 18th century Carménère was widely planted in Bordeaux, France.
Because the grape failed to survive the Phylloxera plague in 1867, only a very small amount is growing in France today.
DNA studies show that Carmenère is the result of a crossing between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet.