Smooth and
well-balanced
If you haven’t tried Carmenère before, its fruit-driven character is often compared to Merlot. Originating in Bordeaux, it struggled to recover after nearly being eradicated in the late 19th century by a vine root-eating bug called phylloxera. Luckily, cuttings had got muddled up with Merlot and taken to Chile by unsuspecting winemakers. It flourished in the warm Central Valley region and as recently the 1990s, nearly half of the country’s ‘Merlot’ was confirmed as Carmenère. The late-ripening Carmenère loves the sun and is now synonymous with Chile. Ours is made by our partners at Ventisquero Wine Estates, who truly capture the character of the grape and region. Our wine team couldn’t resist adding this to our range.