An upcoming holiday to South America has spurred an interest in Chilean and Argentinian wine in preparation for the trip. Also on the to-do list is buying the obligatory Lonely Planet Guide, worrying about exchange rates (the only time I really do) and the inevitable discussion of how many bags we are taking (1). The star Argentinian wine Malbec is grown in Australia and fairly familiar to us, the Chilean hero Carmenere is not however, and a majority of the exports from Chile are sent to the US and UK.
Carmenere is a grape that thrives in Chile, driven to supposed extinction in France by the phylloxera plague that destroyed up to 90% of Europe’s grape vines in the late 19th century. Carmenere was grown in Bordeaux producing deep red wines and also used as a mix in blends. As the story goes the damage caused to the wine industry in Europe by the destructive phylloxera aphid caused a wave of wine makers to make the journey to Chile (and other places) in search of work. Some cuttings of carmenere were enroute in ships while the aphid did its dirty work and as such survived. These vines were left unidentified until the 1990’s when an interest was taken in the varieties in Chile, often growing wild, generally considered to be Merlot.
In a prior article (Afghan Food Challenge) we discussed the matching of a Montes Limited Selection 2011 (a carmenere blend) with Afghan food and the thread of spice in the wine that connected beautifully with the spicy food. Google carmenere and spicy food and you will get a plethora of spicy food matching suggestions. Montes also make the Purple Angel which is about 97% carmenere and a step up in price. Tasting notes suggest chocolate, coffee, spice, and blackberry. This is a beautiful wine and quite different to anything we produce in Australia. A full bodied, full flavour profile that starts with ripe fruit and then segues into a spice symphony that lingers on the palate.
Casa Lapostolle at the high end make Clos Apalta that won Wine Spectator’s wine of the year back in 2008 for their 2005 vintage. I cannot find this wine here and therefore it is on my tasting list for the trip. It is reputed to be one of the best examples of carmenere made in Chile.
I am sure our northern hemisphere friends can make further suggestions on Chilean drops; whether they are available in Australia is another thing. Anyway seek out some carmenere if you are up for something a little different, or impress your friends and match it with a spicy dish for a perfect wine food match.
Author: Neal
The Wine Wankers 
Ooh, this sounds NICE. Thank you!
LikeLike
It is 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds interesting, but it would take a lot to drag me away from the Rhone if we’re talking spicy,
LikeLike
Give it a go, you might be surprised.
LikeLike
That’ll be a fun vacation!
LikeLike
God I hope so 🙂
LikeLike
unsure of the actual percentage figs., but a great deal of what is labelled as Cab Sauv in Chile is actually Carmenere.
LikeLike
Yes, either that or merlot.
LikeLike
1. How do you guys know that? and 2. Why do they do that in current wine-aware world? What’s the payoff? (Can you tweet your reply?) Cheers!
LikeLike
I was told this by a wine merchant many years ago. From wiki “During most of the 20th century Carménère was inadvertently collected and processed together with Merlot grapes (probably reaching up to 50% of the total volume) giving Chilean Merlot markedly different properties to those of Merlot produced elsewhere”. At the time they were unaware that they had carmenere in their vineyard.
LikeLike
Had a bottle of 2008 Santa Ema Amplus last week. Outstanding! We get a bunch of carmenere in Canada – love it. And the Rhone lover above should definitely try as I’m a Rhone guy myself. The Montes Alpha Angel is a bit steep but in most vintages beautifully crafted too. Have fun.
LikeLike
yes the angel is a special occasion wine I guess, a lovely one at that.
LikeLike
Sounds great! i’m on board when do we leave…?
LikeLike
not soon enough 🙂
LikeLike
lol Keep me posted… we need a signal. Maybe a palm tree in the ski?
LikeLike
I had a guest blogging series over the summer and two of my 12 guest post writers wrote about Carmenere. Am definitely looking into that grape now…
LikeLike
I will check out your blog, thx.
LikeLike
Carmenere is delicious!!! I had the opportunity to try the 2008 Casa Lapostolle Clos Alpalta and let me tell you that you will be amazed if you can find it. The winery might have some left. If you can bring it back home definitely do say and lay it down for a few years. Great Wine!!!
LikeLike
We are going to the winery so will definitely get to try/buy some.
LikeLike
BIG Carmenere fan here and I happen to have a Purple Angel waiting for me in my cellar that was given to me as a gift. Popping that cork any day now….I swear.
Keep an eye out for Argentina’s Torrontes [white] and Bonarda; a rustic red in the vein of my beloved Carmenere. Heck even Uruguay’s Tanat is worthy.
Salud!
LikeLike
Thanks for the recommendations.
LikeLike
The purple angel is packaged in the heaviest bottle I have ever felt (as in the glass is very thick). Enjoy it! I will keep a look out for your recommendations, thx.
LikeLike
I noticed that too today when I went to check on it after reading your post. DAMN it’s heavy! Will have to be extra careful at our store when selling it LOL.
thanks.
LikeLike
bend your knees 🙂
LikeLike
Chilean wine offers such fantastic value and Carmenère is my favourite red from Chile. Here in the UK, both the Casa Silva and Tabali Reserve Carmenère (both Colchagua Valley) are great wines for under a tenner.
LikeLike
I will look out for those here. They are great value.
LikeLike
We had the Tabali Reserva Carmenere at Bistronomy in Bogota in 2011. Have been looking for it in Aust since then. It was a lot nicer than the purple angel from memory.
LikeLike
My Bride had the Purple Angel 2006 and raved about it. She surprised me with a bottle of it, when she returned from her mini-vacation. I am waiting for the right dinner and occasion to try it myself. I had to write about the wine second-hand. Enjoy your trip.
LikeLike
Thanks I will. I think you will enjoy it.
LikeLike
Purple Angel, what a fantastic name for a wine! Hope you have a fun trip…
LikeLike
thanks
LikeLike
These have been popping up more and more in the US. I had two bottles of it just last week because it has been front and center at my local wine shop.
LikeLike
Sounds like a good wine shop.
LikeLike
Sounds great, I wonder if we can get it in the U.S.? I turned my dad onto your site and he loves it..:-)
LikeLike
You will definitely get it in the US, it is Montes biggest market. Glad to have your dad on board.
LikeLike
My dad worked as a wine specialist in a store and as a teacher for 30 years before retiring. I’ll recomend it to him and we;ll see if we can find it here..:-)
LikeLike
Never heard of it. Hope I can find Carmenere at my local food store. Chilean wine seems to moving on up from what this wine dim wit can tell. Are you guys planning a sideways Chile trip?
LikeLike
Like sideways without some of the trouble (hopefully).
LikeLike
What a funand informative blog! I just enjoy trying new wines. I have enjoyed exploring your blog and will be back. Have a great trip to South America! Thanks for taking time to like a couple of my posts.
LikeLike
You are welcome. Stay tuned for a few posts about the trip.
LikeLike
Yum. We are in Alberta. That means lower prices, less tax and more wine!
LikeLike
Sounds like a place the ww’s would enjoy 🙂
LikeLike
I can’t recall having a carmenere, but I’ll find one right away. I’m generally a great fan of Chilean and Argentinean wines. and I appreciate your educating me about this grape! (And, for what it’s worth, I’ve always been pleased with the Australian malbecs that I’ve tried.)
This is, by the way, just a great wine blog. I love the attitude: very informed, yet delightfully cheeky! Thank you!
LikeLike
Hey thanks for the feedback. Track some down, you will not regret it.
LikeLike
I love Carmenere – thanks for the information about this grape. Thanks also for visiting and LIKING my fun! Hope to see you again.
LikeLike
you are welcome!
LikeLike
Being an ex-pat living in Brazil, we see quite a bit of Carmenere around, every supermarket has it, all imported from Chile. Strong flavours, goes well with BBQ in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping over at my place, appreciated.
AV
LikeLike
no problem, enjoy the carmenere, only wish we have a broader range here.
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting my work at theillustratedwine.wordpress.com and I loved this post — I am a HUGE fan of Carmenere! All that great herbaceousness. Nice to find fellow travelers. Just had a lovely and affordable one last night: Chilean Koyle ‘Reserva’ 2011. Yum!
Cheers to you guys!
LikeLike
Glad you are onboard
LikeLike
But no one has mentioned Concha y Toro! I drank bottles and cases of Concha y Toro in my day and they make a wonderful carmenere. I think it won something. Sometime. But a good value and a great wine.
LikeLike
I will check it out.
LikeLike
You’ll like it. It was like Bin 65 it was so easy to find and drink.
LikeLike
[…] Try something new, have a crack at carmenere! (thewinewankers.com.au) […]
LikeLike
[…] to enjoy. If I didn’t have any left I think I’d buy a whole case for that price! Neal is a Carmenere fan and he has me […]
LikeLike
[…] their casitas, located right next to the Clos Apalta winery . As already mentioned in a prior post (Try something new, have a crack at carmenere!) this was a destination I was keen to get to as their Clos Apalta wine is somewhat […]
LikeLike
What a classically elegant illustration on the label 🙂
LikeLike
yes it is beautiful, I agree.
LikeLike
Ok so a bit late for the thread but Hells. Our vineyard in the Heathcote region has just released our first (and the regions first) 100% Carménère. Carm get some. http://Www.humisvineyard.com
LikeLike