The reason I was so curious about the Carmenere, was I had never heard of it before trying it in the Sedona restaurant, Mariposa. We had a 2008 Carmin de Peumo which was superb. I thank you all for the feedback, I have tried some of the suggested offerings and have not returned to the original “Wow” from the Carmin de Peumo. Purple Angel was the closest as one of you suggested.
I put down a mixed case of 2009s–Montes Alpha, Purple Angel and Errazuriz Single Vineyard–just to see what happens. Probably should check in on them soon. I liked all three on release and though they had a good chance of improving.
+1. I’ve tried many, during multiple trips to South America and found the vast majority to be lacking. However, if you can find any from Clos Overt, I would highly recommend them. Unfortunately, the winery was significantly damaged during the 2010 earthquake. I know that the operations continued in some limited form thereafter, but I’m not sure if they are still producing today.
I’ve tried many. These wines are either great or terrible (mostly terrible due to harvest pratices). The biggest problem with it is that it is hard to ripen (read this) and, if these grapes are not properly ripened, the wine comes off extremely green with lots of tomatoe and green pepper flavors (experienced this). There does not seem to be a middle ground. The best ones I have tried come off very old world with barnyard funk, tar, inky, and dark tobacco with beatifully intergrated underlying red fruit. My go to is Inama from Italy.
Drank a tatay de cristobal 2010 tonight and it very much represented the rustic, tobacco-laced expression. With its youth, some black and blue fruit showed through as well.
Visiting Chile about 5 years ago, the one thing I remember about Carmenere is that it absolutely needs 8-10% of another grape blended in to overcome its acrid finish. My wife and I tried a 100% Carmenere at one winery and struggled to keep our composure as our host explained how they uniquely offered and mastered a 100% Carmenere wine. Best examples I’ve tried over the years are Purple Angel and Terrunyo, which both bring a velvety mouth feel and sweeter finish to this austere grape.
If you want a drinkable mono variety Carmenere, try one from Washington state, Beresan, Seven Hills, or Reininger. Blind, you would probably guess Cab Franc.
Clos Apalta is a blend, and a superb wine.
P Hickner
2003 Montes Purple Angel. Apparently I got only this one left. No 2004. 8% Petit Verdot. In the nose it resembles CF and but after some time it gains considerably more roundness and some alcohol scents. Color is dark red.
The green elements dominate in the mouth, but after a while more bittersweet notes gets in mix. Not bad or prohobitively extracted. I will retaste tomorrow,
I had the 2003 in 2005: young, but good spice and a very pleasing green/tobacco edge. Pretty expensive, for what it was . In 2011, I had a 2004 that seemed very international and extracted. Also too expensive. I doubt I will buy any vintage of this wine again.
Mike Steinberger wrote a good piece on the grape a few years back on Slate. He recounts how it was a significant grape in the Medoc and Graves before phylloxera, but is (entertainingly) less enthusiastic about current renditions:
Unfortunately, what the Chileans are making with carmenère is not so wonderful. The tasting I did for this article was dispiriting, to put it kindly; many of the wines lacked personality and depth, and some were jammy, hideously oaky confections that were indistinguishable from other, similarly afflicted New World wines. The worst offenders were the most expensive, which at least offered a measure of perverse pleasure to what was otherwise a slog. The 2005 Concha y Toro Carmín de Peumo Carmenère ($120), the 2007 Errazuriz Kai Carmenère ($120), and the 2006 Montes Purple AngelCarmenère ($55) all tasted like oak syrup, which is not a taste I especially recommend. (They also came in some of the heaviest bottles I’ve encountered; their carbon footprints must be more like carbon dinosaur tracks.)
He did like the Apaltagua Reserva Carmenère ($10), Apaltagua Envero Gran Reserva Carmenère ($15), Lapostolle Casa Carmenère ($13), and very much liked a Clos Ouvert Carmenère Loncomilla.
Wikipedia has a pretty good article on the grape.
The vines are vulnerable to coulure and oidium in damp climates, so it wasn’t replanted much after phylloxera. I think I read someplace that it also didn’t graft well, which contributed to its disappearance in Bordeaux. Most vines in Chile are ungrafted, right?
As a curiosity, Ch. Brane Cantenac have some Carmenere planted in their vineyards, and they bottle a bit separately as an experiment. It’s worth asking to taste if you ever go to visit. It’s a very fruity, perfumed, supple wine without very much structure (young vines may factor in there) compared to the Cabernet-dominated grand vin.
Monsieur Alfert. You are right. Would prefer a Chinon anytime. Or a bojo etc
I’ve tried a few Carmenere wines and I always get that green/bell pepper note (pyrazine). Is this just indicative of a standard/easy drinker Carmenere? What’s the benefit to drinking the higher end ones over say Cabernet/Merlot from Old World/New World locations?
Just got a new batch of the 2016 Antiyal Carmenere Vinedo Escorial. Haven’t tried this vintage quite yet, but just wanted to give a heads up that this is one of the best full bodied wines I’ve had and very uncharacteristic for Carmenere, in my opinion. One of those random and magnificent finds from a trip to Chile for business earlier this year. Glad I found them again here in the US. If you do come across some, don’t hesitate to try it. Amazing juice.
Casa Silva makes a good Carmenere and a single vineyard Carmenere Las Lingues.
Used to love both the Reserva and the Las Linguas Reserva – didn’t they do a Las Lingues Cab as well?? Used to be in my market…sadly, haven’t seen them for at least a decade or so.
Vine Connections imports them now. They don’t make a lot but it’s available where VC is, and yes, single vineyard Cab too.
Thx Kris - loved that Cab too
I’ve enjoyed some 2011s of these. I bought a 1/2 dozen after trying them at a biodynamic tasting event that was held in Melbourne several years ago. I think I still have a bottle left somewhere.
The other Carmenere I have had recently was one that a friend gave me that came from the German supermarket chain Aldi that was sourced from Chile and was super cheap but she insisted was quite good. While not the most complex wine I have ever had, It was surprisingly drinkable and pretty great value at that price point.