Carmenère

Carmènere started life in France but has found its home in Chile. It was first planted there in the mid-19th century, and from then until 1994 it was actually thought to be Merlot. Eventually DNA samples confirmed it was in fact Carmènere. Carmènere is a deeply coloured grape with herbaceous notes that are more prevalent when it is picked early. Riper Carmènere has flavours of dark berries, coffee, chocolate and sometimes black pepper. There is not much Carmènere left in France, but a small number of vines can be found at Château Clerc-Milon and Château Brane-Cantenac in Bordeaux.