carmenère

Originally cultivated in the Médoc in France, it migrated to Chile in the 19th century where it has recently built its power base. In the early 1990s it was discovered that much of the 'merlot' growing in Chile was in fact carmenère. It does have the potential to produce some very fine wines with the charm of merlot and the structure of cabernet sauvignon. Unfortunately it is far too often over-cropped or under-ripe which leaves it leafy green and very unattractive with a rasping structure and little primary fruit. Grown well, and it can be fantastic. Currently little seen beyond Chile, with the exception of some in Friuli, Italy which was previously thought to be cabernet franc.

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