The Carmenere grape is not new. Widely planted in Bordeaux in the early 18th century, it is credited with establishing the reputations of some of Bordeaux�s best estates.

In fact Carmenere (pronounced Car-me-NEAR) is still one of the six varieties legally permitted as in a Bordeaux blend.  Unfortunately, it disappeared from Bordeaux after phylloxera devastated Europe's vineyards late in the 19th century.

Carmenere's demise was due to the fact that it didn't graft easily onto the phyolloxera-resistant vines and wasn't especially suited to Bordeaux�s damp spring and autumn. When replanting began it was spurned in favor of varieties that would guarantee a financial return to the cash strapped vintners.

Luckily for us the grape avoided extinction by jumping ship for the New World shortly before the phylloxera crisis hit France. When vineyards were established in Chile between 1850 and 1870, much of the plant material was imported from Bordeaux, and Carmenere was planted together with Merlot but over time its distinct identity was lost.

Most Chilean growers mistook it for an unusual clone of Merlot. Carmenere's leaves turn bright red in autumn, so everybody knew that they were looking at something other than run-of-the-mill Merlot.

The process of re-identification was triggered by the red wine boom of the early 1990s. A French wine consultant, giving advice on Merlot replantings recognized Carmenere for what it truly was. In 1997 this was confirmed by DNA profiling.

To be at its best Carmenere must be left to ripen fully - even later than the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. And here's the really good news: when Carmenere is ripened fully and vinted skillfully, it is absolutely delicious.

Carmen�re is characterized as being very deep in color, relatively rich in body and fairly soft in texture. Blackberries dominate fruit aromas and flavors, often with notes of chocolate and coffee as well.

Only time will tell whether Carmenere will become Chile's emblematic wine in the way that Sauvignon Blanc has become the calling card for New Zealand, but for the moment it certainly is a bounty for the world of wine.

We encourage you to taste a selection of our Carmenere � the different regions and styles of the wineries make for interesting variations on this noble grape variety.

(Abridged version reprinted with permission By Michael Franz. Original article published in the Washington Post Oct 21, 2003)