Carménère Cabernet
March Wine of the Month
This bold red blend is bursting with flavor: think black currant, blackberry, dark chocolate, and a whisper of green bell pepper and herbs. It’s rich and full-bodied, with firm tannins that give it structure and a lingering finish. There’s a savory edge to the wine that makes it especially delicious with food. For a perfect pairing, try it with churrasco grilled steak and chimichurri sauce. The wine’s bold fruit and herbal character beautifully match the smoky, garlicky richness of the dish.
Carménère Cabernet Tasting Notes
This wine hails from Chile’s Valle Central, the heartland of the country’s wine production. Framed by the Andes and cooled by ocean breezes, this region is ideally suited for Bordeaux-style varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. While Chile may be a New World wine region, its winemaking history stretches back to the 16th century, and today it is known for producing wines with both power and freshness. The Valle Central is especially valued for its consistent sunshine and dry growing seasons, which allow grapes to ripen fully while preserving natural acidity.

Carménère Cabernet
Carménère has one of the wine world’s most fascinating origin stories. Originally from Bordeaux, it was nearly wiped out by phylloxera in the 1800s and thought to be extinct. But in the 1990s, it was rediscovered thriving—mistaken for Merlot—in Chilean vineyards. DNA testing revealed the truth, and since then, Carménère has become Chile’s signature grape. It’s known for its dark fruit, herbal notes, and savory green flavors, often showing bell pepper, tobacco, and graphite. On its own, Carménère can be plush yet earthy. Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, as in this wine, it adds complexity and savory depth to Cab’s bold structure and classic cassis notes. The result is a wine that’s both powerful and nuanced and an ideal expression of Chile’s unique terroir and winemaking identity.
Blend
53% Carménère, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon