Gran Reserva Carmenere
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted pork loin, grilled lamb chops, rich beef stews
✨ Technical Specifications
The story of Chilean Carmenere is one of the most captivating resurrection tales in wine history. Long thought to be extinct in its native Bordeaux after the phylloxera plague of the late 19th century, the grape survived in Chile, masquerading as Merlot for over a century until its dramatic rediscovery in 1994. Viña Morandé, a pioneer in exploring Chile's diverse terroirs, crafts its Gran Reserva Carmenere to celebrate this unique heritage. Sourced from selected vineyards in the Central Valley, where warm days and cool night breezes allow this notoriously late-ripening variety to mature slowly, the wine undergoes careful aging in oak barrels and traditional foudres. This process tempers Carmenere's natural herbal characteristics, transforming them into complex notes of roasted black pepper, dark chocolate, and sweet spices, while preserving its plush, velvety texture and vibrant black fruit core.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1996 by visionary winemaker Pablo Morandé—widely recognized for pioneering cool-climate viticulture in the Casablanca Valley—Viña Morandé stands among Chile's most inventive and respected wine producers. Operating across premier terroirs spanning the Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, and Maule valleys, the estate blends traditional craftsmanship with relentless innovation, utilizing unconventional aging vessels such as concrete eggs, ceramic amphorae, and large French oak foudres. The winery produces a comprehensive spectrum of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, highlighted by the benchmark Gran Reserva series, terroir-driven Terrarum range, and the flagship Bordeaux-style blend, House of Morandé. Guided by a philosophy of authentic terroir expression and stylistic daring, Morandé consistently showcases the dynamic potential and regional diversity of contemporary Chilean viticulture.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Carmenere
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5-14%