Originally a French blue grape, it has been given the status of a 'national' grape in Chile. Carmenère originates from Bordeaux, but was no longer planted there after the phylloxera plague at the end of the nineteenth century, because its yields were too irregular. In Chile, it was mistaken for merlot until the mid-1980s. Once the Chileans had recovered from the shock of the 'unmasking', they embraced carmenère as their own grape. 

What does Carmenère wine taste like?

With a glass of carmenère, you can expect flavors of raspberry, sour cherries, or green chilies. Carmenère wines have notes of red fruit with a subtle bitter taste. In terms of body and structure, this wine has a lot in common with a merlot.