Behind the Cork™ - Carmenere Wine of Chile (Part 2 of 3)

Carménère (kar-men-nair) is a wine grape whose name is derived from the French carmin (meaning crimson). It was a grape that was thought to be nearly extinct. In 1994, fewer than 25 acres of Carménère remained in France’s Médoc, Bordeaux. But that all changed when it was discovered that an estimated one-third of what had been thought in Chile to be Merlot was actually Carménère. Carménère rose from near worldwide oblivion following the phylloxera crisis that had swept through the Médoc to now representing a country on the global stage: Carménère became synonymous with Chile.

Here are two more very nice Carménère wines from Chile…

2021 Morandé Vitis Unica Carménère ($20)

The grapes for this wine come from the San Bernardo estate, located in the Maipo Valley, Chile, and are planted on the north side of the river in a bed of pure gravel. This 100% Carménère was hand harvested, fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in 80% French oak foundres and 20% new French oak barrels before being store for around 16 months.

This wine is medium purple in color with subtle aromas of red and black fruit along with a bit of pepper. On the palate, this medium-full bodied Carménère has fresh flavors of black cherry, medium tannin and an easy finish.

(13.5% ABV, Total Acidity = 3.59 g/L, pH=3.42, Residual Sugar=2.74 g/L)

2020 Primus Carménère ($20)

The grapes for this wine come comes from Apalta in Colchagua Chile. It is made with organic grapes that are grown in granite-and clay-rich soils. The vineyards are surrounded by native forests, where the Andes and Coastal mountain ranges meet. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 18% of which were new. It is deep purple in color with aromas of black cherry and black plum with subtle herbal notes. On the palate it displays rich dark fruit flavors along with some pepper and herbs. It has medium tannin, balanced acidity and a long finish.

(14.5% ABV, Total Acidity=4.94 g/L, pH=3.77, Residual Sugar=2.2 g/L)

(Imported by Gonzalez Byass)

Both of these lovely Carménère wines benefited by 30-60 minutes in a decanter. Again, Chile is producing very nice Carménère wines at great values that fit the mold as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Morandé Wines and Primus Wines

Some Thoughts on the Standard 750 ml Wine Bottle


Photo by cottonbro studio

Today, a standard bottle of wine is 750 ml or 25.36 fluid ounces. This is seemingly an odd amount for a bottle to hold. And, having done a bit of research, it’s not perfectly clear how this number was picked.

But, here are some findings…

  • French winemakers adopted this size to accommodate the volume required to serve a standard number of glasses

  • This standardized size was influenced by the technological advancements in glass manufacturing

  • This size made it easier for winemakers to store and distribute their products

  • This bottle size made it optimal for wine aging and maturation. It creates the right balance between oxygen exchange and wine volume, thus the wine ages gracefully and develops its desired aromas and flavors over a reasonable amount of time

  • A 750 ml bottle fits well on retail shelves, allowing for efficient display and storage

  • It’s a manageable size for consumers to hold and pour

So, while not directly answering the question, the 750ml wine bottle has become the standard size due to historical, traditional, practical, and regulatory reasons while providing a level of consistency and convenience that benefits both wine producers and consumers. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Carmenere Wines of Chile (Part 1 of 3)

Carménère (kar-men-nair) is a wine grape whose name is derived from the French carmin (meaning crimson). It was a grape that was thought to be nearly extinct. In 1994, fewer than 25 acres of Carménère remained in France’s Médoc, Bordeaux. But that all changed when it was discovered that an estimated one-third of what had been thought in Chile to be Merlot was actually Carménère. Carménère rose from near worldwide oblivion following the phylloxera crisis that had swept through the Médoc to now representing a country on the global stage: Carménère became synonymous with Chile.

Here are two very nice Carménère wines from Chile…


Viña San Esteban In Situ Carménère Reserva ($13)

This In Situ Carménère comes from the slopes of Paidahuen hill (3000 ft above sea level) and from the riverbanks of the Aconcagua River, just north of Santiago in Chile. It is produced from 95% Carménère and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was macerated for 18 days and then aged in 50% French and 50% American oak barrels for 12 months (well beyond the 6-month requirement for a Reserva wine). After the bottling, it was aged for at least 3 additional months before release.

This In Situ Carménère is deep ruby in color with aromas of deep red and black fruit with some herbal notes. On the palate this medium-bodied wine has rich black cherry and black plum flavors, and subtle oak nuances. The fruit of this wine is prominent on the front and easy on the finish. (ABV=13%, Total Acidity=5.42 g/L, pH=3.55, Residual Sugar=3.4 g/L).


Luma Chequen Gran Reserva Carménère ($17)

This Luma Carménère is from the dry Mediterranean climate of the Valle del Maule, which is 155 miles south of Santiago, Chile. The temperatures there are moderated by the proximity to the cool Pacific Ocean. It is produced from 100% Carménère that is cold macerated for 5 days, then fermented in stainless steel tanks for 10 days. It was then aged for barrel for 12 months.

This Luma Carménère is deep ruby in color with subtle fruit aromas and herbal notes of bell pepper and spices. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has rich flavors of black berry and black plum, it has soft tannin and is well balanced. It has a nice lingering finish. (ABV=13.9%).

These are two nice examples of the Carménère being produced in Chile. And, at these prices, they are a great value! Hence, these two Carménère wines from Chile are this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Wines Provided by InVina Wines and InSitu Family Vineyards

A Brief History of Carménère - Part 3 Fun Facts

Fun facts about Carménère

Here, courtesy of the Wines of Chile organization, are a few fun facts about Carménère:

  • Chile has the most Carménère under vine in the world, at 10,332 ha/25,530 acres in 2021. By comparison, France has just 80 ha/197 acres. DNA analyses carried out in New Zealand in 2006 showed that several vines planted as Cabernet Franc are in fact Carménère. It is also present in Veneto, Italy, plus a few vineyards in China.

  • Carménère is derived from the French carmin (crimson), due to the color the leaves turn in autumn. Other accepted names include Grande Vidure, Carmenelle, Cabernelle, Grant Carmenet, Carbouet and Cabernet Gernischt (which is only used in China).

  • A cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet, it belongs to the group of pyrazine-rich varieties such as the aforementioned grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is what gives it its ashy, spicy, jalapeño-inflected character.

  • The sunny terroirs of Chile break down the pyrazines and bring out the fruity character of the variety when ripe. This character is generally to be found in   Colchagua and Cachapoal. The style typically also displays good body, a velvety texture and high alcohol content.  

  • The latest trend is to enhance the pyrazine-driven aspects of the grape’s character with less body and lower alcohol levels than previous versions.

Behind the Cork™ - Art of Earth Cabernet Sauvignon by Mack & Schuhle

2021 Art of Earth Cabernet Sauvignon by Mack & Schühle ($11.99)

One of the largest and most important viticultural groups in the world, the Mack & Schühle organization includes 29 cooperatives and around 5,000 winegrowers, managing more than 60,000 acres of vineyard plantings located throughout the top growing regions of Mendoza and San Juan in Argentina.

Art of Earth organic wines are true to their origins and winemaking traditions without the use of pesticides or herbicides. This Art of Earth Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Mendoza Argentina. The organic vineyards are located at 2300 to 2600 feet in elevation. The presence of the Andes Mountains, which act as a barrier to the humid winds of the Pacific, along with the distance to the Atlantic Ocean, generating ideal conditions for the cultivation of vines.

This Art of Earth Cabernet Sauvignon is produced with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that are both fermented and undergo malolactic conversion in stainless steel tanks - it sees no oak aging. It is medium ruby in color with black fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied Cabernet has big red and black fruit flavors, firm tannin and balanced acidity. This young Cabernet Sauvignon should be decanted for a least an hour for best enjoyment.

This Mack & Schühle Art of Earth Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is available throughout most of the U.S. and, at $11.99, is a great value as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Imported by Mack & Schühle