Chilean wines are often overshadowed by wines from their next-door neighbor, Argentina.

And for those who have tried wines from Chile, most people have probably only had cabernet sauvignons from this South American country.

But Chile makes many other great wines with a wide range of grapes. And one of those grapes remains relatively unknown and which can pretty much only be found nowadays in Chile.

So what is this mysterious Chilean grape?

Carmenere.

And if you love subtle, smooth red wines, you will likely love carmenere wines from Chile.

In general, carmenere wines combine the complexity and the subtlety of wines made with other understated, red wine grapes like merlot or cabernet franc. But wines made with carmenere grapes can also be slightly intense and earthy at times as well.

This week, you can learn more about these wines, the history of carmenere grapes, as well as tasting notes for three Chilean carmenere wines.

Let me add that you can often find many great Chilean carmenere wines for under $20 a bottle. The three wines recommended this week cost a bit more but really illustrate just how great carmenere wines can taste.

Hope you enjoy.

HISTORY OF CARMENERE

Carmenere grapes are a cross between cabernet franc and a less well-known grape called gros cabernet, according to “Wine Grapes” by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz. Carmenere grapes were first grown in the Bergerac region in Southwest France as well as in the Medoc region in France’s Bordeaux region starting in the late 1700s. However, in the 1870s, the famous phylloxera blight wiped out most of the carmenere grapevines in France. Nowadays, the most likely place where you will find carmenere vines is Chile, where the grapes were first planted there in the mid 1800s.

CARMENERE WINE REGIONS

Carmenere remains king in Chile. There are roughly 25,000 acres of carmenere vines planted throughout Chile. In addition, you can still find a small number of wine producers in France’s Bordeaux region who still make wines with carmenere grapes. Other places that produce carmenere wines around the world include Italy, California and China.

WINE TASTING NOTES

2020 Primus Carmenere ($21 Suggested Retail Price)

Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile

Tasting notes: Dark, inky-colored wine with intense flavors straight out of the bottle, including hints of roasted cherry, blackberry and pomegranate. After a few minutes, these flavors smooth out nicely and become lighter and softer and more delicate.

2020 Terranoble Carmenere Costa ($36 SRP)

Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile

Tasting notes: Flinty, lively, earthy flavors at first (especially soft blackberry notes) take on a lighter, fruitier complexity in the glass after just a few minutes without sacrificing the wine’s bright, lively taste and aroma.

2020 Montes Wings Carmenere ($55 SRP)

Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile

Tasting notes: My favorite wine of the three discussed this week, this particular Chilean carmenere has dense, intense, full-bodied flavors and aromas, including powerful waves of blackberry and roasted cherry that last at least half a minute after each taste. Truly wonderful.

UPCOMING WINE EVENTS

Napa Valley Wine: Table & Vine will host a wine tasting class focusing on wine from California’s Napa Valley. The wine tasting will be held Thursday, Feb., 29 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Table & Vine, 1119 Riverdale Street, West Springfield. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased at Table & Vine’s website.

Boston Wine Expo: The Boston Wine Expo will be held March 2 and 3 at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza, Boston. Wine tastings will be held each day, along with specialized wine tasting seminars at different times throughout the weekend. For tickets and more information, visit the Boston Wine Expo’s website.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

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