Wines made from Carmenère grapes of Bordeaux Supérieur
Discover the best wines made with Carmenère as a single variety or as a blend of Bordeaux Supérieur.
Carménère is a grape variety of Bordeaux origin. It is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet. In France, it occupies only about ten hectares, but it is also grown in Chile, Peru, the Andes, California, Italy and Argentina. The leaves of the carmenere are shiny and revolute. Its berries are round and medium-sized. Carménère is susceptible to grey rot, especially in wet autumn. It can also be exposed to the risk of climatic coulure, which is why it is important to grow it on poor soil and in warm areas. Carménère is associated with an average second ripening period. This variety has only one approved clone, 1059. It can be vinified with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It produces a rich, highly coloured wine, which acquires character when combined with other grape varieties.
Bordeaux Supérieur is an appellation level applied to wines produced in the Generic area of the Bordeaux PDO. They are produced from the classic Bordeaux Grape varieties. The reds are, as the name suggests, intended to be a slightly "superior" form of the standard Bordeaux AOC wines. They are therefore heavily based on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.