Do we ship to you?.
More wines available from Carta Vieja
More Details
Winery
Carta Vieja
Varietal: Carmenere
Carmenere varietal grapes have plenty to offer the world of fine, complex red wines. Their beautiful blue fruits hold plenty of fleshy juice, which produces gorgeously dark red wines packed full of interesting flavors In their native France, Carmenere has the prestigious honor of being amongst the few grape varietals allowed by French law for the inclusion in blended Bordeaux wines, often argued to be the finest to be found anywhere in the world. In other countries, particularly in the New World, Carmenere is still mainly used as a blending varietal, as it adds plenty of unique flavors to the wines it is included in. These often include big, powerful and unusual flavors such as tobacco, chocolate and leather, with the younger wines holding plenty of rich, intense cherry character which can come through beautifully in single variety bottles.
Region: Valle Central
The Valle Central in Chile has long since been one of South America's most productive and prodigious wine regions, with millions of bottles leaving the wineries of the region each year. The climate of Valle Central is hugely varied, thanks to the many micro-climates caused by the geological features of the region. As such, a relatively wide range of grape varietals thrive there, depending on the location. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot do very well in the warmer, more humid areas, whilst white grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere can be found at higher altitudes. The region itself has been producing wines for an astonishingly long time; since the 16th century, vines have been cultivated in the Maipo Valley and close to the capital, Santiago, and the wine industry of Valle Central is now stronger than ever.
Country: Chile
When considering the rich and fertile central valleys of Chile, where we find most of the oldest, grandest and established wineries, it is difficult to imagine a more suited landscape for vineyard cultivation and wine production. Mineral rich soils, eight months of sunshine per year, oceanic winds and clear water running down the mountainsides – it is little wonder that the imported Old World grapes do so well here. Chile is renowned world-wide for producing highly drinkable wines, packed full of fruit-forward character and enjoyed young and fresh, as well as being home to more complex wines reminiscent of many Old World varieties. Whilst the Cabernet Sauvignon is widely regarded as being Chile's 'flagship' grape varietal, equally fine produce comes from Chardonnay grapes (indeed, the Sol de Sol Chardonnays are widely agreed to be amongst the New World's finest white wines) the plummy Merlot and silky, intense Pinot Noir.