2006 Emiliana Carmenere Natura

Vinedos Emiliana
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchaugua Valley, Natura
Carmenere
2006

It might surprise you a bit to find out that Vinedos Emiliana is actually one of the largest exporters of wine to the United States.  You’re probably more familiar with their supermarket brand Walnut Crest. but don’t let that cloud your mind (or your palate).  Emiliana has taken their best vineyards and converted them to organic farming – always a good thing for wine.  Couple that with Chile’s most interesting grape – Carmenere – and you have the recipe for a very nice value wine.  But let’s talk a bit about Carmenere first.

Despite the gaining popularity of Carmenere, Merlot from producers such as the said Walnut Crest and Casa Lapostelle (including their well-known preium Merlot Cuvee Alexandre) have largely defined the Chilean wine revolution.  Here’s the problem, for a long time, some of the Merlot in Chile was actually Carmenere, not Merlot.  It came to Chile in the 1800’s via Bordeaux, where it has now almost entirely disappeared.  Carmenere is also appearing in Australian, New Zealand, California and Northern Italy (where it is called Carmenero).  At its finest, in Chile, it is chewier and more complex than Merlot, as my notes on then 2006 Emiliana Carmenere Natura show:

“A blend of 87% Carmenère, 4% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Tempranillo, 1% Malbec. Good, earthy Carmenere character. Complex on the nose. Medium- to Full- palate. Soft approachable front-palate with well, structured ripe tannins and mineral/graphite in the palate. A nice value.”

N.B.: It is common for Carmenere to be cut with other grapes (notably Merlot) which tempers a bit of the sauvage (“wild”) character of the wine.