Viña Von Siebenthal Carmenère Gran Réserva

The 2019 vintage saw intense heat and drought in Chile and yields were down even further than usual at Von Siebenthal. Whilst this meant fewer grapes, those that remained added really concentrated aromas and flavours to the wine. Just swirl your glass or slurp some air in when tasting the wine to appreciate all those aromas and flavours unfolding. Alcohol was lower than normal despite the heat and good acidity was retained to keep the wine fresh. 2020 was also very warm, good for ripening the fruit and accounting for the higher alcohol though it is well-balanced with the fruity flavours and acidity. Despite all that rich fruit and the spicy notes in both vintages, I categorise Von Siebenthal Carmenère as a smooth, elegant red wine, more medium- than full-bodied like a lighter style of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Carmenère grape is most frequently seen in wines from Chile (and to a lesser degree from Italy) but it actually originates from Bordeaux though only a little is grown there now. It was recently found to be directly related to Cabernet Franc and indirectly to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Carmenère is used for its perfume and flavour and generally needs a relatively hot climate to ripen sufficiently; the Aconcagua Valley benefits from long dry autumns with little or no rain or hail. In this Viña Von Siebenthal Carmenère Gran Réserva, produced organically in a single vineyard, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon has been added to provide acidity and structure. You can find out more about this grape and its wines in my Carmenère blogpost.

Viña von Siebenthal has its four main vineyards in the historical wine-growing area of Panquehue, a small sub-appellation of the Aconcagua Valley in Chile between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The semi desert conditions bring lots of sunshine and mean that vine diseases are rare. The vines are cultivated using organic farming principles and the yields are reduced to intensify the aroma of the grapes.

Drink on its own or with hearty food; this wine will not fade in the presence of hot spices and dishes such as chilli con carne. Also beef and lamb casseroles, roast beef, lamb. Olly Smith has also written about how well this wine goes with curry: “Aromatic, plump and layered with delicious spice to champion curries all-round from masala to madras. Awesome.”

Serve at: 15 – 18°C

“Our Gran Reserva embodies a high degree of complexity and delicacy: it’s the wine that Bacchus would carry in his satchel… AROMA AND BOUQUET – This is an intense, complex wine of great character.The aromas that stand out include blackberries and blackcurrant intermingled with notes of cedar, tobacco, coffee and roasted hazlenuts FLAVOUR – A sweet, concentrated and full-bodied beginning is balanced with soft tannins and a long, elegant finish.”