We are proud to share that Adnams Carmenère has scooped a Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition - one of THE most respected wine competitions in the world.
On awarding it a Silver Medal, the judges said: “The floral nose is followed by intense, generous flavours of dark berries, cherry and plum, with pillow-soft tannins balanced by vibrant freshness and a long finish.” And we wholeheartedly agree.
It is made for us by the exceptional Ventisquero Wine Estates. The team, including chief winemaker Felipe Tosso, and John Duval focus winemaking on sustainability, innovation, and a deeply rooted passion for great wine.
This late-ripening varietal loves the sun and is now synonymous with Chile, with its reliably warm climate and long growing season. Here, the grape produces medium-bodied crimson reds loved for their juicy, berried fruit flavour and herbaceous notes - just a few of the reasons why we chose it for the Adnams Countries Range.
If you haven’t tried Carmenère before, its fruit-driven character is often compared to Merlot. Originating in Bordeaux, it struggled to recover after nearly being eradicated in the late 19th century due to the devastating phylloxera (a vine root-eating bug). Luckily, cuttings had got muddled up with Merlot and taken to Chile by unsuspecting winemakers. It flourished in the warm Central Valley region and as recently the 1990s, nearly half of the country’s ‘Merlot’ was confirmed as Carmenère.
Lydia, our head wine buyer, suggests hunkering down to this wine’s generous fruit and relaxed tannins. “It’s a wine which holds its own when paired with anything from a BBQ to tomato pasta dishes or better yet cosied up with your favourite chocolate. Our favourites are Tosier’s 70% Dark Chocolate bars.”
Awards like this recognise our wine team’s sourcing ethos and approach to this range. It’s the perfect introduction.