Carmenère is known as “The Lost Grape of Bordeaux”. When the winemakers of Bordeaux moved their vines to South America during the plight of phylloxera in the 1800’s, the Carmenère vine somehow vanished. But research in 1994 showed that it was actually doing very well in Chile, but was being labeled Merlot due to its similar leaf and vine structure! Well, that changed everything, and now Carmenère has become the signature wine of the country. If you haven’t yet discovered Carmenère, here is your chance to be introduced. Think ripe berries and dark fruit with a undeniable hint of both spice (black pepper, anise) and herbs (bay leaf, mint).