Unpretentious tasty grape variety Carménère
Carménère is a technical dark grape variety native to the Bordeaux region of France. His second home was the sunny republic of Chile with its unique climate and rocky soil. The culture received its name from the French. carmin - one of the brightest shades of red that colors the leaves of the vine before leaf fall. We will talk about the features of agricultural technology and the use of the variety in winemaking in this article.
Description and characteristics of the Carmenere grape variety
Carménère ripens late and requires plenty of sun and heat to reach full ripeness. When cultivated in favorable conditions, the plant provides raw materials for the production of wines with rich, deep color and a pleasant plum bouquet. In this it is reminiscent of Merlot and the light cedar-green tones of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Origin story
The Carménère grape variety is considered the progenitor of the Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.. Both varieties did not become popular in the region until the mid-18th century. The bulk of the wines were made from Carmenere and Cabernet Franc.
This situation remained until the 60s. 19th century, when a phylloxera epidemic swept through Europe. The aphids were brought from North America and quickly spread throughout the vineyards. Carménère was the most susceptible to infection, and even grafting onto the roots of American varieties with innate immunity did not improve the situation.
Cabernet and Merlot survived the grafting without loss.It was precisely because of poor grafting that most of the Carménère vineyards died, and winegrowers abandoned its revival, preferring more durable crops.
Before the situation with phylloxera, winegrowers from Chile managed to transport vines from Bordeaux and plant them at home. Most of the vines mistaken for Merlot turned out to be Carménère. Initially they were confused due to their external similarity, but this misunderstanding saved Carmenere from extinction.
In 1994, French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursicot conducted a DNA analysis and found that the Chilean vineyards were planted by Carménère. It is now Chile's flagship variety.
Due to the growing popularity of Chilean Carménères, vines began to be planted in other countries. The variety was included in the list of permitted varieties for the Italian DOC Friuli Latisana categories. Plantings in Italy are insignificant, but winemakers have become interested in the grapes.
Carménère was discovered in the Matakana vineyards of New Zealand. Here it was mistaken for a Cabernet Franc clone. The vines were brought from Italy incognito, and the grapes gained even greater popularity in the New World after the “exposure.”
Description of the plant
In Chile, Carménère showed his best side. Winegrowers are inclined to believe that the favorable climate and long summer contributed to this. Compared to Merlot, grapes have larger berries and a dense leaf structure. Harvesting is carried out only when full ripeness is achieved, otherwise it will disappoint with its unripe taste.
Carménère is a medium-ripening variety. The berries ripen 115-130 days after flowering. The bushes are characterized by great growth vigor and reach 2 m in height. Shoot formation is high.
The dark brown vine matures at 2/3 of its length and forms a voluminous hedge as the shoots and foliage grow. The leaf blade is dense, three- or five-lobed, slightly dissected, covered with a pubescence on the back side, painted bright green. The flowers are bisexual and do not require additional pollination.
The clusters are medium or small in size, teardrop-shaped or cylindrical-conical, winged. Average weight - 800 g, maximum - 2 kg. The average length of a bunch is 30 cm.
The berries are medium-sized, round in shape, up to 4 cm long, weighing 10-11 g. The skin is dense, dark blue or dark purple in color. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, the taste is grassy.
The calorie content of grapes is 67 kcal per 100 g of berries. Acidity is 6-8 g/l, sugar content is high - 23%. The characteristics are maintained regardless of the cultivation area, frequency of watering and fertilizing. Under favorable conditions, chocolate notes appear in the taste of the grapes.
The fruitfulness of the eyes at the base of the shoot is low. It is recommended to carry out long pruning of fruit shoots. Grapes are prone to shedding of ovaries, so it is not advisable to plant them on soils with excess organic matter and in areas with a cool climate. In Russia, the climate of Kuban and Crimea is suitable for the variety.
Compared to other varieties, Carmenere is resistant to mildew and oidium, but is susceptible to gray rot.
The variety is relatively resistant to drought, characterized by low resistance to frost and cold winds. When cultivating crops in areas where the mercury drops below -20°C in winter, covering with dense materials is required.
The yield of the variety is average - 17-20 kg of berries are harvested from one bush.To increase productivity, regular pruning is carried out and mineral supplements are added during the growing season.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the variety:
- suitable for producing red wine with a rich taste;
- ready-made drinks do not require aging;
- high taste qualities;
- ease of care;
- resistance to mildew and oidium;
- ability to adapt to any type of soil.
Flaws:
- low resistance to frost, cold winds and high humidity;
- tendency to peas;
- susceptibility to gray rot;
- high caloric content and sugar content do not allow the preparation of table wines from raw materials;
- average yield.
Similar varieties
Previously, ampelographers believed that Merlot and Carménère were related, but DNA research showed that the varieties are distantly related.
The closest varieties to Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (Vidur). Carménère is an independent, unique variety that has retained its originality and bears little resemblance to other red grape varieties.
Carménère wine
The most prestigious and iconic Chilean wines: Purple Angel from Montes, Kai from Vina Errazuriz, Carmin de Peumo from Concha y Toro.
Wines from the Carménère variety are tannic, with a slight bitterness. They contain notes of spice, plum, prune, fig and green pepper. As a rule, wines are drunk young, but the best specimens are aged for several years.
These drinks are not served as an aperitif. The best gastronomic accompaniment for them is meat dishes (game, red meat), pasta with thick tomato sauce, and aged cheeses.
Young wines with a herbaceous flavor are served with barbecue, while mature wines are served with roast duck, grilled beef or lamb, and venison.
The wine makes an ideal pair with garlic, onions, mushrooms, sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, rosemary, basil, oregano, and fresh herbs.
Reference. Carménère is included in the appellations of Saint-Estephe, Margaux, Bordeaux, Graves, Crémant de Bordeaux, Médoc, Haute-Médoc, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, and Saint-Julien.
Main characteristics of wines based on the Carménère variety:
- rich, with a predominant bouquet of plums and red berries, smoked meats, spices and smoke;
- full-bodied, structured, tannic, velvety in texture;
- dark purple, red-violet color.
Characteristic aromas:
- fruit: blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, plums, black currants, cherries;
- spices: black and white pepper, anise, cinnamon, vanilla, licorice;
- mineral: tobacco, wet earth, smoked meats, leather, coffee;
- vegetable: herbs, green bell pepper, olives, lavender.
Montes Alpha Carmenere 2008 was Wine Advocate's Wine of the Month for December 2010, receiving a score of 91 out of 100 from Robert Parker.
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Planting seedlings
The variety is recommended for planting and growing in open ground exclusively in the southern regions. Carménère is extremely susceptible to frost, drafts, and high humidity.
When choosing a planting site, take into account the level of illumination. Ideally, a sunny area located on a hill, with low groundwater levels, protected from gusty winds. The culture adapts to any type of soil; in Chile it grows even in rocky areas.
Advice. It is recommended to plant grapes in the middle of the garden, along a wall or hedge for protection from the wind.
Seedlings are planted in spring or autumn. The second option is more preferable for inexperienced winegrowers, since the survival rate of young seedlings is much higher.
The area is pre-plowed and holes 80x80 cm are formed. Crushed stone or broken brick is placed at the bottom, a layer of earth is poured, a seedling is planted, and the roots are carefully straightened. The remaining soil is poured on top to the level of the root collar, compacted and watered abundantly.
To ensure underground irrigation, a pipe is dug into the hole when planting. For the purpose of further gartering of the vines, a wooden support is driven in the center.
Subtleties of further care
Competent, regular care of grapes ensures rapid survival of seedlings and their proper development:
- The bushes are watered once a month with warm, settled water. During dry periods, sprinkling is used.
- Mineral fertilizers are mainly used as fertilizing. Excessive amounts of organic matter lead to the growth of bushes and thickening of plantings. During the flowering period, the bushes are fed with a mixture of 100 g of urea, 60 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water.
- Weeding the beds and loosening the soil is carried out regularly. Mulching with sawdust, peat or straw inhibits the growth of weeds and retains moisture in the soil.
- In regions with a cold climate, the vineyard is additionally covered for the winter with tarpaulin, agrofibre, thick film and spruce branches.
- Pruning is performed twice a year, in spring and autumn. After harvesting, remove old, damaged branches, tops, and dry shoots. At the beginning of March, sanitary pruning is carried out: the length of each fruitful shoot is reduced to 6-8 eyes.
Possible problems and diseases
Carménère vines are abundantly overgrown with foliage covering the clusters. Without pruning, the berries do not ripen and the finished wine becomes bitter. The variety is predisposed to culure - the dropping of ovaries and young berries under the influence of cold, wind and rain when there is a lack of chemicals in the soil.
If the flower ovary is retained on the bunch, but it produces a small seedless berry, this is a pea. To avoid such troubles, they follow the rules of planting and agricultural practices, and feed the bushes with mineral fertilizers.
Carménère is resistant to most fungal infections, but is susceptible to gray mold. The disease develops against a background of high humidity and thickening of bushes. Preventive treatment reduces the risk of infection. For this purpose, fungicides “Horus”, “Thanos”, “Topaz” and “Ridomil”, Bordeaux mixture, and colloidal sulfur are used.
When infected, use a sulfur solution - 100 g per 10 liters of water. The bushes are treated in the evening or in cloudy weather three times with an interval of 10 days.
To protect the grapes from attacks by birds and wasps, a mesh bag is pulled over each bunch.
To destroy insects, including phylloxera, insecticides “Zolon”, “Talstar”, “Fury”, “Enzhio 247” and biological products “Fitoverm”, “Aktofit”, “Lepidotsid”, “Bitoxibacillin”, Borey Neo are used.”
Harvest and storage
Harvesting takes place in August - early October. Ripe berries acquire a dark purple hue. The bunches are cut with a sharp instrument in dry weather and immediately sent for processing. Technical grape varieties are not stored and are used primarily for making wine.
Conclusion
Carménère is an ancient French technical red grape variety that received a “second life” in Chile.Dark blue berries are used to prepare a rich tannic wine with tones of black currants, figs, prunes, smoke, smoked meats, plums, spices, and tobacco. Young wine has a particularly pleasant herbal taste. The drink is combined with red meat and poultry cooked over coals, pasta, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and a variety of herbs.
Carménère adapts to any type of soil, but shows the best results when cultivated on rocky soils in regions with a warm climate. The crop needs moderate watering, mineral fertilizing, spring and autumn pruning and prevention of gray rot.