La Poda Corta Carmenere El Grano

In 1991 Denis Duveau decided to sell his property, Domaine des Roches Neuves in the Loire Valley, and went on to work as a consultant Oenologist in France, but also in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. In 2002 he decided to make terroir-driven wines in Chile. The grape he chose to express the terroir of the Curico valley was Carmenere, formerly a Bordeaux speciality, but which had disappeared after the invasion of phylloxera. In 2006, his son Grégoire moved to Chile and joined his father’s company and now operates the 45- ha vineyards.

El Grano Carmenere is made from grapes grown at 450m. The vines are ploughed, no weedkillers are required, and because of the exceptional climate, no chemicals are needed either. The yields are kept low by a green harvest. The juice is fermented at about 30C in stainless steel and sees no oak. This is a terroir-driven wine with real character, the nose expresses greenery in abundance: capsicum, green bean and mint pea and there is a satisfying savoury bitterness in the mouth. A striking blackcurrant and herby example of high altitude Chilean Carmenere.