Ventisquero produce the Grey range of wines to showcase the varietal purity produced in particular regions of Chile. This Carmenere is grown in a single vineyard in the Maipo valley. The fruit is harvested by hand and brought to the winery where only 50% of the fruit is crushed into a temperature controlled tank (the rest is added as whole bunches). After 35 days of fermentation and post-fermentation maceration the wine is racked into barrels for malolactic conversion and maturation.

The wine is matured in French oak barrels (34% new)  for 18 months. The wine is then bottled and stored at the winery for a further 8 months in bottle before release.

This is the most successful example of varietal Carmenere we have ever tried. It shows some of the herbaceous characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet France without being quite so leafy or mentholated – it shows dark fruits but not so obviously cassis. There is a roast coffee characteristic from oak, and a liquorice characteristic from ageing in bottle. It is a full-bodied and delicious wine that shows that this grape variety is worthy of attention in its own right when grown in the right conditions and carefully made into wine.

The producers recommend decanting for 30 minutes before drinking, and ageing potential of 10 years after the vintage.