De Martino Legado Reserva Carmenere 2017

This is such a refreshing take on carmenere with wonderful purity of fruit, showcasing brambleberries, citrus and spices. Medium-to full-bodied with so much edgy acidity and polished tannins, yet the concentration remains throughout. Just a touch of bitterness on the finish. Drink now.

The 2017 Legado Carmenere was sourced from stony alluvial soils in Isla de Maipo where the variety achieved good ripeness in a warm vintage like this. It fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in used oak barrels for 19 months. It's very spicy and has peppery rather than paprika aromas, with an herbal touch, recognizable as Carmenere but not green or alcoholic. In fact, the palate is only medium-bodied and reveals fine tannins. This comes from pure alluvial soils. 38,645 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2018.

In a blind tasting, you could easily confuse this with a Cabernet Franc, given its freshness, poise and perfume. Early picked to preserve acidity, it’s floral, leafy and finely wrought with understated oak and a tangy, graphite-edged finish. 2017-23