Carmenère Carmenère is a variety of the European grape species Vitis vinifera developed in France. Once a major grape in Bordeaux, it was left out of the mix after phyloxera wiped out the vines there. Recently it has seen a renaissance as one of Chile's signature grapes after viticulturist Jean-Michael Boursiquit's 1994 discovery that many of the "Merlot" vines there were actually Carmenère. Carmenère Vintages: Anakena Chile Rapel Valley Single Vineyard 2004 Apaltagua Estate Bottled Colchagua Valley 2006 Aresti Chile Wine 2005 Casillero del Diablo Reserve Rapel Valley Chile 2007 2008 Frontera Chile 2006 2007 Natura Valle Central 2008 Panilonco Reserve Colchagua Valley 2005 Santa Ema Reserve Barrel Select Cachapoal Valley 2006 Xplorador Central Valley Chile 2005