2023 Carménère

When longtime grower Louis Lucas and wine enthusiast Judge Royce Lewellen established the Valley View Vineyard, their ambition was to grow the five classic red varieties of Bordeaux. But history revealed a sixth.

Carménère is one of Bordeaux’s ancient grapes, with roots reaching back to Roman times. Once widely planted in France, it nearly disappeared from its homeland and today remains one of the rarest members of the historic Bordeaux family.

In 2015, we planted just three acres at Valley View. Now in its fifth vintage, our Carménère is co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6, one of the most distinctive Cabernet selections grown on the estate. The result is a deeply colored, richly textured wine with earthy complexity, dark fruit, and an unmistakable savory spice. Bold yet supple, it is particularly expressive in its youth.