“Carminium” Carménère Colli Berici DOC 2022

Inama | Veneto
Soc. Agr. di Inama Giuseppe s.s. | Località Biacche 50 | IT 37047 San Bonifacio

03342222 · 0,75 l · 38,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

In the heart of the Colli Berici, where one of Italy's most mysterious wine landscapes stretches between Vicenza and Padua, Stefano Inama has been writing an extraordinary chapter in the European Carménère renaissance for three decades. What began in 1991 with a nameless sip from an unmarked glass – that legendary "love at first taste" –has developed into an obsessive passion that has made Inama the leading Carménère pioneer in Europe. Carminium, produced since 2015, is the younger sister of the iconic Oratorio di San Lorenzo and epitomises Inama's vision of a more accessible, yet complex expression of this almost forgotten Bordeaux variety. The history of this wine is inextricably linked to the Oratorio di San Lorenzo – the small 16th century chapel that sits enthroned in the middle of a twelve-hectare Carménère amphitheatre. Here, where monks once lived in unspoilt nature, the Carménère vines have reached a level of ripeness after fifteen years that allows Inama to vinify the neighbouring plots separately. The terroir is characterised by the red clay soils of the Colli Berici – iron-rich terra rossa on limestone subsoil, which gives the Carménère that unique balance between power and elegance that remains unattainable elsewhere.

The location itself is a gift of nature: a small valley, protected by unspoilt forests that supply the soil with organic substances from lime and clay and at the same time ensure dramatic temperature fluctuations. While the days are characterised by intense sunshine – the south-facing aspect turns the vineyards into veritable sun traps –the nights bring the refreshing coolness that gives the slowly ripening Carménère its characteristic aromatic complexity. In the middle of this vineyard amphitheatre stands an old mulberry tree that glows golden in autumn, while the Carménère leaves turn deep red – a natural spectacle that is immortalised on the Carminium label.

Carminium presents itself with a deep ruby red colour and violet-blue reflections. The bouquet reveals all the elegance of this special vineyard: intense aromas of black berries blend with notes of cocoa and black pepper, while Mediterranean herbs and a hint of tobacco emphasise the complexity. A wine of impressive balance unfolds on the palate: the velvety tannins envelop a powerful, yet never heavy structure, while notes of plums, spices and dark chocolate lead to a long, harmonious final. Carminium is more than just the "second wine" from Inama – it is an independent statement about the ability of Carménère to develop an expressiveness in the red soils of the Colli Berici that cannot be reproduced anywhere else in the world. SUPERIORE.DE

"A spicy red wine with aromas of leaves, pepper and cassis. Soft and pleasant on the palate, with velvety, almost silky tannins and a toasty Mediterranean finish." James Suckling

"The 2022 Colli Berici Carminium is airy and fresh, with a cascade of violet and rose tones complementing citrus-laced blackberries. Wildly fresh and lifted, it sweeps across the palate with ripe wildberry fruits offset by a peppery tinge and tactile mineral tones toward the close. It leaves the cheeks puckered with tension as hints of sour citrus add further clench and keep the senses salivating. I love the balance here and, despite the 2022's youthful state, find it a total pleasure to taste today." Vinous