“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-growing regions 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 an anonymous sip from an unlabelled glass – that legendary ‘love at first taste’ –, has developed into an obsessive passion that has made Inama Europe’s leading Carménère pioneer. Carminium, produced since 2015, is the younger sister of the iconic Oratorio di San Lorenzo and embodies 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 – of that small 16th-century chapel, which stands enthroned in the midst of a twelve-hectare Carménère amphitheatre. Here, where monks once lived amidst unspoilt nature, the Carménère vines have, after fifteen years on the vine, reached a level of maturity that allows Inama to vinify the adjacent plots separately. The terroir is characterised by the distinctive red clay soils of the Colli Berici – iron-rich terra rossa on a limestone subsoil, which gives the Carménère that unique balance between power and elegance that remains unattainable elsewhere.

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

Carminium displays a deep ruby red colour with violet-blue highlights. The bouquet reveals the full elegance of this exceptional vineyard: intense aromas of black berries blend with notes of cocoa and black pepper, whilst Mediterranean herbs and a hint of tobacco emphasise its complexity. On the palate, a wine of impressive balance unfolds: the velvety tannins envelop a powerful yet never heavy structure, whilst notes of plums, spices and dark chocolate culminate in a long, harmonious final. Carminium is more than just Inama’s ‘second wine’ – it is a statement in its own right about the Carménère’s ability to develop an expressiveness in the red soils of the Colli Berici that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. SUPERIORE.DE

"An intense ruby red with a dark core. An intense bouquet of ripe dark berries, cloves and white pepper; fine, well-structured tannins; an elegant, full-bodied yet not overpowering wine. Long-lasting." Falstaff

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

"The Colli Berici Carminium 2022 is light and fresh, with a cascade of violet and rose notes that complement the blackberries, which are laced with citrus. On the palate, it is fresh and lively, with ripe wild berries accompanied by a peppery note and a distinct mineral touch on the finish. A hint of tart citrus makes your cheeks pucker with anticipation and ensures that your senses remain fully engaged. I love the balance of this wine and find that, despite the 2022 vintage’s youthful character, it is an absolute delight to taste it today." Vinous