Carignan

  • Aromas : black fruits, black pepper, licorice
  • High acidity and tannin
  • AKA: Carignane in the US, a.k.a. Carignano in Italy and Cariñena or Mazeulo in Spain, Pinot Evara in Portugal, Cotes du Roussillon, Corbières, Saint Chinian
  • The most widely-planted red wine grape in France
  • Widely present in the south of France, in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence
  • In the composition of famous Roussillon sweet wines such as Banyuls and Rivesaltes
  • It is used mainly to produce strong “Vin de Table” in large quantity
  • In the Languedoc, the grape is often blended with Cinsaut, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre and Merlot
  • A hot country vine-variety, it does not like damp (does well in Spain and Algeria)
  • Somewhat unstable species, with the tendency to mutate (the French recognize and approve over 25 separate clones)
  • Oak treatments exacerbate the variety’s underlying toughness, and add little to its complexity and interest