Marques de Casa Concha Carménère

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8 December 2025

I first discovered this wine at the Tesco Autumn Winter Press tasting and felt compelled to revisit it. Made by Viña Concha y Toro, one of Chile’s most storied and influential wineries, it carries a long heritage dating back to 1883 when Don Melchor de Concha y Toro and his wife Emiliana Subercaseaux established the estate. The ‘Casa Concha’ label was introduced in 1976 to showcase the winery’s premium offerings.

The grapes, 90% Carmenère, 5% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are grown in the Cachapoal Valley, with fruit sourced specifically from the vineyards of Peumo. The wine spends around 14 to 18 months maturing in French oak.

Its colour is lighter and more vibrant than I expected, with a hint of purple. The scent offers black plum and blackberry alongside green peppercorn naunces. On the tongue, ripe dark fruit mingles with savoury herbs and a touch of peppery chocolate. The texture is soft, with the wine showing a dry profile, medium to full body, gentle tannins and a balanced acidity. The finish is smooth and rounded, with woody tones rather than the smoky character I have previously encountered from Carmenère.

I found it benefitted from a little more time open. By the next day the aroma became more expressive and the whole experience felt even smoother and richer, also giving an impression of even higher alcohol that its 14%. It carries on leaning more towards oaky than smoky.

At £17 from Tesco, it already represents strong value. At the time of writing, it’s on offer for £15, and with a further 25% off for a mix-six deal, the price drops to £11.25, a bargain for a wine of this calibre.

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