Q:When is Merlot not Merlot? And when is Cabernet not Cabernet?

A:When they are Carmenere!

From the December 1997 Wine Editorial

The Bordelais abandoned Carmenere more than a century ago in favor of Cabernet and Merlot, but the grape found its way to Chile where it has flourished. Until early this year, I had never heard of the varietal.

The Chileans seem to have caught the boat that the Bordelais missed. They, the Chileans, have been drinking this wine for years, but they have kept it very, very quiet. Apparently they do not want anyone stealing their thunder - one producer calls it "Merlot Primus" and the second calls it "Grand Vidure Cabernet".

We have both. If you want red- no! - black-blooded wine, loaded with fruit and matching tannins; wine that fills your mouth top-to-bottom, side-to-side and front-to-back; wine that you could figuratively drive a nail into - these are it!

Veramonte '96 Merlot Primus
    15⁹⁹    14³⁹
The '95 sold out in a matter of days. We have bought a lot of the '96 but it will go quickly - get yours.

Carmen '95 Grande Vidure Cab,
    12⁹⁹    10²⁸
Very Limited!