San Leonardo, Guerrieri Gonzaga (Veronelli Cellar) - 1986

Merlot

The next time you hear someone say they never touch Merlot, tell them that it's too bad, because you were just about to open a few bottles of Château Pétrus and Le Pin, and you have no one to share them with. Some wine drinkers are quick to dismiss varieties that become too fashionable, but Merlot is popular for good reason. It has one of the most impressive and distinctive textures of any wine, and has long been prized for the "softening" effect it can have on Cabernet Sauvignon - especially...

Veneto

Cabernet Sauvignon

The result of an illicit affair a hundred-odd years ago between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon today enjoys more worldwide popularity than both of its parents combined. It is the principal grape of Bordeaux, and as such has rightly earned its place among the greatest and most long-lived wines of the Old World; of course, it is also the most heralded grape of California, positioning it at the forefront of the New World wine scene as well. Today, Cabernet Sauvignon has a...

Carmenère

Hundreds of years ago, the red Carmenère grape was widely used in the blended wines of the best châteaux in Bordeaux. No more, however: it was difficult to grow and often gave low yields, so the French mostly abandoned it. It has recently found a home in Chile, where it has successfully been made into full-bodied, deep red varietals.