The 2007 Apaltagua Grial Carmenere is a glass-coating opaque purple color. It gives up aromas of spice box, olives, lavender, mineral, and blueberry leading to a lean, somewhat narrow Carmenere that does not merit the hefty asking price.Importer: Global Vineyard Importers, Berkeley, CA; Tel: (510) 527-5877

Talk about sticker shock: $75 for a wine that used to be $30 or $40? Back to the wine, which has olive and carob aromas to go with forceful oak and creamy berry fruit. The palate runs heavy on the coffee and olive, and thus it takes time to find the berry fruit component lurking below. Classic Chilean Carmenere, but one of questionable value.——M.S.(5/1/2010)—— 88