"I don't generally like Carmenère when it's blended (except when it's used to beef up boring Merlot), but I've become a fan of the stand-alone grape. The top examples are pricey, at least by Chilean standards, but you can find some really tasty ones under £7. My favourites are…the smooth-textured 2006 Adobe Carmenère, Colchagua Valley."

"Santa Emiliana has restyled itself Emiliana, and its entry-level wines are sold under the Adobe umbrella, and this one delivers a whopping 14.5 per cent alcohol. Rather more importantly, it is thick with rich, ripe, curranty, creosotey fruit and that familiar dusky, laurel-leaf carmènere finish."