"I wanted [to make] a product that I could control from the plant all the way to market," says the demanding Odfjell, who felt that the middlemen in the fruit business took away the pleasure and ...

Laurence Odfjell had just proposed a most interesting experiment with his wines. We were to choose two bottles each to take home and drink… THE wines will still be drinkable after seven days.

Leading the way is the Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Rapel Valley 2000 (94, $55), a thrilling wine made from Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Learn about Carménère wine, great expressions of which are produced across Chile. Wines made with Carménère show notes of of brambly berries, herbs, and tobacco.

As a wine, Carmenere (pronounced CAR-men-NAIR) is Chile's signature red, attracting international attention for plush tannin and robust flavors combining ripe, dark fruits and green pepper.