Casillero del Diablo 2008 Reserva Carmenere - I should have read the label closer and heeded the small print Reserva. However, I've had a fair amount of Carmenere, including one from the parent company (Concha y Toro), so I thought this one would be ok.
Not! Despite 70% being aged in American oak for 8 months, oak is all that really comes through. Vanilla, coffee, mocha and a hint of coconut. Nary a whisper of the familiar dusty cherries I associate with this grape. Not good with food, not good without food.
Contrast this with the 07 Nuevo Mundo Cabernet/Carmenere I had at a restaurant last weekend. Although the dusty cherries were a bit shy at first, they came out to play after some air. Priced at $10/glass, it was only half that due to the Saturday night wine specials. I'll look for this one in the stores.