A red blend from Chile with big claims on the label.
$13.99 at Costco, available widely. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 8% Merlot, 7% Carménère.
From the bottle:
Primus is a bold blend that exposes the remarkable diversity of our vineyards in Chile. Striking rich fruit, exotic spice and structure lead to a long, memorable finish.
I generally discount any claims made on the label, but "bold blend", "rich fruit", "exotic spice" and a "memorable finish" sure sounds nice, doesn't it? Since I had heard good things about previous vintages, I had high hopes for this wine. Unfortunately the 2007 was a bit of a disappointment. The Veramonte Primus begins with a fruity yet musty scent on the nose. The wine is smooth but earthy, oaky and thin. There's really not much of a finish either. The wine did improve slightly on day 2, but not enough to get this one a Buy rating.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.